Hear music that features choral polyphony of Corsica and Sardinia, from the sources in the Mediterranean, and in works by American composers David Cieri and the late Ingram Marshall.
Listen to many examples of choral polyphony from the islands of Sardinia and Corsica, traditionally sung by small groups of men, which feature unusual tunings, audible overtones, and a remarkable sound like none other. The “cantu a tenores,” male vocal group singing in Sardinia, is a rich tradition dating back thousands of years on the Italian island, Four male voices, a soloist singing the melody, and three harmony parts sung in a highly nasal manner, combine for a music filled with harmonies and overtones, sometimes with sung poetry improvised on the spot.
Hear music by composer David Cieri which uses the a cappella voices of the group Tenores de Aterúe, who sing Sardinian traditional folk music. Listen to selections from his score for the 1928 Carl Dreyer silent film, The Passion of Joan of Arc. Then, listen to music from Tenores de Oniferi and from Tenores di Bitti, groups named after their hometowns; Tenores di Bitti is joined by sax player Enzo Favata. Plus, listen to music which draws on these traditions from the late American composer Ingram Marshall and his work, Gradual Requiem. – Caryn Havlik
Program #4708, voices of Sardinia and Corsica (First aired 1/25/23)
ARTIST: Tenores di Oniferi
WORK: Su Determinu (P.Mossa) [:44]
RECORDING: S'omine
SOURCE: Ideas #002.
INFO: Italian release, apparently not commercially available.
ARTIST: David Cieri / Tenores de Aterúe
WORK: Bridge/Boghe 'e Notte di Tenore "Santa Sarbana" Silanus, Maid [3:44]
RECORDING: Passion of Joan of Arc
SOURCE: Ropeadope Records
INFO: davidcieri.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Tenores di Oniferi
WORK: Su Determinu (P.Mossa) [4:31]
RECORDING: S'omine
SOURCE: Ideas #002.
INFO: Italian release, apparently not commercially available.
ARTIST: David Cieri / Tenores de Aterúe
WORK: Qui tolis [6:48]
RECORDING: Passion of Joan of Arc
SOURCE: Ropeadope Records
INFO: davidcieri.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: E Voce di u Cumune
WORK: Lode di u sepulcru [3:27]
RECORDING: Corsica chants polyphoniques: E Voce di u Cumune
SOURCE: Ocora / Harmonia Mundi 901256
INFO: Available at Amazon.com
ARTIST: Ingram Marshall
WORK: Ingram Marshall: Gradual Requiem - Part 4 [7:44]
RECORDING: Fog Tropes / Gradual Requiem
SOURCE: New Albion
INFO: newalbion.com/blog/-ingram-marshall-fog-tropes
ARTIST: Paolo Fresu/A Filetta/Daniele di Bonaventura
WORK: Le lac [6:39]
RECORDING: Mistico Mediterraneo
SOURCE: ECM 2203
INFO: ecmrecords.com
ARTIST: Enzo Favata & Tenores di Bitti
WORK: Boche 'e Notte [3:38]
RECORDING: Voyage en Sardaigne
SOURCE: Felmay #7013
INFO: felmay.it
ARTIST: Enzo Favata & Tenores di Bitti
WORK: Lunissannti [5:01]
RECORDING: Voyage en Sardaigne
SOURCE: Felmay #7013
INFO: felmay.it