Luigi Lai
Encyclopedia
Luigi Lai is an Italian musician from Sardinia
, and is living heir of the school of Sarrabus players of the launeddas
.
Lai was born at San Vito
, in the province of Cagliari
. As a child in nearby Villaputzu
, he became a student of one of launeddas player Antonio Lara. For a time he lived in Switzerland and studied at the Academy of Music in Zurich
. He now works to spread awareness of the launeddas in Italy and worldwide, and instructs many students.
In 1977 he collaborated with Angelo Branduardi
playing the typical Sardinian instrument on the album la pulce d'acqua
.
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
, and is living heir of the school of Sarrabus players of the launeddas
Launeddas
The launeddas is a typical Sardinian woodwind instrument, consisting of three pipes. It is polyphonic and played using circular breathing. An ancient instrument, dating back to at least the 8th century BC, launeddas are still played during religious ceremonies and dances...
.
Lai was born at San Vito
San Vito
San Vito is a comune in the Province of Cagliari in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 45 km northeast of Cagliari.San Vito borders the following municipalities: Burcei, Castiadas, Muravera, Sinnai, Villaputzu, Villasalto....
, in the province of Cagliari
Province of Cagliari
Cagliari is a province in the autonomous island region of Sardinia in Italy. Its capital is the city of Cagliari.It has an area of 4,470 km², and a total population of 543,310 . There are 71 comuni in the province....
. As a child in nearby Villaputzu
Villaputzu
Villaputzu is a municipality in the Province of Cagliari in the Italian region and island of Sardinia, located about 45 km northeast of the sardinian capital Cagliari...
, he became a student of one of launeddas player Antonio Lara. For a time he lived in Switzerland and studied at the Academy of Music in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. He now works to spread awareness of the launeddas in Italy and worldwide, and instructs many students.
In 1977 he collaborated with Angelo Branduardi
Angelo Branduardi
Angelo Branduardi , is an Italian folk singer and composer who scored relevant success in Italy and European countries such as France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.- Biography :...
playing the typical Sardinian instrument on the album la pulce d'acqua
La pulce d'acqua
La pulce d'acqua is an album of the Italian singer-songwriter Angelo Branduardi. It was released in 1977 by Polydor. A French edition, entitled La demoiselle, was published in 1979; and English edition, entitled Fables and Fantasies and with lyrics written by Peter Sinfield, was released in...
.