Music of Sardinia
Encyclopedia
Sardinia
is probably the most culturally distinct of all the regions in Italy
and, musically, is best known for the tenore polyphonic chant, sacred songs called gozo
s, and launeddas
, an ancient instrument that consist in a set of three single-reed pipes, all three mouth-blown simultaneously using circular breathing, with two chanters and one drone.
is an ancient instrument, dating back to at least the 8th century BC, they are played using circular breathing
.
Launeddas are used to play a complex style of music that has achieved some international attention, and they are still played during religious ceremonies and dances (su ballu).
Some of the most famous player were Efisio Melis
, Antonio Lara, Dionigi Burranca and Luigi Lai
. Many of the launeddas musicians are from de south of the island from villages like Villaputzu
, San Vito
and Muravera
in the subregion named Sarrabus, or from Samatzai
but even from Cabras
near Oristano
and Ovodda
near Nuoro
. Distinctively, they are played using extensive variations on a few melodic phrases and, because of the technique of circular breathing, a single song can last over an hour.
, and nowadays Franco Denanni; this genre is especially well known in the northwest region of Logudoro
near the city of Sassari
and in the northeast region of Gallura
.
is sung with four vocal parts. They are bassu (bass), mesa boghe (middle), contra (counter) and boghe (leader and soloist). The most popular group is Tenores di Bitti
, and others include Tenores de Oniferi.
In November 2005 The A Tenore vocal style of the Sardinian pastoral culture was proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
by UNESCO
.
Traditional dances include ballu tundu
, passu torrau, durdurinu, dillu, logudoresa, arroxiada, passu e trese, and campidanesa
Aside from the launeddas, traditional instruments include benas, organittu, chiterra, tamburrinos.
Other influential Sardinian musicians include Totore Chessa (organetto
), 1930s launeddas legend Efisio Melis
, Maria Carta
, Mauro Palmas, Elena Ledda
of Sonos
and Suonofficina, Cordas et Cannas, Antonello Salis piano
, Paolo Fresu
(trumpet
) and Gesuino Deiana (guitar
).
is home to the permanent Choir and Orchestra of the Opera and Concert Association of Cagliari and seat of the Cagliari Opera Foundation. As well, there is a Roman amphitheater in Cagliari that is used for outdoor summer concerts and festivals. The city is the site of Palestrina
music conservatory.
The town of Tadasuni
is the site of one of the interesting Giovanni Dore museum, a collection of 400 traditional Sardinian folk instruments. The Ente Musicale di Nuoro
was founded in 1987 and, among other activities, sponsors the annual Nuoro Jazz
Festival directed by trumpeter Paolo Fresu
. Sassari
is the site of the Luigi Canepa music conservatory, the Teatro Politeama Verdi, built in 1884 and the Civic Theatre (1827).
of the Savoyard
Kingdom of Sardinia
(later become Kingdom of Italy
); it was written in Sardinian language
by Vittorio Angius in 1842. It was substituted by the Marcia Reale
(Royal March of Ordinance) in 1861.
Dimonios (Demons) is the official hymn of Sassari Mechanized Brigade
, written in Logudorese Sardinian, in 1915.
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[],...
is probably the most culturally distinct of all the regions in Italy
Regions of Italy
The regions of Italy are the first-level administrative divisions of the state, constituting its first NUTS administrative level. There are twenty regions, of which five are constitutionally given a broader amount of autonomy granted by special statutes....
and, musically, is best known for the tenore polyphonic chant, sacred songs called gozo
Gozo
Gozo is a small island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Southern European country of Malta; after the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago...
s, and 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...
, an ancient instrument that consist in a set of three single-reed pipes, all three mouth-blown simultaneously using circular breathing, with two chanters and one drone.
Launeddas
LauneddasLauneddas
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...
is an ancient instrument, dating back to at least the 8th century BC, they are played using circular breathing
Circular breathing
Circular breathing is a technique used by players of some wind instruments to produce a continuous tone without interruption. This is accomplished by breathing in through the nose while simultaneously pushing air out through the mouth using air stored in the cheeks.It is used extensively in playing...
.
Launeddas are used to play a complex style of music that has achieved some international attention, and they are still played during religious ceremonies and dances (su ballu).
Some of the most famous player were Efisio Melis
Efisio Melis
Efisio Melis was a Sardinian folk musician.He was born in Villaputzu near the southeastern tip of the island of Sardinia. Melis is considered to have been the greatest performer ever on the traditional instrument, the launeddas, which is typically used in the music of southern Sardinia.Melis was a...
, Antonio Lara, Dionigi Burranca and Luigi Lai
Luigi Lai
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...
. Many of the launeddas musicians are from de south of the island from villages like 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...
, 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....
and Muravera
Muravera
Muravera is a comune in the Province of Cagliari in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 45 km northeast of Cagliari in the Sarrabus traditional area....
in the subregion named Sarrabus, or from Samatzai
Samatzai
Samatzai is a town in the province of Cagliari, in Sardinia ....
but even from Cabras
Cabras
There are geographical features that begin with Cabras:*Cabras, Italy*Ilha das Cabras - an island chain in the municipality of Ilhabela, São Paulo, Brazil...
near Oristano
Oristano
Oristano is a town and comune, capital of the Province of Oristano, on the island of Sardinia, Italy. It has approximately 32,500 inhabitants.Its economy is mainly based on fishing, agriculture and, to a certain extent, tourism.-History:...
and Ovodda
Ovodda
Ovodda is a comune in the Province of Nuoro in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 100 km north of Cagliari and about 30 km southwest of Nuoro. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,704 and an area of 40.8 km².Ovodda borders the following municipalities: Desulo,...
near Nuoro
Nuoro
Nuoro is a city and comune in central-eastern Sardinia, Italy, situated on the slopes of the Monte Ortobene. It is the capital of the Province of Nuoro. With a population of 36,443 Nuoro is a city and comune (municipality) in central-eastern Sardinia, Italy, situated on the slopes of the Monte...
. Distinctively, they are played using extensive variations on a few melodic phrases and, because of the technique of circular breathing, a single song can last over an hour.
Cantu a chiterra
Traditional singing accompanied by guitar cantu a chiterra is also found in Sardinia, represented by performers like Luiginu Cossu, Maria CartaMaria Carta
Maria Carta was a Rome-based Sardinian folk music singer-songwriter. She also performed in film and theater and, in 1975, she wrote a book of poetry, Ritual Song.She was born in Siligo, Sassari, Sardinia....
, and nowadays Franco Denanni; this genre is especially well known in the northwest region of Logudoro
Logudoro
The Logudoro is a large traditional region in central-northern Sardinia, Italy. The local dialect is known as Logudorese.Mostly composed of soft volcanic terrains, it is the most fertile area of the island. For this reason it was settled since early Prehistoric times, as shown by the presence of...
near the city of Sassari
Sassari
Sassari is an Italian city. It is the second-largest city of Sardinia in terms of population with about 130,000 inhabitants, or about 300,000 including the greater metropolitan area...
and in the northeast region of Gallura
Gallura
Gallura is a region of northern Sardinia, Italy.The name Gallùra means "area located on high ground".-Geography:...
.
Polyphonic singing
Rural polyphonic chanting known as cantu a tenoreTenores
Cantu a tenore is a style of polyphonic folk singing characteristic of the Barbagia region of the island of Sardinia , even though some other Sardinian sub-regions bear examples of such tradition....
is sung with four vocal parts. They are bassu (bass), mesa boghe (middle), contra (counter) and boghe (leader and soloist). The most popular group is Tenores di Bitti
Tenores di Bitti
The Tenores di Bitti are a traditional folk music group from Bitti, Sardinia who employ a polyphonic vocal style, often described as a type of overtone singing, whose oral tradition dates back to 3000 BC ....
, and others include Tenores de Oniferi.
In November 2005 The A Tenore vocal style of the Sardinian pastoral culture was proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
The Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity was made by the Director-General of UNESCO starting in 2001 to raise awareness on intangible cultural heritage and encourage local communities to protect them and the local people who sustain these forms of cultural...
by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
Other traditional singing, dance and music
Sacred gozos (in Sardinian language gosos), or sacred songs, can be heard during religious celebrations, sung by choruses like Su Cuncordu 'e su Rosariu.Traditional dances include ballu tundu
Ballu tundu
Ballu tundu or ballu bardu is a traditional Italian folk dance from the island of Sardinia which is typically danced in a closed or open circle. The dance was described as early as 1805 by Mameli and by La Marmora in 1825...
, passu torrau, durdurinu, dillu, logudoresa, arroxiada, passu e trese, and campidanesa
Aside from the launeddas, traditional instruments include benas, organittu, chiterra, tamburrinos.
Other influential Sardinian musicians include Totore Chessa (organetto
Organetto
Organetto refers to two distinct instruments. The medieval organetto was a portable pipe instrument, while the modern organetto is a popular Italian folk instrument allied to the accordion....
), 1930s launeddas legend Efisio Melis
Efisio Melis
Efisio Melis was a Sardinian folk musician.He was born in Villaputzu near the southeastern tip of the island of Sardinia. Melis is considered to have been the greatest performer ever on the traditional instrument, the launeddas, which is typically used in the music of southern Sardinia.Melis was a...
, Maria Carta
Maria Carta
Maria Carta was a Rome-based Sardinian folk music singer-songwriter. She also performed in film and theater and, in 1975, she wrote a book of poetry, Ritual Song.She was born in Siligo, Sassari, Sardinia....
, Mauro Palmas, Elena Ledda
Elena Ledda
Elena Ledda is a Sardinian singer.Born near Cagliari, she pursued conservatory studies in oboe and voice. Ledda has a dramatic soprano voice suitable for opera, which she originally performed as an artist, but was attracted by the folk singing of her native Sardinia and has chosen a career...
of Sonos
Sonos
Sonos is a consumer electronics company based in Santa Barbara, California. It was founded in 2002 by John MacFarlane, who previously founded Software.com. The company’s main product is the Sonos Multi-Room Music System.-History:...
and Suonofficina, Cordas et Cannas, Antonello Salis piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, Paolo Fresu
Paolo Fresu
Paolo Fresu is a trumpet and flugelhorn jazz player, as well as an arranger of music, and music composer.-Career:Fresu was born in Berchidda, Sardinia. He picked up the trumpet at the age of 11, and played in the band Bernardo de Muro in his home town Berchidda...
(trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
) and Gesuino Deiana (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
).
Musical and theatrical facilities
The modern Teatro Comunale of CagliariCagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
is home to the permanent Choir and Orchestra of the Opera and Concert Association of Cagliari and seat of the Cagliari Opera Foundation. As well, there is a Roman amphitheater in Cagliari that is used for outdoor summer concerts and festivals. The city is the site of Palestrina
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was an Italian Renaissance composer of sacred music and the best-known 16th-century representative of the Roman School of musical composition...
music conservatory.
The town of Tadasuni
Tadasuni
Tadasuni is a comune in the Province of Oristano in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 100 km north of Cagliari and about 35 km northeast of Oristano. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 187 and an area of 4.6 km².Tadasuni borders the following municipalities:...
is the site of one of the interesting Giovanni Dore museum, a collection of 400 traditional Sardinian folk instruments. The Ente Musicale di Nuoro
Nuoro
Nuoro is a city and comune in central-eastern Sardinia, Italy, situated on the slopes of the Monte Ortobene. It is the capital of the Province of Nuoro. With a population of 36,443 Nuoro is a city and comune (municipality) in central-eastern Sardinia, Italy, situated on the slopes of the Monte...
was founded in 1987 and, among other activities, sponsors the annual Nuoro Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
Festival directed by trumpeter Paolo Fresu
Paolo Fresu
Paolo Fresu is a trumpet and flugelhorn jazz player, as well as an arranger of music, and music composer.-Career:Fresu was born in Berchidda, Sardinia. He picked up the trumpet at the age of 11, and played in the band Bernardo de Muro in his home town Berchidda...
. Sassari
Sassari
Sassari is an Italian city. It is the second-largest city of Sardinia in terms of population with about 130,000 inhabitants, or about 300,000 including the greater metropolitan area...
is the site of the Luigi Canepa music conservatory, the Teatro Politeama Verdi, built in 1884 and the Civic Theatre (1827).
Hymns and Anthems
S'hymnu sardu nationale was the anthemAnthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
of the Savoyard
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
Kingdom of Sardinia
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
(later become Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy
There have been several distinct entities known as the Kingdom of Italy. Italy under the rule of Odoacer from 476 to 493 is often called the Kingdom of Italy, since it encompassed the Roman province of Italy and Odoacer is periodically styled rex...
); it was written in Sardinian language
Sardinian language
Sardinian is a Romance language spoken and written on most of the island of Sardinia . It is considered the most conservative of the Romance languages in terms of phonology and is noted for its Paleosardinian substratum....
by Vittorio Angius in 1842. It was substituted by the Marcia Reale
Marcia Reale
The Marcia Reale d'Ordinanza or Fanfara Reale was the official national anthem of Kingdom of Italy between 1861 and 1946...
(Royal March of Ordinance) in 1861.
Dimonios (Demons) is the official hymn of Sassari Mechanized Brigade
Sassari Mechanized Brigade
* "Sassari" Combat Service Support Battalion in Sassari* 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment in Teulada* 151st Mechanized Infantry Regiment "Sassari" in Cagliari* 152nd Mechanized Infantry Regiment "Sassari" in Sassari* 5th Engineer Regiment in Macomer...
, written in Logudorese Sardinian, in 1915.