Pastoral Music
Pastoral music includes strophic songs and musical laments.
The shepherds often play the syrinx or the Pan flute, considered a typical pastoral instrument. The pastoral genre became a significant influence on the development of opera. After the settings of pastoral poetry were written, Italian composers became increasingly drawn to the pastoral.
Musical settings of pastoral poetry became commonplace; these led to the cantata and the serenata, in which pastoral themes remained consistent.
Pastoral opera remained popular throughout the 17th century, not just in Italy. At the same time, Italian and German composers developed a genre of musical pastorals associated with Christmas Eve.