1590—Genoa, Italy

A document governing the ducal musicians, comprised of trombones and cornetts, stipulates,

“The duties and rights of the members of the Genoese wind band:

  1. The musicians should be seven to eight in number, partly tromboni and partly cornetti, that is, first and second trombone, first and second cornetti, and the other three parts in the middle, being of tromboni or cornetti, whichever is more appropriate.
  2. All shall be inscribed in the rolls of the German militia, taking the military oath like the others, and being exempt from all armed duty, except in the case of extraordinary need.
  3. Each shall have his pay according to the agreed statutes, and will be paid from the funds of the Most Illustrious Chamber, with the conditions given below.
  4. They are obligated to be in the palace each day, at the hour of Mass, at the entry into the church of the Most Serene Doge, and also at his leaving, playing a piece, and similarly sounding two pieces from the conclusion of the Gospel up to the Communion.
  5. They are further obligated to play each day in the public square of the palace, or in another designated place, at the stroke of 23 [i.e., 11 PM] … two pieces on work days, and three on festal days.
  6. They are, however, exempt from said obligations of [playing from] the balcony on those days when there is much wind or rain, if in the judgment of those in charge, it seems reasonable not to go there; and furthermore [they do not have to play] on any of the Fridays of the year, nor during Holy Week because of the sanctity of these days, and they are relieved from playing at night from the balcony from the first of July through the first of November, but they remain obligated to play at Mass in the manner described above.
  7. They are also obligated to play each time the Most Serene Doge and Senate leave the palace to go to church, regathering in the church and playing, either with the organ or, at other times, there being no organ, at the entry as well as the departing [of the Doge and Senate], and also at Mass if the Most Serene Senate participates.
  8. They are also obligated to play if they are called for by Their Serene Lords Senators dining together in the palace.
  9. They are similarly always obligated [to play] when foreign princes are received in the city, for which The Most Serene Senate wants music, or to receive them with music, serving in this need, in which manner the master of ceremonies orders them and also to serve in any other ceremony… at the command of the Senate.
  10. Each of those [musicians] who fails to appear to play at said performances in the company of the others without good reason shall be fined twenty soldi each time he is absent, which must be held back from his pay. This [duty] will fall to whoever has charge of this, [and] he will also have the authority to redistribute said money among the other musicians, as seems best to him. He has the responsibility to redistribute half of said fine.
  11. Whoever will have charge will also have the authority to govern the other musicians, and ordinarily everything associated with their duties, will have custody of the room in the palace that is assigned to him, for taking care of the books and instruments, and all the other musicians must be obedient to him in these matters.
  12. The same person who is in charge also has the authority to grant permission [for a musician] not to come to the palace for two days in the week, if on occasion for some good reason he needs to request it, provided that this is not granted more than once, and that the music not be allowed to suffer. And if on occasion [the musicians] are especially requested in towns distant from the city for weddings or other special festivals which the citizens are accustomed to having, in such cases the Most Serene Lord Doge has the authority to grant permission to them for each morning they do not play in chapel.
  13. To him similarly falls the duty of overseeing and taking charge of the musical instruments and books that are provided by the Chamber of the Most Illustrious Lord Procurators for said duties.
  14. Similarly said musicians are obligated to assemble at the palace, in their room or chapel, each time they are ordered to do so, by whoever has charge, to study their music and to play [i.e., to rehearse], and this under penalty of fine, as was said above.
  15. Understanding these musicians to be [part of] the family of the Most Serene Doge, they must be sincere in their lives, and must dress for work at home. And they are to be paid two to four mezzarole of wine for each per year; that is, he who has a wife [shall receive] four, and he who does not, two only.
  16. Whoever leads [his] most illustrious colleagues must have his lodgings in the palace….

The Most Excellent and Distinguished Procurators of the Republic of Genoa today before me, the attorney of the chapter and in its manner it is accountable, with the exception of section fifteen, have approved and do approve.”(Genoa, Archivio di Stato, Istituzione de la Musica del Serenissimo Senato) (Dickey, The Cornett 56; Morelli).