This book investigates the historical significance and musical contributions of Giacomo Carissimi, positioning him as a central figure in the evolution of 17th-century Roman Baroque music. Author Graham Dixon utilizes archival research and musicological analysis to argue that Carissimi’s influence on the development of the oratorio, cantata, and motet was foundational for later composers like Handel and Charpentier. The text serves to restore Carissimi’s reputation, which had been overshadowed by his contemporaries, by contextualizing his work within the broader cultural landscape of Rome.

Musicologists and historians recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the transition into the high Baroque period. Scholars frequently highlight the clarity of Dixon’s analysis and the importance of his research in bridging the gap between Palestrina and the later masters of the 18th century.