Partimento Theory

Another early topic within partimento training is what is commonly known today as the rule of the octave. The rule of the octave suggests one specific, first-choice chord for each note of a major and minor scale in the bass, both ascending and descending. While different versions of the rule of the octave exist, I […]

One of the first things a partimento student in the Neapolitan tradition had to study were three types of cadences: the simple cadence (cadenza semplice), the compound cadence (cadenza composta) and the double cadence (cadenza doppia). Those cadences are based in the sources on a ①–⑤–① bass progression. The type of cadence largely depends on