Tag: music
-
Bella Tarantella
Today, the tarantella (shown in this painting) is still alive and danced and played socially in many parts of southern Italy. In modern-day Sicily, however, it’s danced most often by organized folk music and dance ensembles at feasts and festivals. There remains a very strong folk music culture throughout the island, where you’ll find musicians…
-
Coral Salt Earrings
Jewelry-designer Daniela Neri created these unique earrings that recall Sicilian ceramics with tarantella dancers. Daniela is a native of Trapani, and she takes the salt from the local salt flats and makes “coral” out of it–in other words, the beads that you see are not made of semi-precious stones, shells, coral, or glass, but of…
-
Make Cous Cous Not…
The annual Cous Cous Fest in San Vito Lo Capo not only exemplifies cultural integration by way of dozens of cous cous recipes for all to enjoy, but it also plays host to Italy’s top musical talent. Here is a photo of Irene Grandi during her set on the outdoor stage the night Experience Sicily…
-
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:…
-
Mixing It Oud
Last year when I was in Palermo, my cousin Silvana and I came across a shop in the historic center filled with various instruments. It wasn’t a music store… maybe a tailor shop? Anyway, the gentleman proprietor played mandolin for us. I took pictures of him and of all of the instruments I could. This…
-
On Top of the World
We are finishing our tour tonight, but not without another amazing encounter first! This evening we spent a breathtaking two hours with the Fratelli Mancuso in Sutera, their hometown. Really, it doesn’t get better than this. I am still shaking from the emotions I felt hearing them and meeting them again–this time, in Sicily. I…
-
Alfio is Meraviglioso
Words cannot describe how emotional and engaging our visit with musician and artist Alfio Antico was this morning! We stayed at his home away from home, the agriturismo Borgo Nocchiara in the shadow of Mount Etna, where we spent a glorious three hours talking about music and the inspiration from Mother Earth.
-
Private Serenade
Last night, we enjoyed a private house concert by a trio of musicians from Casteldaccia who performed traditional Sicilian and Southern Italian folk songs for us on my cousin Evelina’s patio. Fiorenza, Raffaele, and Ettore were fabulous. They even were gracious enough to play three of my songs with me! As a group we enjoyed…
-
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…