Stile antico

Term used in the transitional period between the Renaissance and Baroque eras. The stile antico, was the style of music based upon Giovanni Palestrina's polyphonic musical style, used mostly for sacred music, and written around the year 1600. Stile antico was used by composers from Claudio Monteverdi to Alessandro Scarlatti; this style became the basis of the rules of strict counterpoint.See also stile moderno.