By Giulia Zarantonello
A barcarolle (from French, also barcarole; originally, Italian barcarola or barcaruola, from barca 'boat')[1] is a traditional folk song sung by Venetian gondoliers, or a piece of music composed in that style. In classical music, two of the most famous barcarolles are Jacques Offenbach's "Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour", from his opera The Tales of Hoffmann; and Frédéric Chopin's "Barcarolle in F-sharp major" for solo piano.