Musico

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The Italian term musico ({{plural form}}: musici) has a number of meanings:

• Originally, the term referred to any trained, as opposed to amateur, musician.
• In the 18th century, the polite term was used for the voice-type known today as castrato, which was considered a derogatory term at the time.New Grove Dictionary of Opera, vol 3, p.529, sv "musico"Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), The Oxford Dictionary of Opera, 782 pages, {{ISBN|0-19-869164-5}} The leading castrato in a company was referred to as a primo musico. A diminutive form (musichetto) was also occasionally used.
• In the 19th century, after the disappearance of castrati from opera, the term referred to a female singer, usually a contralto, who performed male leads in travesti.Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992) op. cit.