The Anonymous Neapolitan: Song Anthology from the 13th to the 19th Century

Featuring

Letizia Calandra
Valerio Celentano
Anonymous (Traditional)
Anonymous

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Performer Biography

Letizia Calandra, the soprano, has a background in classical and early music and is considered a leading interpreter of the Neapolitan classical repertoire.

Interpretation

Valerio Celentano, the guitarist on this album, also created all the transcriptions of the pieces, which is the result of years of research.

Recording & Production

The recording was made in December 2021 at Castello Geiringer-European School of Trieste, Italy, and features a guitar by Leonardo De Gregorio.

Cultural Impact

The song 'Fenesta vascia' is widely recognized as a symbol of Italy and was cited in Hector Malot's 1878 novel 'Sans Famille' as a tune sung by a street musician.

Album & Artwork

This album, "The Anonymous Neapolitan," is a continuation of soprano Letizia Calandra's exploration of old Naples, its stories, melodies, and poetry.

Historical Context

For at least three centuries, Neapolitan songs were handed down orally and many were lost, until the mid-19th century when they were collected and transcribed.

Composition History

The album includes the Seikilos epitaph, an anonymous musical fragment discovered in Anatolia, which is considered the oldest complete piece of music known.