Musicologist Anna Celenza Traces the Origins of the "Sinatra Sound"

Anna Celenza

On March 4th, John Cabot University had the pleasure of welcoming Anna Celenza, who is Professor of Music at Georgetown University.

Celenza’s lecture demonstrated how Sinatra’s name lives on because of his distinctive musical style — a style firmly rooted in Italian traditions. His phrasing and tone, the timbre of his voice: these are the qualities that set him apart. Celenza traced the origins of the famous “Sinatra Sound” to Northern Italy, and explained to the audience of JCU staff, students, faculty and visitors, how Sinatra’s influence can be seen today through in an array of musical genres.

Anna Celenza has published several scholarly books and articles on a wide array of topics, from Liszt and Mahler to Scandinavian music, the Jesuits and Music, and jazz. She has also served as a writer/commentator for NPR’s Performance Today and published eight children’s books, including Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (2006) and Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite (2011).

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