Stock: 
Format: 
Release Date: 15-06-1995
Label: Evolution Music
Catalog Number: EM1102-2
Barcode: 8018724110228
Musical Style: Chant
Track Listing:
| Disc 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cantu A Ballu Lestru [05:18] | 8 | Cantu A S'Andira [03:03] |
| 2 | Cantu A Muttos [03:03] | 9 | Sas Grobes [03:44] |
| 3 | Cantu A Boghe Notte [04:19] | 10 | Cantu A Su Nenneddu [04:16] |
| 4 | Cantu A S'Andira [05:39] | 11 | A Ciprianu (Cantu A Ballu Lestru) [04:36] |
| 5 | Ballu Currenne [07:49] | 12 | Cantu A Muttos [05:52] |
| 6 | Cantu A Ballu Seriu [04:04] | 13 | Dido E Enea (Cantu A Ballu Seriu) [05:19] |
| 7 | Boghe E Ballu [03:07] | 14 | Cantu A Passu Turratu [05:11] |
Description:
This compact disc documents the very first 1976 recording of Tenores Di Bitti which for certain affinities may perhaps resemble some of the chants of the Moroccan middle Atlas and of the Nepal or the 'khoomei' by the people of the Russian republic of Tuva, bordering on Mongolia. Tenor chant, however, is part of Sardinian culture.
Biography:
You can rarely find in one geographic area as narrow as Sardinia such a wealth and wide variety of musical expressions as in this island of the Mediterranean Sea. You may capture music for dances enriched with the unique and most ancient instrument called launeddas; evocative polyphonic chants that echo during the holy week; absolutely original polyvocalisties such as the tenor chant.
Tenor chant is realised by four male voices: leading voice (in the Sardinian language boghe or 'oche), bass (bassu), contra and middle voice (mesu 'oche), each of them with particular tasks. The leading voice sings verses in the Sardinian language taken from the poetic composition that constitute the base of the tenors repertoire; the bass keeps the same tonality of the leading voice, with a grave and greatly nasal sound thus distinguish it from the contra. The guttural sound of the choir are somehow counterbalanced by the high timbre of the middle voice are theirs.
The tenors from Bitti are the most appreciated caretakers and the most admired performers of this aspect of the rich ethnomusical heritage of Sardinia today. Their chant reaches matchless peaks that are fruit of over twenty years experience. Their act was born in the 50's though it was not until 1973 that it experienced stability with a fixed location in which to sing. After consulting the elders of the village Daniele Cossellu lines up Piero Sanna, Tancredi Tucconi and Salvatore Battore Bandinu: two craftsmen, one hodman and one shepherd. In 1976 they recorded their first recording and two years later performed their first tour abroad, in Wien, for the Europeade of folklore. Since then other recordings and concerts mean the chant by Bitti's tenors have been heard in most of Europe, the United States, Argentina, Kazhakistan, Australia, Iraq, including the prestigious Womad festival (in Caceres, Spain, in May 1995 and in Reading, England, in July of that same year) while in 1992 they had been awarded Masters of Folklore in Italy.
Bitti's tenors strength is that they always remain true to their own cultural identity, never altering or adapting their chant to market or entertainment conventions.
Mario Pira, young bass that is steadily singing in the choir Remunnu 'e Locu for over one year now replacing Battore Bandinu, in the late 80's was part of Diego Mele's group that in 1987 produced Contonanne.
