In the
maritime cities boat-racing was among the number, and the Venetian
regattas were famous at an early period. The classical game of Italy
was and is the ball; and this was probably played at the time of the
Renaissance with more zeal and brilliancy than elsewhere. But on this
point no distinct evidence is forthcoming.
Music
A few words on music will not be out of place in this part of our work.
Musical composition down to the year 1500 was chiefly in the hands of
the Flemish school, whose originality and artistic dexterity were
greatly admired. Side by side with this, there nevertheless existed an
Italian school, which probably stood nearer to our present taste. Half
a century later came Palestrina, whose genius still works powerfully
among us. We learn among other facts that he was a great innovator; but
whether he or others took the decisive part in shaping the musical
language of the modern world lies beyond the judgement of the
unprofessional critic. Leaving on one side the history of musical
composition, we shall confine ourselves to the position which music
held in the social life of the day.
A fact most characteristic of the Renaissance and of Italy is the
specialization of the orchestra, the search for new instruments and
modes of sound, and, in close connection with this tendency, the
formation of a class of 'virtuosi,' who devoted their whole attention
to particular instruments or particular branches of music.
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