This text investigates the fundamental principles and practical application of thorough bass, or figured bass, as a system for musical accompaniment and improvisation. Nicolo Pasquali, a violinist and composer active in the mid-18th century, provides a structured pedagogical approach to the realization of bass lines. The work serves as a technical manual for musicians seeking to master the harmonic conventions prevalent during the Baroque period.

Musicologists and historical performance practitioners view this facsimile as a primary source for understanding 18th-century performance practice. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose, which reflects the instructional standards of the era.