Italian
Music And The Opera
The History of Italian Music
and Songs
The music most associated
with Italy is opera, the tradition growing from the
late 1500s and contributing greatly to the rest of
Europe.
Other Italian music is
important to its people too, such as classical
instrumental music and folk music. Italians are
descended from many ethnic roots and immigration
has brought its own influences.
The country imported a mix of
jazz, pop and rock during the 20th century, whilst
retaining a passion for its own homegrown
culture.
Opera composers such as
Bellini, Alessandro Scarlatti, Monteverdi and
Rossini put Italian music at the forefront. The
19th century was dominated by Verdi and Puccini,
who popularized the Romantic Movement with an
emphasis on strong melodies.
Italian music was also
involved in orchestral music and produced renowned
composers in Corelli, Domenico Scarlatti and
Vivaldi. There is a great tradition in sacred music
too, with composers writing for the Catholic
Church. Gregorian chanting was developed in Italy;
a modern equivalent is very popular on the island
of Sardinia.
A New Century Of Italian
Music
Other forms of entertainment
came with the 20th century and Italian music played
its part, particularly in the form of grand film
scores for popular movies. The Clint Eastwood
spaghetti westerns were enriched by the scores of
Ennio Morricone and the theme from The Godfather
film was played around the world.
Folk music is a very
important part of Italian culture. There is no
cohesive, national tradition but rather a diverse
mix of regional variety, influence by the language
and origin of its settlers.
There are favored instruments
in this type of Italian music, including flutes,
bagpipes, accordions, fiddles, guitar and harp.
Percussion is supplied by drums, castanets, wood
blocks and bells.
Folk songs are often work
songs, traditionally sung by fishermen, farm
workers and the military. There are ballads, most
often performed in the north of the country, and
songs to dance to. Some of these Itallian tunes are
sung at weddings and other occasions for
celebration.
Yodeling is sometimes heard
and words are in Latin in a few examples. Flutes
and bagpipes tend to be played where there are
Celtic roots and North Eastern Italy is inspired by
the Slavic traditions of the polka and waltz. Other
influences may be African, Arabic or
Greek.
Whatever the musical genre,
the music world owes a debt of gratitude to Italian
music, which is a testimony to the preservation of
a nation's culture, whilst accepting the
inspiration from other lands. The legacy from great
composers is its special gift to the
world.
|
More Music Notes
....
|
|
Independent
Music
-
There are plenty of wonderful mainstream
songs out there but, if you are just tired
of listening to them, independent music is
and new and exciting way to
.
|
How
to Start Your Own Record
Label
-
Dreaming of becoming a recording producer?
Some advice on how to start your own
record label.
|
|
