Bass lines for bowed bass or keyboard within string ensemble repertoire from Italian presses; 1660-1700

Publications exclusively for stringed instruments from Italian centres 1660-1700 exhibit several different, consistently labelled bass line instrumentations. One of the most frequently appearing labels is 'bowed bass or keyboard'. Categorisation of the publications according to their bass line instrumentation as indicated on title pages allows for direct comparisons between works calling for identical bass line instrumentation. Examination of works with different specified bass line instrumentations reveals trends which suggest that the detailed wording concerning bass line instrumentation on title pages in these publications is significant. This thesis argues that, in the absence of other evidence such as historical accounts, treatises and iconography, the original wording in bass line indications on title pages should be heeded and take precedence over instrumentation conventions which are more commonly familiar to the modern musician. A discussion of terminology for bowed bass instruments reveals that violone is the most commonly named instrument as an option with the keyboard until after 1685, after which violone and violoncello appear equally frequently.