Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 is a work which has both fascinated and perplexed musicologists and performers for many years. It forms by far the larger part of the composer's first significant publication of sacred music entitled: 'Of the most blessed virgin a Mass for six voices for church choirs and Vespers for more voices with several sacred concertos suitable for princely chapels or apartments'. By the time this publication appeared Monteverdi had been in the service of the Gonzaga court at Mantua for at least 18 years and he was seeking a change of employment so that the dedication of the volume to the reigning pope Paul V may be interpreted as a form ofself-advertisement. Originally issued as an Urtext study score the edition is based closely on the extant printed source the set of partbooks published at Venice in 1610 and retains the original note values key and mensuration signatures.
