Se tu sei stato a udire canzoni vane, o soni : note sull’etica musicale nella prima età moderna

In ancient Greek musical theory, harmony was seen as being endowed with a natural virtue capable of altering the rational faculties of the listener's soul, to the extent of depriving that person of his freedom. The many ethical implications of this classical axiom featured in early modern theological debates. By exploring a series of sources which have hitherto been overlooked in historiography, this contribution seeks to provide some examples of original theoretical elaborations and pastoral strategies formulated in the course of these debates.