The early years : 1560-1590 -- Ferrara : 1594-1596 -- The last years : 1597-1613 -- The question of mannerism -- Text and form -- The madrigals : books I and II -- The madrigals : books III and IV -- The madrigals : books V and VI -- The late style : models and successors -- The Sacrae cantiones -- The Responsoria -- Miscellanea -- Epilogue : the controversy.