This music exhibits much variety of style and expressive power.

The composer was undoubtedly a master of his material.

How intricate and yet pictorial his style can become may be seen in these four measures from Act I, scene second, which contain words uttered by Lelio.
[Musical Notation] That the composer sometimes employed skilfully the contrast of pure chord sequence is seen in his setting of the "tag" of the play spoken by Lelio and beginning thus: [Musical Notation] Interesting as this music is in itself, the temptation to enter upon a prolonged examination of the score must be resisted for the good reason that a more important matter demands our attention.

It has often been stated that in the madrigal drama, when the musician wished a single personage to speak, that character sang his part in the madrigal while alone on the stage and the other parts were sung behind the scenes.

This error has persistently clung to musical history, despite the fact that it was long ago exposed by European authors who ought to have commanded more consideration.