Agostino Agazzari was a composer and organist who was appointed to the position of "maestro di cappella" (Master of Songs) by 1603. The most honorable achievement however came when he was so acclaimed that he could add the title of "Armonico" to his name for his prowess as a musician. Agazzari was a church musician composing motets in eight parts with a continuo, and a variety of masses, psalms and litanies. His most worthy composition was the theatrical work "Eumelio" written specifically for the efficacy of seminary students. (Eumelio was tempted away from the simple life by the "Vices" only later to be returned from his demise in Hades to the good life by Apollo and Mercury.) Agazzari is more renowned for his treatise "Del sonare sopra 'l basso con tutti li stromenti e dell'uso loro nel conserto" subsequently quoted by a number of musical theorists including Michael Praetorius. The import of the discourse is Agazzari's distinction between instruments that should be used for strong structural support like the organ, harpsichord, lute, harp, theorbo, and those instruments that should be used for decoration like the lute, theorbo, harp, bass lira, cittern, spinet, guitar, violin, and pandora. The argument also discusses the required ability by the players to improvise and perform over a bass line (both figured and unfigured), musical styles requisite and germane to the particular instruments, and how one accomplishes playing in and with an ensemble. From the descriptive characteristics of this important treatise it is clear that the musician influenced by Agazzari must be proficient in counterpoint. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi