Book contents
- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music
- Series page
- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Music examples
- Notes on contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Historiography
- Part II Improvisation and composition
- Part III Humanism
- Part IV Music and other arts
- Part V Music in churches, courts, and cities
- 21 Musical institutions in the fifteenth century and their political contexts
- 22 Music and musicians at the Burgundian court in the fifteenth century
- 23 The papal chapel in the late fifteenth century
- 24 The beneficial system and fifteenth-century polyphony
- 25 Professional women singers in the fifteenth century: a tale of two Annas
- 26 Savonarola and the boys of Florence: songs and politics
- Part VI Religious devotion and liturgy
- Part VII Theory and practice
- Part VIII Sources
- Part IX Genres
- Part X Reception
- Index
26 - Savonarola and the boys of Florence: songs and politics
from Part V - Music in churches, courts, and cities
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2015
Book contents
- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music
- Series page
- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Music examples
- Notes on contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Historiography
- Part II Improvisation and composition
- Part III Humanism
- Part IV Music and other arts
- Part V Music in churches, courts, and cities
- 21 Musical institutions in the fifteenth century and their political contexts
- 22 Music and musicians at the Burgundian court in the fifteenth century
- 23 The papal chapel in the late fifteenth century
- 24 The beneficial system and fifteenth-century polyphony
- 25 Professional women singers in the fifteenth century: a tale of two Annas
- 26 Savonarola and the boys of Florence: songs and politics
- Part VI Religious devotion and liturgy
- Part VII Theory and practice
- Part VIII Sources
- Part IX Genres
- Part X Reception
- Index
Summary
Girolamo Savonarola's three-pronged program focused on political, social, and religious reforms. He turned his attention to the social realm, to the reform of public morals, and he organized the boys of Florence to enforce these reforms. Music played a central role in promoting social bonding of the youths, and the texts of newly composed songs helped spread the message of change. This chapter presents a better understanding of Florentine traditions that roused his ire, by taking a brief look at Carnival and its music during the 1470s and 1480s, and examines Savonarola's transformation of civic life. After Lorenzo de' Medici's death, Savonarola mobilized the boys of Florence to perform laude written by the friar himself and his followers. The chapter takes a brief look at their place in Florentine society, and focuses attention on the musical activities of the boys.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Cambridge History of Fifteenth-Century Music , pp. 486 - 508Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2015