Francesca Caccini
1587 - ca.1638-40
The first woman known to have composed opera, Francesca Caccini may have been the most prolific composer of her time. She was the daughter of the famous Florentine singer and composer Guilio Caccini, who was probably her earliest teacher and mentor. Her musical education was augmented by a literary education; she wrote poetry as well as music. Active as a singer, composer and teacher, Francesca published her Primo Libro delle Musiche a una e due Voci (1618) with the same printer used by her father for his well-known Le Nuove Musiche (1602) and its follow-up volume (1614).
Works in Our Catalog:
491-00564 - Io mi distruggo491-00570 - Seven Pieces for Voice
491-00502 - Ten Canzonettas
Works in Our Collections:
- Chi desia di saper - found in First Solos: Songs by Women Composers, Volume II: Medium Voice
- Chi desia di saper - found in 24 Italian Songs & Arias by Women Composers
- Dispiegate guancie amate - found in 24 Italian Songs & Arias by Women Composers
- Non so se quel sorriso - found in 24 Italian Songs & Arias by Women Composers
- “Aria - La pastorella mia” - found in 24 Italian Songs & Arias by Women Composers