Bicinium

What it means

A bicinium is a piece of music for exactly two voices, vocal or instrumental, especially common in the sixteenth century. The term, derived from the Latin word for "two-voiced," describes less a fixed form than a scoring: two equal voices, usually moving in imitation of each other.

Bicinia could be either self-contained, artfully worked compositions or deliberately simple teaching pieces.

Musical use

Many sixteenth-century bicinia were written for teaching purposes: collections of two-voice settings helped students grasp the basics of counterpoint, especially imitation, in a clear and manageable way. Alongside these, accomplished bicinia by notable composers also exist, exploiting the genre artistically.

It should be distinguished from the duet in the broader, later sense, which does not necessarily require the close, often imitative voice leading of the historical bicinium, and from more heavily scored motets or madrigals.

Performance practice

When singing or playing a bicinium, pay close attention to the precise interplay of the two voices: since no third voice supports the texture, any inaccuracy in intonation or rhythm becomes immediately audible. Bring out imitative entries deliberately so the contrapuntal structure comes across clearly.