9 - Epilogue

Summary

The brief concluding epilogue provides a summary finding of evidence presented in prior chapters. Specific attention is placed on the concept of the Austro-German “review collective” and how it formed the basis for aesthetic criticism of Italian genres (vocal and instrumental) at this time. The lack of a contemporary critical framework for Italian instrumental music, comparable to Austro-German instrumental music, is also considered. Instead, the aesthetic outcomes stressed in the pedagogical methods of solfeggio and partimento are posited as valuable tools for creating a critical vocabulary for discussion of Italian instrumental genres.The Neapolitan social, political, and artistic contexts are likewise summarized to posit crucial relevant frameworks for the instrumental genres examined in the course of this study.