The profound impact of Italian music on a host of genres and styles is immense, and can be seen from classical symphonies right through to modern jazz and pop. Italy is a country where passion, romance and joie de vivre are a part of everyday life, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the music created by famous composers and artists.
It's impossible to overstate the effect that Italian music has had over the centuries. Italian composers were responsible for unprecedented advances in music, and great classical composers such as Piccini and Scarlatti produced an incredible body of work during the 1700s that influenced the style and structure of both the symphony and concerto. Both composers are also associated with the development of opera in the late 16th century.
Niccolo Piccini is noted for increasing the popularity of the opera buffa style that originated in Naples, while Alessandro Scarlatti produced over 40 operas. The construction of fabulous opera houses such as Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, La Scala in Milan and La Fenice in Venice reflected public interest.
Opera is still one of the most important forms of Italian music and great works like Giuseppe Verdi's 'Aida' and 'La Traviata', Giacomo Puccini's 'Tosca' and 'Madame Butterfly' and Gioachino Rossini's 'The Barber of Seville' ensure that theaters all over the world are filled to capacity.
Each region of Italy boasts its own style of folk music; music from northern regions might have a Celtic or Slavic flavor, while the south tends to be influenced by the sounds of Africa and the Middle East. Some of the most recognizable Italian folk songs include 'Volare' by Domenico Modugno and 'O Sole Mio' by Claudio Villa.
From around 1945 and the end of the Second World War, Italian pop music was influenced as much by American and British styles as by the opera, classical and bel canto traditions that it was based on. This blend of styles and cultures resulted in unique developments in Italian music, one of which, the Cantautore or singer/songwriter, is still a major feature of Italian music today.
Folk songs from Italy have influenced many modern musicians, including Mike Patton, the enigmatic singer who fronts US rock band Faith No More. Patton has revived classic Italian songs from the 1930s to the 1950s with his Mondo Cane ensemble which features a full orchestra. The Mondo Cane album features covers of some of the most exciting examples of Italian popular music of the era including Ennio Morricone's 'Quello che conta' and the wonderful '20km al Giorno' by Mogol, Nicola Arigliano and Pino Massara.
Ennio Morricone was not only one of the most prolific composers of Italian pop songs; his film scores are famous all over the world. Undeniably Italian in sound, his soundtracks for hit films such as Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly have gained him international recognition.
The popularity of Italian film music is stronger than ever, and composer Fabio Frizzi continues to fill venues for live performances of his soundtracks for films by Lucio Fulci such as Zombie Flesh Eaters, City of the Living Dead and Seven Notes in Black. The international impact of this genre of Italian music is great, and famous producer Quentin Tarantino paid homage to Frizzi by including the theme for Seven Notes in Black in his blockbuster Kill Bill Vol. 1. Italy was at the forefront of the jazz revolution and was one of the first countries to develop its own very distinct jazz sound.
The country got its first taste of this new style of music in 1904 when a group of singers who styled themselves 'creators of the cakewalk' performed at Milan's Eden Theatre. It was in the 1930s that jazz really made an impression in Italy and this was aided by the formation of orchestras by acclaimed musicians like Arturu Agazzi and his Syncopated Orchestra.
Despite jazz music being banned by Benito Mussolini, Italian jazz flourished, and a highlight of the decade was US legend Louis Armstrong's Italian Tour of 1935. Like Italian pop music, the post war years saw the jazz scene explode. From the 1940s to the 60s artists like musicians Lelio Luttazzi, Franco Cerro, Giorgio Gaslini, Gorni Kramer, composer Bruno Martini and singers Jula de Palma and Natalino Otto were the jazz superstars of their day.
Jazz continues to be one of the most influential styles of Italian music and all conservatories in Italy have jazz departments. Each year top jazz events take place all over the country and attract established performers and new talent.
One of the most famous is the Umbria Jazz Festival which takes places each July in Perugia, and its counterpart the Umbria Winter Jazz Festival which is on from late December to early January in Orvieto. Contemporary musicians like Massimo Urbani, Franco Cerro and top bebop style trumpeter Enrico Rava continue to have enormous influence on young artists.
Up and coming stars such as trombonist Gianluca Petrella and acid jazz DJ Nicola Conte take Italian jazz in an exciting new direction. Italian classic music continues to have an impact on new styles and trends and has influenced numerous musicians and artists all over the world.
A globally recognized Italian singer, Laura Pausini has won five Grammy Awards and is known for her powerful voice and emotional pop ballads. Fluent in several languages, she primarily sings in Italian and Spanish but also performs in Portuguese, English, and French. Pausini has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and addresses both romance and social issues in her music.
Zucchero is a renowned Italian rock artist known for blending blues, gospel, and rock influences. Internationally famous for his hit "Senza Una Donna" with Paul Young, he has collaborated with legendary musicians like Luciano Pavarotti, Joe Cocker, and Sting. His music spans multiple languages and has earned him a lasting place in Italy's music history.
Tiziano Ferro is one of Italy's most famous contemporary pop artists, known for his R&B, pop, and rock-influenced music. With successful albums in both Italian and Spanish, he has achieved widespread popularity across Europe and Latin America, selling over 7 million albums worldwide. His hits, including "Perdono," have made him a household name.
CapaRezza is an Italian rapper known for his satirical lyrics and nonconformist style. His music often critiques society through clever metaphors and surreal imagery. Once known as Mikimix, he reinvented himself with a more rebellious and introspective sound, gaining a loyal following.
Nek is a popular Italian singer-songwriter known for his success in both Italian and Spanish-speaking markets. He gained international fame in 1997 with his hit "Laura non c'è" and has sold millions of albums worldwide. His blend of pop and rock has kept him a prominent figure in Italy and beyond.
Lazza, born Jacopo Lazzarini in Milan, is an Italian rapper, producer, and pianist. He began his career in rap after studying piano at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory, releasing his first mixtape in 2012. His 2019 album Re Mida became a major success, and his J Mixtape quickly went gold in 2020.
The legacy of Italian music is undeniable, with a significant influence on multiple genres, including opera, pop, jazz, and especially film scores. The long history of this southern European country includes a musical tradition that's deeply intertwined with its culture, which continues to inspire musicians worldwide.
Italian music has not only shaped the past but remains a driving force in many modern music styles. This influence ensures that the passion and impact of Italian's composers, artists, and performers will resonate for generations to come.
Leave a Reply!