This book investigates the historical performance practice of ornamentation in sixteenth-century vocal and instrumental music. Howard Mayer Brown, a prominent musicologist, synthesizes primary source treatises from the Renaissance to provide a systematic framework for modern performers. He argues that understanding these specific improvisational rules is necessary for achieving an authentic interpretation of the period's musical repertoire.

Experts and performers frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding Renaissance performance practice. Readers often note the clarity of the prose and the practical utility of the examples provided for modern musicians.