original_query: What role does Italian music play in Italian national and ethnic identity? What is the most relevant chunk to answer the query?
query: What role does Italian music play in Italian national and ethnic identity?
answer: Italian music has traditionally been a cultural marker of Italian national and ethnic identity, holding an important position in society and politics.  While no single style is considered a characteristic national style, opera and the classical legacy are important aspects of national identity.  Folk music, though regionally diverse, also contributes to this identity, although it never became a national symbol.