Barbara
Strozzi (1619–1677) was primarily recognized during her life as a singer, but
she also was a talented composer. After writing her First Book of Madrigals in
1644, she feared what the community response would be, since she was a woman. Unfortunately,
her first attempt did not establish her in the great musical canon. She did not
lose hope, however, writing seven additional volumes, hoping to assert her own
voice rather than that of the controlling men in her life.
Barbara
was actually quite talented at composition; the music writer Charles Burney
stating 100 years following her death that she may have originated the cantata
form in Italy! Below you can listen to “Moralita amorosa” from her opus 3. This
piece attacks women who lure men in with their enticing fashion. Note the
lovely melisma at the beginning that sounds improvisatory. In reality, Barbara
carefully noted every detail!
