Locke, Matthew
(†1677)
MATTHEW LOCKELOCKE, MATTHEWMATTHEW LOCKE [* 1621-22-† 1677] In the preface to his Melothesia, Matthew Locke set down what may be the first instructions for realizing a figured bass in English. The rules are sound and thorough, with clear comments on figures which indicate the altered thirds, chords of the sixth, and suspensions. Locke also supplied comments about modulating basses—that is, the placing of chords of the sixth on certain notes of the key plus on sharp notes outside of the key. In…