“She was the most prolific composer—man or woman—of printed secular vocal music in Venice around the middle of the century.”
One of the first truly famous female musicians, Barbara Strozzi was born in 1619, the illegitimate daughter a prominent Venetian nobleman. Despite her ignoble origins as the daughter of Giulio Strozzi's servant, Barbara was adopted fully into the Strozzi family, with all the privileges and opportunities that entailed. In the tradition of the Italian upper classes, Strozzi received a broad and thorough education (doubtless to increase her marriageability), including instruction in music. However, her unusual talent for music set her apart from most young noblewomen: Barbara showed exceptional promise as a performer and composer, and her father invested in furthering her musical development (whereas other girls were coached to a level of basic proficiency, with just enough tutelage for the young ladies to play or sing prettily). In fact, Giulio Strozzi cared so greatly for his daughter's career that he established an academy just so she could perform for a wider audience.
Under the guidance of noted Baroque composer Francesco Cavalli (hired, of course, by her supportive father), Strozzi became an accomplished singer and prolific composer, with 8 published collections of work. She mainly wrote secular vocal music that she performed herself, and was also well-known for the poetic ability that featured in her works. The patrons who supported her work include several powerful rulers, notably the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, Eleonora of Mantua, and Ferdinand II of Austria. Scholars speculate that Strozzi's remarkable output may have been partly a result of financial necessity; when her wealthy father passed away, much of her inheritance had already been spent in pursuit of her musical education. She may also have supported herself with a career as a courtesan. Courtesans were often respected and influential public figures in Venetian society, widely known for their intellectual and musical talents--an area in which Barbara Strozzi certainly excelled. Additionally, Strozzi bore four children but was never married, lending further support to speculations about her sordid past. Whether she was or was not a courtesan, however, Barbara Strozzi was indisputably an influential member of Venice's intellectual and musical elite.
Sources:
Glixon, B. (1997). New Light on the Life and Career of Barbara Strozzi. The Musical Quarterly, 2(81), 311-335. Retrieved October 15, 2015, from http://mq.oxfordjournals.org/content/81/2/311.extract
One of the first truly famous female musicians, Barbara Strozzi was born in 1619, the illegitimate daughter a prominent Venetian nobleman. Despite her ignoble origins as the daughter of Giulio Strozzi's servant, Barbara was adopted fully into the Strozzi family, with all the privileges and opportunities that entailed. In the tradition of the Italian upper classes, Strozzi received a broad and thorough education (doubtless to increase her marriageability), including instruction in music. However, her unusual talent for music set her apart from most young noblewomen: Barbara showed exceptional promise as a performer and composer, and her father invested in furthering her musical development (whereas other girls were coached to a level of basic proficiency, with just enough tutelage for the young ladies to play or sing prettily). In fact, Giulio Strozzi cared so greatly for his daughter's career that he established an academy just so she could perform for a wider audience.
Under the guidance of noted Baroque composer Francesco Cavalli (hired, of course, by her supportive father), Strozzi became an accomplished singer and prolific composer, with 8 published collections of work. She mainly wrote secular vocal music that she performed herself, and was also well-known for the poetic ability that featured in her works. The patrons who supported her work include several powerful rulers, notably the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, Eleonora of Mantua, and Ferdinand II of Austria. Scholars speculate that Strozzi's remarkable output may have been partly a result of financial necessity; when her wealthy father passed away, much of her inheritance had already been spent in pursuit of her musical education. She may also have supported herself with a career as a courtesan. Courtesans were often respected and influential public figures in Venetian society, widely known for their intellectual and musical talents--an area in which Barbara Strozzi certainly excelled. Additionally, Strozzi bore four children but was never married, lending further support to speculations about her sordid past. Whether she was or was not a courtesan, however, Barbara Strozzi was indisputably an influential member of Venice's intellectual and musical elite.
Sources:
Glixon, B. (1997). New Light on the Life and Career of Barbara Strozzi. The Musical Quarterly, 2(81), 311-335. Retrieved October 15, 2015, from http://mq.oxfordjournals.org/content/81/2/311.extract