Caccini, Giulio

1588 or 1560-1615

Italian composer, singer and luteplayer. Considerable difference exists between musical biographies in regard to his dates, which are evidently not known accurately. The exact year of his birth and death are, however, of minor importance compared with his work, for he was really a reformer in music and laid the foundations for modern opera by breaking away from the old style composition for many voices and writing for one voice, first in recitative form, followed by settings of detached dramatic scenes and finally leading up to the opera. His first works  were madrigals in the old style, but influenced by his friends, Galilei and Peri, and inspired by the musical discussions held in Florence, he soon began writing in the new dramatic style, composing for a single voice, with instrumental accompaniment. These compositions he sang to his own   accompaniment on the theorbo, with great success. His first large work, in this new style, was the opera, II Combattimento d'Apolline Col Serpente; next appeared Dafne, Eurydice in 1600 and the same year II rapimento di Cefalo, the first opera ever produced in a public theatre. Eurydice and Dafne, written in collaboration with Peri, an Italian poet of considerable ability and a friend of Caccini's, are considered the beginning of modern operas and the recitatives composed and sung by Caccini, were of the greatest importance in musical development, this form being originated and first used by him. Another important work of Caccini's was his New Music, a series of madrigals for single voice. Caccini was also one of the greatest vocal teachers that Italy has produced, and to him was no doubt due, in great part, the vocal method which has made Italy famous.