Italian style

Italian musical style, particularly during the Baroque era (c. 1600-1750), saw a dramatic shift with the emergence of the seconda prattica, or stile moderno. This new theatrical style, originating in Italy, emphasized the primacy of text and drama, leading to the development of monody. Monody included recitative, arioso, and aria, often accompanied by basso continuo.

Opera became a dominant form, with centers like Naples developing opera seria, characterized by serious subjects, elaborate arias (especially the da capo aria), and a distinction between dry and accompanied recitative. This style influenced later composers and contributed to the development of the symphony. Simpler secular forms like the villanella and balletto also emerged as reactions to more complex styles.123