Sonos and Cantos Mutos and Mutetos

Comenius Project 2005

• The present work is the result of the students research in the Project “ Discovering your roots to find out new Horizons” The present work is the result of the students research in the Project “ Discovering your roots to find out new Horizons”

combined with the Escola Tecnologica E Profissional Da Zona Do Pinhal De Petroensino- Ensino E Formaçẵo Profissional, L. D. combined with the Escola Tecnologica E Profissional Da Zona Do Pinhal De Petroensino- Ensino E Formaçẵo Profissional, L. D.

A , The Gimnazjum nr 26 in Gdansk ( Poland ), and the Collegiul Economic Emanuel Godju in Hunedoara ( Romania ).A , The Gimnazjum nr 26 in Gdansk ( Poland ), and the Collegiul Economic Emanuel Godju in Hunedoara ( Romania ).

• The idea of a project focused on the analysis of Sardinian cultural heritage to be compared with the cultures of other countries , The idea of a project focused on the analysis of Sardinian cultural heritage to be compared with the cultures of other countries ,

comes from the need of our students to understand the traditional values of our own land in order to become more conscious of comes from the need of our students to understand the traditional values of our own land in order to become more conscious of

our identity.our identity.

• Considering today that we are living in the European Union ,the need to be familiar with our traditions and cultures is very Considering today that we are living in the European Union ,the need to be familiar with our traditions and cultures is very

important. If we do not respect the history and heritage of our country we cannot respect the values of the people we live with , important. If we do not respect the history and heritage of our country we cannot respect the values of the people we live with ,

who have different cultures but belong to a common European civilization .who have different cultures but belong to a common European civilization .

• The project started on the first year focusing on houses and handcraft. In the second year it has documented those traditions The project started on the first year focusing on houses and handcraft. In the second year it has documented those traditions

connected to local feasts which follow the alternation of seasons and habits linked to the cycle of life . The third year project has connected to local feasts which follow the alternation of seasons and habits linked to the cycle of life . The third year project has

investigated Sardinian music and folk songs where shepherds, for centuries, have expressed their feelings . Their songs are investigated Sardinian music and folk songs where shepherds, for centuries, have expressed their feelings . Their songs are

dramatic and talk about war or death but they are also love songs sometimes accompanied by the launeddas , typical Sardinian dramatic and talk about war or death but they are also love songs sometimes accompanied by the launeddas , typical Sardinian

instruments, or by a guitar or, most of the times, they are sung only by voices .Our research has been compared to those of the instruments, or by a guitar or, most of the times, they are sung only by voices .Our research has been compared to those of the

other countries and it has given us the possibility to understand that between the European people , together with differences , other countries and it has given us the possibility to understand that between the European people , together with differences ,

there are many similarities present. These have been determined not only by commercial trades but also by the different there are many similarities present. These have been determined not only by commercial trades but also by the different

dominations ,dominations ,scientificscientific and technologic discoveries . Each inhabitant of Europe has built a culture and traditions which have and technologic discoveries . Each inhabitant of Europe has built a culture and traditions which have

become the heritage common to every European .This project is working to preserve our heritage for the new generations to become the heritage common to every European .This project is working to preserve our heritage for the new generations to

come. come.

Presentation of the researchPresentation of the research• This year’s project has the aim to put in evidence the interest that each This year’s project has the aim to put in evidence the interest that each

county participating to the project has for its musical traditions. As for county participating to the project has for its musical traditions. As for

our country we have concentrated our interest on the most traditional our country we have concentrated our interest on the most traditional

elements connected to our culture as regards music , instruments and elements connected to our culture as regards music , instruments and

its connections to dances. We have referred to the research made by its connections to dances. We have referred to the research made by

the U.N. L.A. ( Bosa 1999) , but we have also checked many web sites the U.N. L.A. ( Bosa 1999) , but we have also checked many web sites

connected to our research .We have interviewed Mr. Tore Campus and connected to our research .We have interviewed Mr. Tore Campus and

Giovanni Casula ( local experts) but we have also taken into Giovanni Casula ( local experts) but we have also taken into

consideration the researches of Mr Giovanni Dore and Pietro Sassu consideration the researches of Mr Giovanni Dore and Pietro Sassu

( experts in Ethnomusicology). We have organized a visit to the Museum ( experts in Ethnomusicology). We have organized a visit to the Museum

of Sardinian music and instruments in Cagliari , and a series of lessons of Sardinian music and instruments in Cagliari , and a series of lessons

about traditional songs and dances thanks to a music expert, Mr. Sechi, about traditional songs and dances thanks to a music expert, Mr. Sechi,

author of the Hymn of Sassari Brigade.author of the Hymn of Sassari Brigade.

Some pictures taken during our students Some pictures taken during our students meetings with Mr. Sechi and our visit to the meetings with Mr. Sechi and our visit to the museum of musical instruments in Cagliarimuseum of musical instruments in Cagliari

The Origin Of Sardinian The Origin Of Sardinian MusicMusic

• Sardinian music and songs are a rich patrimony that has been Sardinian music and songs are a rich patrimony that has been expressed through monodic and polyvocalic songs and has been expressed through monodic and polyvocalic songs and has been accompanied by typical musical instruments. Nobody knows accompanied by typical musical instruments. Nobody knows when man has started to reproduce the sounds of nature and when man has started to reproduce the sounds of nature and imitate the cries of animals, with the typical vibrating timbre of imitate the cries of animals, with the typical vibrating timbre of the sheep’s“ baahs’ and the guttural tone of the songs.the sheep’s“ baahs’ and the guttural tone of the songs.

• At celebrations, the At celebrations, the whole assembly whole assembly collaborated, to cement collaborated, to cement the people together the people together through dances. The through dances. The binding force of the binding force of the circle of dancers, the circle of dancers, the sinuous motion of the sinuous motion of the steps, the unbreakable steps, the unbreakable mesh of arms and mesh of arms and hands, the ebb and flow hands, the ebb and flow of the costumes,of the costumes,

• the chorus of voices the chorus of voices and a rousing and a rousing accompaniment all accompaniment all serve to emphasise serve to emphasise the rhythm of the rhythm of dances. While dances. While dancing or singing no dancing or singing no one is allowed to take one is allowed to take a leading role, since a leading role, since the performance the performance belongs to everyone.belongs to everyone.

• many dance steps have many dance steps have their genesis in the their genesis in the elaborate courtship elaborate courtship rituals of animals. The rituals of animals. The formation of the circle, formation of the circle, too, is based on the too, is based on the historic idea of the historic idea of the absolute right of each absolute right of each member of the member of the community to community to participate in the participate in the celebration. celebration.

Popular InstrumentsPopular Instruments

• Very reach and original Very reach and original is the amount of is the amount of Sardinian instruments . Sardinian instruments . They were and are still They were and are still connected to people’s connected to people’s life and history .Some of life and history .Some of them have been them have been imported from other imported from other cultures as the so called cultures as the so called “ “ organetto diatonicoorganetto diatonico Nonetheless they have Nonetheless they have found typical and found typical and original ways of original ways of expression .expression .

Other popular instruments are the the” Other popular instruments are the the” BenasBenas “ a flute made of fen “ a flute made of fen

cane with a "cane with a "trumbitta" (small trumpet) that fits in a resonating pipe " (small trumpet) that fits in a resonating pipe

with three holes. “ with three holes. “ su Pipiolusu Pipiolu “ that is the sheperd's pipe made from “ that is the sheperd's pipe made from

fen cane.fen cane.

““Sa SerraggiaSa Serraggia” a very old instrument which can still be seen ” a very old instrument which can still be seen during carnival celebrations , made from a cane pipe, a during carnival celebrations , made from a cane pipe, a swollen and dried pig bladder and a stretched string which is swollen and dried pig bladder and a stretched string which is

rubbed with a lentisk bow;rubbed with a lentisk bow;

• It is very similar to It is very similar to the portughese “ the portughese “ gfole” gfole”

• and to the Scottish and to the Scottish Bag –PipesBag –Pipes

The LauneddasThe Launeddas

• The most ancient The most ancient Sardinian instrument is Sardinian instrument is the so called “ the so called “ Launeddas”. Its remote Launeddas”. Its remote origins can be seen in origins can be seen in the Ithyphallic small the Ithyphallic small bronze which dates bronze which dates back to the eighth back to the eighth century BC. It was century BC. It was discovered in the discovered in the countryside near Ittiri countryside near Ittiri and depicts a and depicts a launeddas player.launeddas player.

The LauneddasThe Launeddas

• Three fen canes constitute the "launeddas": the Three fen canes constitute the "launeddas": the "tumbu", which is the longest and is tied to "sa "tumbu", which is the longest and is tied to "sa mancosa manna" with a string, and the mancosa manna" with a string, and the "mancosedda" or "destrina" on which the melody is "mancosedda" or "destrina" on which the melody is played. It takes long years of study and application played. It takes long years of study and application to master the difficult technique needed to play this to master the difficult technique needed to play this instrument.instrument.

Bosa And Planargia Region In The Bosa And Planargia Region In The

Musical TraditionMusical Tradition

• Bosa tradition distinguishes Bosa tradition distinguishes especially for:especially for:

• “ A “ A TenoreTenore” Songs” Songs

• Choral Songs or “ a Choral Songs or “ a traggiutraggiu “ “

• Guitar SongsGuitar Songs

• Women SongsWomen Songs

• SongsSongs

“A “A TenoreTenore “ Songs “ Songs

• How exactly the "a tenore" How exactly the "a tenore" (tenor) song came about, is (tenor) song came about, is uncertain, but the theory, uncertain, but the theory, already mentioned, of a source already mentioned, of a source in the shepherds imitating the in the shepherds imitating the sounds around them gains wide sounds around them gains wide approval: the mooing of the approval: the mooing of the cattle, the bleating of the sheep cattle, the bleating of the sheep and goats, the grunting of the and goats, the grunting of the wild boar, the rustling of the wild boar, the rustling of the wind - all were expertly wind - all were expertly harmonised and grafted on to a harmonised and grafted on to a pretty piece of secular poetry. pretty piece of secular poetry. The guttural sound of the voices The guttural sound of the voices and the characteristic intonation and the characteristic intonation of the songs give this millennial of the songs give this millennial art an impressive, spell-binding art an impressive, spell-binding quality.quality.

Multi-Voice Choral SingingMulti-Voice Choral Singing

• multi-voice choral singing multi-voice choral singing was born thanks to a was born thanks to a notable evolution of the notable evolution of the Tenors' methods with the Tenors' methods with the introduction of Gregorian introduction of Gregorian Chant into Sardinia by the Chant into Sardinia by the Church.Church.The chants belonging to The chants belonging to the Christian liturgy, which the Christian liturgy, which initially were performed on initially were performed on a monotone (according to a monotone (according to the schema of Gregorian), the schema of Gregorian), in time began to be in time began to be interpreted by several interpreted by several voices, using notes more voices, using notes more appropriate to their vocal appropriate to their vocal range.range.

“A “A traggiutraggiu SongsSongs””

• There are two special There are two special characteristics of these characteristics of these groups' singing, called "A groups' singing, called "A Traggiu": First, the Traggiu": First, the integration of a very high integration of a very high voice, two octaves (15th) voice, two octaves (15th) above the level of the above the level of the basses; second, the basses; second, the freedom of each member freedom of each member of the choir to move within of the choir to move within the chord, leaving room for the chord, leaving room for personal expression and personal expression and improvisation (more or less improvisation (more or less as happens in jazz).as happens in jazz).

GuitarGuitar SongsSongs

• the "Cantos a the "Cantos a Chitarra" (Guitar Chitarra" (Guitar Songs) and the Songs) and the "Cantos a Poesia" "Cantos a Poesia" (ballads), which , (ballads), which , although less well-although less well-known at the known at the international level, are international level, are extremely popular, extremely popular, especially during especially during village festivals village festivals

WomenWomen SongsSongs

• they are entirely unaccompanied.they are entirely unaccompanied.

Among the most celebrated are :Among the most celebrated are :

- - "S'Anninnia"S'Anninnia" (" (Ninna NannaNinna Nanna), lullabies intended to send children to sleep;), lullabies intended to send children to sleep;

- - "Duru Duru"Duru Duru", an Arabic term meaning "to turn". These songs are no more than ", an Arabic term meaning "to turn". These songs are no more than

nursery rhymes sung by adults for their child's entertainment. During their nursery rhymes sung by adults for their child's entertainment. During their

performance, the children are made to dance on the singer's knees.performance, the children are made to dance on the singer's knees.

- "- "S'attitiduS'attitidu", a funeral hymn. Now defunct, it used to be entrusted exclusively ", a funeral hymn. Now defunct, it used to be entrusted exclusively

to a female voice, the "Attidatora" (mourner), who would weave together prayers to a female voice, the "Attidatora" (mourner), who would weave together prayers

with an account of the life of the deceased using improvised verses of poetry;with an account of the life of the deceased using improvised verses of poetry;

..