Tag Archives: Italian folk music
Let’s Dance! Posted by Serena on May 23, 2019
I’ve always been fascinated by southern Italian folk dancing, so when the opportunity to learn a few steps presented itself I went for it! Una sera d’estate di qualche anno fa avevo visto ballare la pizzica e altre danze tradizionali del Sud Italia qui in piazza a Pontremoli e ne ero rimasta molto affascinata. La…
Ciappa La Rocca E Il Fus Posted by Serena on Aug 23, 2018
I mestieri nel borgo (the old village trades) which takes place in the beautiful little village of Ponticello, near Pontremoli, is undoubtedly my favourite festival of the year. I love it not just because of the merry atmosphere that permeates the whole hamlet, but also because it re-evokes a period of history that’s within living…
Donna Ti Voglio Cantare Posted by Serena on Mar 8, 2018
Today’s the 8th of March, Festa della Donna (International Women’s Day), and to celebrate I’m going to translate a song called Donna Ti Voglio Cantare (Woman I Want To Sing About You), by Angelo Branduardi. Angelo Branduardi is a popular folk singer and songwriter who draws inspiration from Medieval and Renaissance music. His wife, Luisa Zappa…
Il Mondo Corre Posted by Geoff on Sep 4, 2017
Dear readers, do you ever have the feeling that you’re out of synchronisation with contemporary society? It’s tempting to assign this sentiment to advanced age … but I’ve felt out of sync da che mondo è mondo (for ever). It doesn’t bother me any more as I no longer have any desire to be ‘in…
Sicilian Flowers Posted by Serena on Sep 4, 2015
The other day as I walked into my parents’ apartment, I heard their carer, Luisa, talking on her cell phone in a ‘foreign’ language. My first thought was: “Oh, Luisa is speaking Romanian!” I was probably influenced by the fact that here in Pontremoli the vast majority of badanti (carers) are in fact Romanian. However…
Maremma Amara Posted by Serena on Sep 5, 2012
A few days ago Geoff wrote an article about the effects of this summer’s draught on Il Parco Naturale dell’Uccellina in Maremma, which reminded me of a folk song that I love. My professor of Topography at the University of Pisa used to sing it during our archaeological campaigns in Vada, near Livorno. Maremma is…
La Zampogna Posted by Serena on Mar 3, 2009
In my recent blog about Le Cioce I mentioned that although the use of this type of footwear has more or less died out it is still possible to see them being worn by Zampognari, the players of the traditional Italian bagpipes which are known as Zampogne. The name zampogna seems to have come from the ancient…