Book contents
- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music
- Series page
- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Music examples
- Notes on contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Historiography
- Part II Improvisation and composition
- Part III Humanism
- Part IV Music and other arts
- Part V Music in churches, courts, and cities
- 21 Musical institutions in the fifteenth century and their political contexts
- 22 Music and musicians at the Burgundian court in the fifteenth century
- 23 The papal chapel in the late fifteenth century
- 24 The beneficial system and fifteenth-century polyphony
- 25 Professional women singers in the fifteenth century: a tale of two Annas
- 26 Savonarola and the boys of Florence: songs and politics
- Part VI Religious devotion and liturgy
- Part VII Theory and practice
- Part VIII Sources
- Part IX Genres
- Part X Reception
- Index
25 - Professional women singers in the fifteenth century: a tale of two Annas
from Part V - Music in churches, courts, and cities
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2015
Book contents
- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music
- Series page
- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Music examples
- Notes on contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Historiography
- Part II Improvisation and composition
- Part III Humanism
- Part IV Music and other arts
- Part V Music in churches, courts, and cities
- 21 Musical institutions in the fifteenth century and their political contexts
- 22 Music and musicians at the Burgundian court in the fifteenth century
- 23 The papal chapel in the late fifteenth century
- 24 The beneficial system and fifteenth-century polyphony
- 25 Professional women singers in the fifteenth century: a tale of two Annas
- 26 Savonarola and the boys of Florence: songs and politics
- Part VI Religious devotion and liturgy
- Part VII Theory and practice
- Part VIII Sources
- Part IX Genres
- Part X Reception
- Index
Summary
This chapter describes two professional women musicians of the fifteenth century, one English but working in Italy, and the other German. The two Annas discussed in the chapter open an unexpected window on the existence of professional women performers who were not only extremely talented but also confident entrepreneurs. The German Anna was in the service of the emperor. The English Anna was more independent: she had many patrons, and evidently moved around Italy as she pleased, accompanied by her professional ensemble. Music filled the streets, homes, churches, and courts of the fifteenth century, but except for those serving the churches and courts the musicians themselves are largely anonymous. All information about Anna comes from Italian sources, and it is in Italy where she made her career. Anna, in fact, was not alone. She had her own ensemble, which included a tenorista, and she had been in Milan for some time.
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- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music , pp. 476 - 485Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2015
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