Portrait of a castrato : politics, patronage, and music in the life of Atto Melani / Roger Freitas.
| Author/creator | Freitas, Roger |
| Format | Book |
| Publication Info | Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2009. |
| Description | xx, 431 pages : illustrations, plates ; 26 cm. |
| Subjects |
| Series | New perspectives in music history and criticism New perspectives in music history and criticism. ^A359753 |
| Contents | Creating a castrato -- The politics of patronage: 1638-1653 -- In pursuit of prestige: 1653-1655 -- The sexuality of the castrato -- Disgrace and transformation: 1656-1671 -- Atto Melani and the cantata -- Completing the portrait: 1671-1714. |
| Abstract | Explores the fascinating life of the most documented musician of the seventeenth century. Born in 1626 into a bourgeois family in Pistoia, Italy, Atto Melani was castrated to preserve his singing voice and soon rose to both artistic and social prominence. His extant letters not only depict the musical activities of several European centers, they reveal the real-life context of music and the musician: how a singer related to patrons and colleagues, what he thought about his profession, and the role music played in his life. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 390-417) and index. |
| LCCN | 2009004949 |
| ISBN | 9780521885218 |
| ISBN | 0521885213 |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | Item has been checked out | ML420.M3497 F74 2009 | Due 04/29/2026 | Want This? |