Ornamentation in modern vocal interpretation of early baroque Italian music

The article is devoted to the problems of using authentic vocal decoration while singing the Italian music of the fi rst half of the XVIIth century. Diff erent kinds оf ornamentation referring to an early opera period are defi ned. The most attention is paid to “signifi cant” and “improvised” performing manners: their evolution during the period of the late Renaissance made a decisive infl uence on forming monodic and opera styles at the beginning of the 1600s. The author describes the typological characteristics of two types of melodic ornamentation and represents the recommendations on using them in singing given by the composes and vocal teachers of that time for eff ective solving the problems of contemporary historical performance.