Italy has long been associated with opera, and opera with Italy. But what happened to that other face of Italian music, the rich tradition of instrumental music that inspired a whole generation of European composers throughout the 17th and 18th centuries? Italian Nineteenth Century Instrumental Music aims to introduce readers to the wealth of non-operatic, instrumental music written by Italian composers in and around the 19th century. It also examines how the important historical and political events that marked the course of the century affected the country’s musical scenario. The brief survey focuses on some of the most representative musicians of the period, many of whose names will be unfamiliar to the general public. The works of Saverio Mercadante, Alessandro Rolla, Antonio Bazzini, Giovanni Sgambati, Giuseppe Martucci and many others are still awaiting the full recognition they deserve. With Italian Nineteenth Century Instrumental Music, Michael Webb provides further impetus for a reassessment of this largely unexplored sector of Italian music.
