Urban spaces and musical practices of Neapolitan female monasteries between the Seventeenth and Eighteenth century

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Naples was a primary centre of interest and a radiating point in European music. Religious buildings have played a crucial part in the musical history of the city, through musical practices related to the organization of liturgies and ceremonies. In particular, female religious institutions were often responsible for producing and commissioning sacred music, and archival material has provided information on such institutions with many references to an important musical 'tradition' concerning both the public and private spheres. At all times, monasteries and convents collaborated with the most representative musicians of the city of Naples to embellish the different liturgies or to instruct young women and nuns in music. The comparative study of archival documentation and chronicles also reveals the relationships between the city of Naples and monastic communities, offering numerous details on local traditions and musical practices within the urban context.