Abstract: The great impact of “the classical rhetorical thinking” on European culture – since the birth of Renaissance Humanism until the Baroque – has determined a change of paradigm from what music has been classified as one of the fine arts rather than a science. This paper presents an investigation on the interpretation of musical theory and analysis under the movement of the rhetorical principles most valid on the Baroque. It also investigates the configuration given to musical theory and analysis considering the most representative idea of the period form its technical and aesthetical innovations, the methodological transformation it provided, its consequences through the times until today.

Keywords: musical analysis; musical theory; musical rhetoric; baroque music.