Introduction:
In our first week we were tasked to redesign musical geography maps from A History of Western Music (Norton, 2014) and Atlas Historique de la Musique and in groups of two we set out on our cartographic quest. The map below shows the distribution of Italian Music Centers in 1650 and was included by Norton to show the impact of Spanish conquest in Southern Italy on Italian musical traditions. The greater concentration of cities in the north stands out against the three southern cities in an apparent indication that northern Italy held primacy in musical pursuits and patronage during the 17th century.
Though clearly delineated on the map, political boundaries were in a continuous state of flux during the 17th century as rulers and religious powers laid claim to Italy. Due to the movement of people the political boundaries in Figure 17.1 are do not represent accurately the cultural amalgamations in Italy around 1650. Information, culture, ideology, and musical tradition crossed political and religious boundaries throughout the 17th century. This movement undermines the integrity of the left map which shows only hard boundaries defined by political affiliation.
Research Methodology:
We decided to focus our data collection effort on Oxford New Grove database which provides detailed historical accounts for each Italian city and composer from the 17th century. Ian began his research by tallying compositions, amassing a large number of compositions and composers with geographic data. Miles began his research by compiling geographic data on anything music related including birth/death dates of famous composers and musicians, composition premiers, composition publications, and anything else which related to music. After our first meeting we decided to take our existing data and narrow our research to only those cities which we had already found data points for. At this point Oxford New Grove became our primary source as we read through historical descriptions of cities and the composers who lived and composed there.
How to Use This Map:
To toggle between the three layers in various combinations press the 
symbol. This allows you to play with map layers in any combination giving you insight into the distribution of compositions, composers, and performance venues in 17th c. Italy. Our focus on the musical aspects of Italian life over political boundaries due to their fluctuation throughout the 17th c. leaves our redesigned map with no political boundaries.
The Map:
Citations:
http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic
— Barandoni, S., & Gianturco, C. (2001, January 01). Pisa. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 11 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000021830.
— Bussi, F. (2001, January 01). Piacenza. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 11 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000021609.
— Carapezza, P., & Collisani, G. (2001, January 01). Palermo. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 10 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000020745.
— D’Accone, F., Hill, J., Pinzauti, L., & Budden, J. (2001, January 01). Florence. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 10 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000009847.
— Donà, M. (2001, January 01). Milan. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 10 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000018655.
— Fleischhauer, G., Dyer, J., Sherr, R., Lionnet, J., Murata, M., Lindgren, L., Allsop, P., & Antolini, B. (2001, January 01). Rome. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 10 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000023759.
— Gallico, C. (2001, January 01). Mantua. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 10 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000017678.
— Joyce, J., & Watkins, G. (2001, January 01). D’India, Sigismondo. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 11 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000013761.
— Lockwood, L., & Steib, M. (2001, January 01). Ferrara. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 11 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000009511.
— Minardi, G. (2001, January 01). Parma. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 10 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000020932.
— Ongaro, G., Selfridge-Field, E., & Zoppelli, L. (2001, January 01). Venice. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 10 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000041311.
— Pestelli, G. (2001, January 01). Turin. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 11 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000028602.
— Petrobelli, P., & Durante, S. (2001, January 01). Padua. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 11 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000020687.
— Surian, E., & Salvarani, M. (2001, January 01). Ancona. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 10 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000000848.
— Surian, E., & Ballerini, G. (2001, January 01). Bologna. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 11 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000003453.
— Veneziano, G., Benedetto, R., & Fabris, D. (2001, January 01). Naples. Grove Music Online. Ed. Retrieved 10 Jan. 2019, from http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000042068.
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