Introduction The “Querelle des Bouffons” ("Quarrel of the Comic Actors") was a cultural war over the comparative merits of French and Italian opera styles. It was divided into two camps; the supporters of Italian music known as the coin de la reine, and the partisans of French music known as the coin du roi. However the querrelle had political and social implications with supporters of the royal establishment championing French opera, they saw as being forged on the principles of French classicism
violin at the age of seven. His father (according to Paganini) would starve him if he refused to work hard enough. By the age of seven he was already composing music and numerous local violinists recognized his incredible potential. Violinists like Giovanni Servetto and Giacomo Costa began giving him lessons, but Paganini quickly surpassed his instructors’ abilities. Soon after, Paganini began to study harmony with Francesco Gnecco. Niccolò Paganini's first known performance was at the church of Saint
One of the most notable composers at the start of this time was Giovanni Battista Sammartini from Lambardy, Italy. His symphonies from 1720-1740 were still mostly of the style of the ripieno concerto, but his adoption of the rounded binary or early sonata form for the faster movements provided one of the main changes from the ripieno concerto in writing style. From Naples, several composers, like Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, began writing for a more powerful orchestra including oboes, horns,
Singing is one of the most highly enjoyed and respected forms of art for Italians. Opera began in Italy around 1600, and it is still an enormous part of the Italian spirit. Italians are zealous about opera and about good singing in general. Pictures of composers appear on national stamps, and streets in every town are named for musicians. Almost every small town has its own lyric theatre, and opera is programmed regularly on Italian radio and television. Music’s renown in Italy did not burst into