Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/B/Barcarolles, barcorelles

by John Weeks Moore

Barcarolles, barcorelles, and BARCARUOLA. Certain songs composed by the Venetian gondoliers, and sung by them in their boats. The style of these airs is simple and natural, like the manners of the people who pro-duce them ; and they possess a kind of artless beauty, which not only strikes common ears, but delights even the virtuosi. The Venetian gondoliers have the liberty of visiting all the theatres gratis, which gives them an opportunity of cultivating their ear and taste without expense. The gondolier songs are, many of them, so graceful and pleasing, that the musicians of Italy pride themselves on knowing and singing them.