[Chant] Guidetti, Giovanni. (1532 - 1592). Directorium chori ad usum omnium ecclesiarum cathedralium, & collegiatarum. In hac postrema editione a Nicolao Stamigna diligenter accomodatum, & auctum. Rome: [Vitalis Mascardi]. 1665. An important volume of chant notation. 17 cm. Full vellum. 4;6; 1-739; 2 (index); 741-756. Scattered staining, extremeties lightly chipped, lacking titlepage and 4 leaves (pages 15 - 22), a few other leaves separated from the block, but present and otherwise very good.
BL, 17th cent. Italian Books 429; MGG V, 1071; Eitner IV, 417; Fétis IV, 145.

A scarce early edition of the "Directorium Chori," compiled by Guidetti, the chaplain of Gregory XIII and with a laudatory preface by his teacher and friend, Palestrina. Originally published in 1582 and reprinted until 1750, it was the first complete post-Tridentine chant book published in Rome and contained the basic elements for singing the Divine Office: cadence formulae, the principal psalms, hymns, versicles, short responsories, reciting notes for psalms, lessons, Gospels and prayers. An important feature of the Directorium was Guidetti’s use of proportional notation.