We are most familiar, of course, with the music written for castrati by the great composers: Handel, Vivaldi, Scarlatti, etc. However, if you find examples of music written for the castrati by the "less great" composers of the time, you REALLY see what incredible capacity they must have had. I don't remember where I saw it, but there is some music where there are melismas that go on for what seems like FOREVER. (And you thought "Rejoice" was bad!)
It is truly a remarkable story.
-JS
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