How did composers approach the second prattica?

Composers approached the second prattica by focusing more on the text in vocal music, which marked a significant shift in musical composition and aesthetics during the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. This approach emphasized the importance of expressing the meaning and emotion of the lyrics through the music, allowing the text to guide musical decisions. This practice was rooted in the ideas of the time, where clarity of text and emotional expressiveness became paramount, particularly in the development of early opera and song forms.

This emphasis on text led to a greater use of techniques such as word painting and the careful setting of syllables to music, ensuring that the emotional weight and meaning of the lyrics were fully realized. Composers sought to enhance the listener's experience by making the music not only melodic and harmonically interesting but also directly tied to the emotional content of the words.

The other approaches to composition that might focus on complexity, tradition, or dissonance do not align with the priorities of the second prattica, which sought to elevate the vocal text and its meaning to be the central aspect of musical creation.