Castrati and Gender Fluidity

Question 1

Why prepubescent boys desirable? (4)

Answer 1

Youth, Grace, no risk of pregnancy, beauty - backed up by classical ideas of the Greeks

Question 2

Why was there a lack of bass virtuosity, especially in emotive passages

Answer 2

Virtuosity became linked with intense emotion and desire. Basses given the most masculine roles but also the sexually indifferent roles - masculine men seen as sexually indifferent

Question 3

Reasons for Castrati becoming popular? (3)

Answer 3

Interesting phenomenon itself; women barred from performance so men take the virtuosic high role; musical representation of prepubscent boy - frozen in same position on the gender spectrum

Question 4

Examples of Castrati? (2)

Answer 4

Senesino, Farinelli

Question 5

Why castrati cast in lead romantic roles?

Answer 5

can express emotion through high voice virtuosity

Question 6

Affect of the emergence of virtuosos on music?

Answer 6

Division of labour - composers no longer writing for themselves or what they can do - write for the performers - allows more virtuosity

Question 7

Examples of Castrati as romantic leads? (2)

Answer 7

Giulio cesare - effeminate because he gives in to sexual desire and seduction of Cleopatra. Orlando

Question 8

Patron of Castrati?

Answer 8

Maffeo Barberini (Pope Urban VIII) and the Barberini family