One of two collections of essays by Carter (U. of London) for the series, the other to be called Monteverdi and his Contemporaries . The 18 essays here, reproduced from original publications between 1978 and 1996, include discussions of aspects of the life and works of Jacopo Peri (1561-1633), a Florentine wedding of 1608, new facts and new music concerning Giulio Caccine (1551-1918), another promoter of the 1582 Rassettatura of the Decameron , the music trade in late 16th-century Florence, the bookshop of Piero di Giuliano Morosi as a window into music selling in late 16th-century Florence, and three new documents from the Cinquecento illuminating music at the Duomo in Pistoia. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)