Najwcześniejsze włoskie zjawiska teatralno-muzyczne. Zarys wprowadzenia
A Preliminary Outline of the Earliest Italian Music-Theatre Traditions

Author(s): Michał S. Sołtysik
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Cultural history, Studies of Literature, Polish Literature, Theory of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Italian musical theatre; Intermedii; Renaissance humanism; Early opera; European courts
Summary/Abstract: Music played an essential role in numerous early modern stage productions. This paper outlines the development of theatrical-musical phenomena on the Italian Peninsula from the late Middle Ages to the early 17th century, highlighting the presence and significance of music in shaping stage performance. From medieval religious dramas such as laude and sacra rappresentazione, to Renaissance intermedii and humanist experiments in courts like those in Ferrara, Mantua, and Florence, the use of music evolved from a ritualistic and communal function into a powerful dramatic and emotional tool. Special attention is given to the gradual emergence of sung drama, which eventually led to the birth of opera. Key milestones include Andrea Gabrieli’s choral compositions for 'Edipo tiranno' (1585), the elaborate intermedii for 'La pellegrina' (1589), and the first fully sung theatrical works in Florence and Rome around 1600. The study also reflects on the philosophical motivations of Renaissance scholars, whose fascination with antiquity and humanist ideals deeply shaped the aesthetics of musical theatre. Finally, the paper briefly mentions the early transplantation of Italian opera to the Polish court under Prince Władysław Vasa, underscoring the swift international dissemination of this new art form.

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