As the successor to Zarlino, the influence can be apprehended in Donato's compositions. Being a singer perhaps provided the motivation that made Donato the singularly best secular composer of his era. His madrigals and motets are informed by characteristic spirited rhythmic accents, lucid patterns and developing diatonic melodies. High parts of Donatos pieces are always pleasant and contain the melodies of his compositions. His telos as a composer was not to depict the words through the music (although this appears to have started); rather, Donato's music was conducive to depicting emotional timbres. "La napolitane et alcuni madrigali" was an early collection by Donato that went through several editions addressing the import and popularity of his work. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi