Italian Music


Italian Music

In Italy, the music maintained a prominent place in the society and politics of this country, besides being one of the cultural characteristics of ethnic identity and national tradition. Italian music has a tradition of popular music, includes the traditional styles of each region and also covers a wide spectrum of instrumental music and opera.

The opera is undoubtedly a fundamental part of the musical culture of Italy; their influences are not unrelated to the popular music which has been strongly influenced. The opera was developed in the XVI century, thanks to innovations in the musical scale, notation, harmony and theatrical music.

In Italy in the music industry highlight the musical genres such as the canzone Napoletana and the cantautori singer-songwriter. The jazz, hip hop and rock music alongside these popular styles are also important part of the music industry in this country.

Speaking of Italian folk music, we are talking about a fundamental and important part in the cultural heritage of Italy; this covers a wide range of regional styles, dances and instruments.

Italian Music


Over time, the Italian music has taken elements from different and varied cultures that have dominated or influenced this country, including the music of the Germanic tribes, Arabic music, Greek music, the French and Spanish music.

The Italian's historical contributions in the field of music are an important part of national pride. The relatively recent history of Italy as a unified country includes the development of the opera tradition that has spread throughout the world. Even before the formation of Italy as a nation, was the cradle of important issues such as innovations in musical notation and Gregorian chant

Italy has long been the centre of European classical music. In the early twentieth century, the Italian classical music develops a distinctive national sound characterized as melodic and romantic, and typified by the operas of Verdi.

The major figures of Italian music of the XIX century and early XX:

  • Giuseppe Verdi
  • Gioacchino Rossini
  • Saverio Francesco Mercadante
  • Gaetano Donizetti
  • Vincenzo Bellini
  • Alfredo Catalani
  • Ruggero Leoncavallo
  • Pietro Mascagni
  • Francesco Cilea
  • Umberto Giordano
  • Franco Alfano
  • Ricardo Zandonai
  • Giacomo Puccini
    • Italian Music Among the representatives of the renewal of instrumental music we have to: Ottorino Respighi, Ildebrando Pizzetti and Gian Francesco Malipiero; and the precursor of the Italian twelve-tone is Alfredo Casella.

    Italian music and its melodic tradition are represented by: Domenico Modugno, Nilla Pizzi and Al Bano; and now with singers such as Eros Ramazzotti and Laura Pausini. The explosion of rock and roll influence and adjust the Italian song of the origins, highlighting at this stage: Mina, Adriano Celentano, Rita Pavone and Gianni Morandi.

    Italian musicians who have helped Italian music to reach to its heights are: Gino Paoli, Luigi Tenco, Bruno Lauzi y Sergio Endrigo.
    Also Fabrizio De Andrč influenced by the music of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. The recovery of the vocal style of the romance reaches its peak with personalities such as Pavarotti and Bocelli.

    Italian Music

    Italian Opera Italian Opera
    Italian Instrumental Music Italian Instrumental Music
    Italian Folk Music Italian Folk Music
    Italian Rock Italian Rock
    Italian Pop Italian Pop

    Back to:
    Italian Culture