The usual unit of linear measure in 18th Century Italy was the bracco, or arm (a unit that is obviously subject to much variation).
However, the nobility had the right to define their own units. It's quite possible that Figaro is using a measure defined by his master, Count Almaviva. I don't know if that's a sufficient explanation for Matt's program notes. However, if he uses it, I'll be very happy to be credited with providing it. <g> Bill Potts, CMS Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On > Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2002 14:39 > To: U.S. Metric Association > Subject: [USMA:20803] Help, anyone? Opera question! > > > I've been sent the following request. I've got a limited amount of > information on old Italian units, but I thought I'd broadcast this in > case anyone has more info: > > >Hello, my name is Matt Murphy. I am directing Mozart's "Le > Nozze de Figaro" > >and I have a question about a unit of measurement. Maybe > somebody there can > >help me! > > > >At the beginning of the opera, Figaro is measuring an area > within a certain > >room of the castle to see if his bed will fit nicely into that > area. Its the > >first words of the opera-he sings consecutively, Five(cinque), > 10, 20, 30, > >37, and 43. Now, I would like to be logical about this, and I > can't see any > >way to make him actually be measuring a length comparable to 43 > feet for a > >bed, let alone covering that large of an area in the 16 bars that Mozart > >allows for! So I am wondering what Italian unit of measurement > at the end of > >the 18th century would have made logical sense for the > librettist Lorenzo Da > >Ponte to go as high as 43 when measuring for a bed. Any ideas? > > > >One final question, what would Figaro have been using for a > measuring device > >at the end of the 18th century? Could it have been something > that folded out > >to be a large measuring stick, or would he have just had > something like a > >stick or a sword or something "barbaric" like that. If you can > help me with > >these questions, I promise the opera Gods will shine on you, and > when we get > >our production up and running your name will be big and bold under the > >special thanks in the program! > > > >Thank you for your time and knowledge. > > > >Cheers, > > > >Matt > > -- > UK Metric Association: http://www.metric.org.uk/
