A musical composition for singers and instruments, usually telling a story and performed without costumes or scenery.
From Italian 'cantata,' the feminine past participle of 'cantare' meaning 'to sing,' from Latin 'cantare.' It evolved in 17th-century Italy as composers created vocal works distinct from operas and oratorios.
The word 'cantata' literally means 'sung thing'—the Italian word for singing gave us the form itself! Bach and Handel wrote hundreds of cantatas, making them as important to classical music as pop songs are today, but they've faded from popular culture even though they're absolutely stunning.
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