The world of music has also been blessed by many great Italian voices. Some of those voices have been preserved for us to enjoy again and again.

Much of the language of music is Italian/Latin. And the native tongue of opera is Italian. This is a very simple sketch of Italian music and composers. We would encourage you to learn more about Italian music and, if possible, view a performance at La Scala, the showcase of Italian opera (link is in Italian).

Operas Written by Italian Composers

GUIDO D'ARREZZO, born 995, died 1050. He was an Italian monk. He was responsible for creating the system of notes that allow music to be recorded on paper. Without him, sheet music would not exist

FRANCESCO LANDINI born 1335, died 1397. He was a blind Florentine organist who wrote madrigals. It was his particular emphasis on lyricism that is noted.

GIOVANNI PALESTRINI born 1525, died 1595. Wrote many masses and unaccompanied choral music pieces and is considered the most important composer of church music in the late 16th century.

CARLO GESUALDO wrote books of madrigals using unusual harmonies.

CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI, born 1567, died 1643. Wrote madrigals, sacred music and operas including Orfeo which is considered the first modern opera because of its use of arias and recitations.

ARCANGELO CORELLI, born 1653, died 1713. Wrote for and played the violin and other string instruments developing the style of music that led to the concerto.

ANTONIO VIVALDI, born 1680, died 1741. Wrote more than 450 pieces, mostly for the violin, and the concerto Four Seasons which remains one of the world's most popular pieces of music.

ALESSANDRO SCARLATTI born 1660, died 1725. Credited with bringing innovations in harmony, thematic development and the order of overture followed by narratives/arias that is still the basic format of modern operas.

GIOCHINO ROSSINI, born 1792, died 1868. Wrote many comic operas including the Barber of Seville and the famous William Tell Overture as part of his last opera, William Tell.

GIUSEPPE VERDI, born 1813, died 1901. Wrote many of Italy's most classic operas--Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, La Traviata, Don Carlos and Aida. His last works included two Shakespearean-based operas, Otello and Falstaff.

GIACOMO PUCCINI, born 1858, died 1924. Famous for the lyrics and instrumentation that were part of his operas including La Boheme, Tosca and Madame Butterfly. His works are still very popular and performed around the world.

LUCIANO BERIO, born 1925. Continues the Italian operatic tradition but is bringing its evolution with the use of dramatic vocals.

ANTONIO STRADIVARI, born 1644, died 1737. A skilled craftsmen who built what are considered the best violins ever made. During his lifetime, in the town of Cremona, he produced 1100 of which more than 400 still remain.

VICENZO GALILEI, born 1520, died 1591. Father of the famous scientist, he studied music and urged the use of a style in which would were clearly enunciated. The idea took hold in Florence and was used in the development of operao.

VINCENZO BELLINI born 1801, died 1835. Wrote operas including Norma

LUIGI BOCCHERINI, born 1743, died1805. Composer of chamber music.

GAETANO DONIZETTI, born 1797, died 1848. Wrote operas including Don Pasquale and influenced the format for modern operas

RUGGERO LEONCAVALLO, born 1857, died 1919. Composed many operas including I Pagliacci

PIETRO MASCAGNI, born 1863, died 1945. Composer who became musical director of La Scala in 1929

GIAN-CARLO MENOTTI, born 1911. Composer who started the Two Worlds Music Festival at Spoleto, Italy and has won 2 Pulitzer prizes.

NICCOLO PAGANINI, born 1782, died 1840. A skilled violinist whose use of varied methods of tuning expanded the traditional use of the violin.

Italian Musical Terms

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