He was a tenor , and he was able to accompany himself on the viol or the archlute ; he sang at various entertainments , including weddings and affairs of state , and took part in the sumptuous intermedi of the time , the elaborate musical , dramatic , visual spectacles which were one of the precursors of opera .
He was a tenor , and he was able to accompany himself on the viol or the archlute ; he sang at weddings and other important occasions .