THE HISTORY OF ITALIAN SINGER-SONGWRITERS: BETWEEN WORDS AND MUSIC

This course explores the origins and development of the singer-songwriter figure in Italy, from the 1960s through the 2000s. The lessons will show how Italian «canzone d’autore» blends music and lyrics to express a distinct poetic vision, in which the artist conveys their personal view of the world through the fusion of melody, text, and performance. The course spans fifty years of Italian history, from Fabrizio De André’s Genoa to Giorgio Gaber’s Milan; from Francesco De Gregori’s Rome to Lucio Dalla’s Bologna. In class, students will listen to songs by these and other artists who helped shape the canzone d’autore into a true genre, highlighting its unique stylistic traits and characteristics.