A Critical Translation from the Italian of Vincenzo Manfredini's Difesa Della Musica Moderna/In Defense of Modern Music (1788)In Defense of Modern Music preserves, almost by accident, a private debate between Esteban de Arteaga, philosopher of the arts, and Vincenzo Manfredini, composer, singing teacher, and champion of Italian heroic opera in the 1780s. The text comprises Manfredini's unfavorable review of Arteaga's History of Italian Opera from its Origins to the Present Day, Arteaga's tetchy response, and Manfredini's scornful reply. The Defence plays a unique role in the debate on opera that raged across Europe at the time. Formidable personalities engaged in the argument, theorists and philosophers as much as practical men of the theatre. Arteaga followed in the footsteps of Algarotti, Diderot, Rousseau, and Brown in analyzing the state of opera in the Age of Enlightenment. Their theories were tested by the composers Gluck, Jommelli, and Traetta; librettists including Calzabiti and Coltellini; two leading choreographers, Angiolini and Noverre; and designers such as the Galliari Brothers. The Defence traces the noble ideas and achievements of these significant personalities in a casual, subjective, sometimes chaotic commentary, that vividly recreates the manner of 18th-century argument - sometimes fulsomely servile, elsewhere witty and ironic, descending occasionally to insults. This, the first English translation of the text, presents a unique account of an important 18th-century controversy, while shedding light on the language and manners of the period. |
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accents Algarotti ancient music Antonio Antonio Eximeno Apostolo Zeno argue argument arias Arteaga assert badly performed believe Bologna edition Calzabigi castrato century comparison compositions counterpoint criticise debate decline defend Difesa della musica dissertation effects erudition Euripides example excellent expression Francesco genre Gherardeschi Giornale enciclopedico Giovanni Battista Giovanni Battista Martini Gluck Greek drama Greek music harmony honour ignorant imitation incompetent practitioners instrumental music Italy Jommelli learned librettist librettos Maestro Manfredini Martini matters mediocre melody mentioned Metastasio modern composers modern music musica moderna musicians Naples never obbligato opera seria opinion Palestrina Pergolesi philosopher Piccinni poet poetry and music praise proposition prove published reason referred Regole armoniche REPLY RESPONSE reviewer ritornellos Rivoluzioni ronḍ Sacchini Saggio Saverio Mattei second volume singing Sophocles speak Stefano Arteaga Storia style syllables taste theatre things translated true truth Venice edition Vincenzo Vincenzo Galilei Vincenzo Manfredini vocal voice words writers written