Italian Classical Music – Great Italian Composers

For many centuries, Italian classical music has been the center of music in Europe. The types of romantic melodies that are known to have been created in this area of the world are still important pieces of Italian classical music heard around the world today.

In fact, Antonio Lucio Vivaldi, a great Italian composer, wrote the Four Seasons, which is one of the most important Italian classical music pieces around the world. Vivaldi is most recognized for his red hair and violin concertos, and he also composed over forty operas during his time in the spotlight.

The Beginning
During the Middle Ages, Italian classical music that was often lacking any type of lyrics, transformed into a deeper form of expression across the nation. Songs during this era were still similar in sound, but softly spoken Italian words accompanied each melody.

As we moved into the Renaissance period, harmony in Italian classical music became something that was preferred rather than a single layer of sound. This is the period that is widely recognized as the birth of the Italian opera we know today.

Opera
Most Italian opera can be separated into two periods, one is the Baroque period and the other the Romantic period. The Baroque period was mostly seen in the 1700s, and was a form of music that used chords and scales to create unique harmonies and melodies for the time period.

As we entered into the 1800s, our love for music and the culture surrounding opera music progressed, and opera houses began popping up around cities such as Milan and Naples. This period of time was mostly a transitional period that gave birth to new sounds and creations that were expressed on the stage.

Italian Classical Music – Great Italian Composers

Tracklist:
1 – Rossini – Sonata for Strings No.3
2 – Scarlatti – Keyboard Sonata in Ab, K. 127
3 – Vivaldi – Concerto for 2 Flutes in C major, RV 533
4 – Paganini – Violin Concerto no. 1 in E flat major, Op. 6
5 – Rossini – Overture to The Barber of Seville
6 – Vivaldi – Concerto for 2 Violins in A minor, RV 522
7 – Scarlatti – Sonata in D minor, K. 9
8 – Monteverdi – L’Incoronazione di Poppea, SV 308