French and Italian Opera in England in the Seventeenth Century

FAIN: FA-11402-76

Neal Zaslaw
Cornell University (Ithaca, NY 14850-2820)

To rewrite the early history of opera in the England of the seventeenth century. Grantee proposes to organize the study of this music in England around a narrative history of the persons, music, institutions and events involved, also undertaking a stylistic study of the extant foreign music in Britain and of the English music it may have influenced, as well as a socio-historical examination of the forces for and against the importation of foreign opera in England. Preliminary investigation by the grantee suggested that the influence of French and Italian opera was a more significant part of English musical life than had hitherto been believed.