Tak zwana „Wenecjanka”
So-Called “Venetian Song”

Hypotheses on Attribution and Cultural Circulation of an Italian Song Popular in the Age of Enlightenment

Summary/Abstract: The article discusses the circumstances accompanying the dissemination of one of the most popular European 18th c. theatre melodies that, as so-called “Venetian song,” was known to Warsaw audience from the year 1790 when, as Dominic’s song was heard in “Taczka occiarza” (“The Vinegar Maker’s Wheelbarrow),” a play translated and adapted to the Polish audience by Wojciech Bogusławski. The paper also reveals the mechanisms that impede recognition of the melody’s Italian original, namely the aria “La mia crudel tiranna” (“The Maid of Lordi),” from the year 1749 inserted into many European comic operas, and at the turn of the 18th and 19th c. was popular in salon music performances of various nature (from occasional, satirical songs of political character to freemasonic ballads). The evidence of the strong presence of the “Venetian song” in the 18th and 19th c. music culture is found in many documents of the epoch, both in musical prints and in French, English, Irish, and American songbooks. The sources acknowledge the many variation transformations of the melody and its contrafact usage.

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