Abstract

The cantata as cultivated by Alessandro Scarlatti and his contemporaries Alessandro Stradella and Giovanni Bononcini was the model for the early development of the English cantata, "which remained a solo vocal genre in England throughout the eighteenth century, namely 1710-1800. By focusing on specific musical elements, such as cantata format (recitative-aria-recitative-aria or aria-recitative-aria), song forms, motivic use, textual content, instrumental requirements and performance venues, the evolution of the English cantata can be observed during the first half of the eighteenth century, developing from a simple imitation of the Italian form to a genre in its own right.1

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

2008

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2008 Steglein Publishing, Inc. This chapter first appeared in Genre in Eighteenth-Century Music.

Please note that downloads of the book chapter are for private/personal use only.

Purchase online at Steglein Publishing, Inc.

Share

COinS