Shoes and Song

The Museo Etno-Antropologico Annalisa Buccellato in Castellammare del Gulfo possesses a magnificent exhibit of items from past peasant-life in western Sicily. I can’t say enough about the glimpses it gives us into “the old days.” For example, this guitar, which of course, as a musician, attracted my attention. I’ll transcribe for you the explanation of…

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:…

How about a Little Guitar?

The fellow depicted in this statue on the outer wall of Bagheria’s Villa Palagonia is one of a series of statues of musicians based on engravings from Filippo Bonanni’s 18th century collection “Gabinetto Armonico.” He is playing a chitarrino, or small Italian guitar. The chitarrino had 4 or 6 strings and was played in southern…