New Sounds

#4708, Voices of Sardinia and Corsica

Episode Summary

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 OniferiWORK: Su Determinu (P.Mossa) [:44]RECORDING: S'omineSOURCE: Ideas #002.INFO: Italian release, apparently not commercially available. ARTIST:  David Cieri / Tenores de AterúeWORK: Bridge/Boghe 'e Notte di Tenore "Santa Sarbana" Silanus, Maid [3:44]RECORDING: Passion of Joan of ArcSOURCE: Ropeadope RecordsINFO: davidcieri.bandcamp.com ARTIST:  Tenores di OniferiWORK: Su Determinu (P.Mossa) [4:31]RECORDING: S'omineSOURCE: Ideas #002.INFO: Italian release, apparently not commercially available. ARTIST:  David Cieri / Tenores de AterúeWORK: Qui tolis [6:48]RECORDING: Passion of Joan of ArcSOURCE: Ropeadope RecordsINFO: davidcieri.bandcamp.com ARTIST: E Voce di u CumuneWORK: Lode di u sepulcru [3:27]RECORDING: Corsica chants polyphoniques: E Voce di u CumuneSOURCE: Ocora / Harmonia Mundi 901256INFO: Available at Amazon.com ARTIST: Ingram MarshallWORK: Ingram Marshall: Gradual Requiem - Part 4 [7:44]RECORDING: Fog Tropes / Gradual RequiemSOURCE: New AlbionINFO: newalbion.com/blog/-ingram-marshall-fog-tropes ARTIST: Paolo Fresu/A Filetta/Daniele di BonaventuraWORK: Le lac  [6:39]RECORDING: Mistico MediterraneoSOURCE: ECM 2203INFO: ecmrecords.com ARTIST: Enzo Favata & Tenores di BittiWORK: Boche 'e Notte  [3:38]RECORDING: Voyage en SardaigneSOURCE: Felmay #7013INFO: felmay.it ARTIST: Enzo Favata & Tenores di BittiWORK: Lunissannti [5:01]RECORDING: Voyage en SardaigneSOURCE: Felmay #7013INFO: felmay.it

Episode Notes

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 OniferiWORK: Su Determinu (P.Mossa) [:44]RECORDING: S'omineSOURCE: Ideas #002.INFO: Italian release, apparently not commercially available.

ARTIST:  David Cieri / Tenores de AterúeWORK: Bridge/Boghe 'e Notte di Tenore "Santa Sarbana" Silanus, Maid [3:44]RECORDING: Passion of Joan of ArcSOURCE: Ropeadope RecordsINFO: davidcieri.bandcamp.com

ARTIST:  Tenores di OniferiWORK: Su Determinu (P.Mossa) [4:31]RECORDING: S'omineSOURCE: Ideas #002.INFO: Italian release, apparently not commercially available.

ARTIST:  David Cieri / Tenores de AterúeWORK: Qui tolis [6:48]RECORDING: Passion of Joan of ArcSOURCE: Ropeadope RecordsINFO: davidcieri.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: E Voce di u CumuneWORK: Lode di u sepulcru [3:27]RECORDING: Corsica chants polyphoniques: E Voce di u CumuneSOURCE: Ocora / Harmonia Mundi 901256INFO: Available at Amazon.com

ARTIST: Ingram MarshallWORK: Ingram Marshall: Gradual Requiem - Part 4 [7:44]RECORDING: Fog Tropes / Gradual RequiemSOURCE: New AlbionINFO: newalbion.com/blog/-ingram-marshall-fog-tropes

ARTIST: Paolo Fresu/A Filetta/Daniele di BonaventuraWORK: Le lac  [6:39]RECORDING: Mistico MediterraneoSOURCE: ECM 2203INFO: ecmrecords.com

ARTIST: Enzo Favata & Tenores di BittiWORK: Boche 'e Notte  [3:38]RECORDING: Voyage en SardaigneSOURCE: Felmay #7013INFO: felmay.it

ARTIST: Enzo Favata & Tenores di BittiWORK: Lunissannti [5:01]RECORDING: Voyage en SardaigneSOURCE: Felmay #7013INFO: felmay.it