In dealing with the diminution of the 21 Ricercari contained in the Libro primo, I decided, out of respect for Merulo’s original, to keep throughout the voices as they appear, thus deliberately refraining from the possible and momentary suspension of a line that could have given space to the coloratura of another voice.

Furthermore, I did not strictly adhere to the tablature ‘rules’ set out by Diruta and exemplified in the numerous printed versions of the time, limiting myself to indicating t...