Music in Italy has a history that dates back to 230 AD But let's not take it year by year and generalize. We'll simply say before 1500. The music of this period was primarily religiously oriented. One of the first signs of music in Italy was the singing of Alleluia after the recitation of the Psalms. Other hymns began to appear in 386. However, true music did not develop until the 7th to 12th centuries. During this period, plainsong was created. Around the year 1000 the Guidonian Hand was created. This was the first version of a musical staff. In the 15th century, musical compositions became increasingly common. Next we move on to the 16th century: the Renaissance era. During this period, polychoral and baroque music began to become popular. In 1520 madrigals were born and gave rise to madrigalism. A madrigal is a type of music in which emotion is expressed in every line of a work. In the 17th century, part of the Baroque era, madrigals began to disappear as opera entered the scene. Inspired by the operas staged by the Greeks with a musical context, the Italians created opera. Venice, Rome and Naples were the three key cities for the beginning of the work. Musical baroque also began to appear in the 17th century. Baroque, instrumental and orchestral music grew in popularity. Alessandro Scarlatti and Antonio Vivaldi were very important composers during the Baroque era. Opera theaters were built in Naples and Milan in the 18th century: the Teatro San Carlo and La Scala respectively. After the Baroque era came the Classical era. In the 19th century in Italy it was romanticism. Italian literature, art and music were highly sought after. The opera continued to remain popular and in print media from 433 BC, and electric and acoustic lyres also exist. Those who play the lyres are known as zitherists. Sacred music in Italy often changes to more popular styles. Long ago it was Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony. However, they were eventually replaced with more operatic and entertaining types of music. Furthermore, music and politics were very intertwined. There was music for courts, coronations, the birth of an heir, marches and many other occasions. Italian music is localized in regions or cities. Today Italian music has modernized, with Italian rap and rock. Both rap and rock took their cues from the United States. The sound and rap styles reflect American ones, but the lyrics focus on Italian social criticism. Works Citedwikipedia.org/wiki/music_history_of_italy, wikipedia.org/wiki/music_of_italy