De grote reis van Jan Alensoon (1683-1769): van zijn gezang was ‘ieder een verstelt en verwondert’

While most 17th and 18th century Grand Tours were trips of Europe meant to complete a young man’s education, Jan Alensoon is forty years old when he leaves Leiden in 1723. A learned connoisseur with clear opinions, Alensoon visits countless churches and palaces en route, especially in Italy, his primary destination. His record of the time he spends in Rome mainly consists of numerous Latin inscriptions on ancient and Renaissance tombs and gravestones, one of his many hobbies. Alensoon also demonstrates an avid interest in musicians and the musical practices of the many cities he visits. In Venice he calls at the composer Benedetto Marcello and the famed singer Faustina Bordoni. A talented amateur singer, he never passes up an opportunity to display his vocal prowess, consistently noting that everyone is impressed with his vocal range (three octaves) and his ability to quickly switch between high and low notes. He demonstrates his vocal talents with the same hit during the entire trip of more than a year: a dialogue between a male and female, which he performs by himself.