Born: 1619. Venice, Italy
Died: November 11, 1677. Padua, Italy
Barbara Strozzi
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Italian composer and performer. Important early composer of the secular cantata, and the first to publish cantatas in large number.
Tracing the history of women in music is a difficult task. Their history often
diverges from that of the male musical culture, and the rules we use to judge
success and failure often operate quite differently. But with Barbara Strozzi
we encounter an unusual case for her time: a woman whose training, accomplishments,
and opportunities parallel in many ways those of her male counterparts.
Strozzi was raised in the household of the influential Venetian poet Giulio
Strozzi (presumably her father). She studied with Francesco Cavalli, one of
the leading operatic composers of the day, and her father created opportunities
for her to demonstrate both her performing and her compositional skills. Her
music was published, which was a rarity for women at that time. In fact, she
published more cantatas than any of her Italian contemporaries. She was, in
short, a professional in a day when few women could (or would wish to) claim
that title.
At the same time, Strozzi's success came at a price. As was often the
case with talented and public women of her time, many of her detractors suggested
that she was a courtesan—the Venetian equivalent of the Japanese geisha.
Perhaps it was true. But we need to look at this concept in a different light.
Beyond the sexual side of her life, a courtesan was often valued and patronized
for her intellectual abilities—as a writer, a poet, or simply a conversationalist.
Because of this, many talented Venetian women led the life of a courtesan in
order to be able to pursue their artistic interests. Some, such as the poet
Veronica Franco, styled themselves as "honest courtesans" and boldly
challenged the social conventions of their times. Like the contemporary male
courtier, they saw themselves as having a place in society by virtue of their
talents. If there were other elements involved, it was simply part of the bargain.
No matter what the truth of this is, however, it is Barbara Strozzi's
remarkable success and exquisite music that make her such a compelling musical
figure.
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