Yesterday, I listened to a disc of Heinrich Biber (1644-1704) performed by Harnoncourt and Concentus Musicus Wien: Biber: Battalia - Pauern Kirchfahrt - Ballettae - Sonatae, Teldec 4509-97914-2. I bought it as a "cut-out" on the Amazon website. A very nice disc. I was surprised to hear a passage that was dissonant. It occurs in the Battalia. According to Harnoncourt's notes, of the "merry makers full of mirth" section of the work, Biber writes: "here all the voices are dissonant, for various songs are shouted simultaneously." Hearing this work started me wondering just when dissonance began to be used as a means of expression. If any list members would help me with this, I would appreciate it. Cheers, Ron Chaplin Iselin, NJ, USA