VILLANELLA (Ital., a country girl). An unaccompanied Part-Song, of light rustic character, sharing, in about equal proportions, the characteristics of the Canzonetta, and the Balletta. The looseness of the style is forcibly described by Morley, who, in Part III. of his ‘Introduction to Practicall Musicke,
’ speaks of it thus—‘The last degree of grauity (if they have any at all) is given to the villanelle, or country songs, which are made only for the ditties sake: for, so they be...
