BWCC: Danza, Danza Fanciulla

Berkeley Women's Community Chorus (BWCC) under direction of Debra Golata performs "Danza, Danza Fanciulla" by Francesco Durante (Frattamaggiore 1684-Naples 1755).

"Dance, gentle maiden, to my singing. Whirl, light and slender girl, to the sound of the waves of the sea. Hear the pleasant murmur of the playful breeze which speaks to the heart with languid voice and which invites dancing without rest."

This aria that appears in modern anthologies of Italian Art Songs was actually a solfeggio (a vocal sight singing exercise) that Durante wrote for his students to which texts and elaborate piano accompaniments were added in the 19th century by an unknown source. Durante was an Italian composer of religious and instrumental music. He was first influenced by his father, a singer, and later was a pupil of Alessandro Scarlatti. He was appointed head of the Conservatory in Naples succeeding Nicola Porpora. (BWCC performed Porpora's Magnifical last term.)

The performance took place on Sunday, 2015 November 22 at Northbrae Community Church in Berkeley, CA.