Meet Alessandro Castro, a master accordion player and singer who calls himself “Il Carrettiere di Erice,” or the Cart Driver of Erice. Alessandro specializes in performing Sicilian and Neopolitan songs. You can find him in front of the Castello di Venere at the top of Mount San Giuliano in Erice. I was fortunate enough to…
Tag: cantante
Traditional Dress of a Sicilian Cart Driver
According to “Il costume popolare in Italia,” a book by Emma Calderini published in 1934, this is an illustration of what Sicilian cart drivers, or carrettiere, typically wore. So, if you need a last-minute Halloween costume idea, you might be able to pull this off! Just know that in addition to transporting goods–often through the…
She’s Returned
Carmen Consoli is back on the scene. Today, the Catania native released her first album since 2010’s “Elettra,” ” “L’Abitudine di Tornare,” or “The Habit of Return.” If you are in Italy, you can purchase it right away. For those of us abroad, we’ll have to wait until January 27 for the import release–and then…
Go Out, Go Out Maria
When we met Fratelli Mancuso in September, they gave us a mini-concert right on a “stradina” (a little street) in Sutera, their hometown. It was absolutely divine! They sang and played for us their song “Nesci Maria” (pictured here). Some of the lyrics in Sicilian, then English, to give you a glimpse, are as follows:…
Alfio Antico, Shepherd to Performing Artist
Percussionist and composer Alfio Antico grew up as a shepherd in the mountains not far from Siracusa. As a child, he learned great respect for the Earth and was inherently connected to his flock of 600 sheep. These roots, along with the influence of his grandmother, created a deep wisdom that he now expresses through…
Bagherese Cart Drivers’ Songs
The singer on this cart is performing a traditional cart driver’s song (for a contemporary celebration). This photo was taken in Santa Flavia, near Bagheria. Bagheria is not only renowned for its tradition of building intricately decorated carts, but also for the tradition of virtuosic singing employed by the cart drivers. The drivers’ songs…
Alfio Antico is a percussionist, composer, and performing artist from Lentini in the province of Siracusa. He is a specialist in playing the tammorra, a large frame drum made with sheep or goat skin, adorned with or without jingles. It’s more accurate to say however, that Antico has revolutionized the technique of playing the tammorra….
Gruppo Folk Soluntum is a music and dance ensemble made up of performers from Casteldaccia, Santa Falvia, Bagheria, and other communities. The ensemble researches, preserves, and performs the folk traditions of Sicily. They perform throughout Sicily and beyond. #singer #cantante #tambourine #tamburello #strumentipopolari #folkmusic #musicafolk #musicapopulare #casteldaccia #santaflavia #bagheria #palermo #sicily #sicilia #siciliabedda #italy #italia…