J. Englehardt Friederich Erhardt Niedt, The musical guide, pp. Basically a bunch of musicians get drunk and one tells a story of how he had wine women, and song 'til it was found out that he couldn't improvise basso continuo. After this startling revelation he lost everything, but later perceived by gaining this knowledge for free. Then they, the musicians, got more drunk and all was good. After this little story, Niedt, begins with some actual rules for basso continuo, or better called thorough bass.
Thorough bass is played on a keyboard instrument, and serves as the foundation of music.
He introduces what intervals can be used which is basically all of them. He also mentions how dissonant intervals, such as the fourth, can be covered up by consonant ones. He also shows what clefs are commonly used in thorough bass depending on the region where it is played or originates from. A brief discussion of tempos follows with specific examples of what forms are faster or slower i.e. a sarabande moves slower and more graceful then a minuet. Triads being the basis of harmony are then discussed with a hint of theological reference.