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	Sardinian Pastoral Songs (Unesco)

Canto a tenore, Sardinian pastoral songs
Canto a tenore, Sardinian pastoral songs
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Country	Italy
Reference	00165
Region	Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription	2008 (3rd session)
List	Representative

Cantu a tenòre
Cantu a tenòre
	Canto a tenore in Oliena, Sardinia
Stylistic origins	Sardinian music
Typical instruments	Human voice
Local scenes
	Sardinia

The cantu a tenòre (Sardinian: su tenòre, su cuncòrdu, su cuntràttu, su cussèrtu, s'agorropamèntu, su cantu a pròa; Italian: canto a tenore) is a style of polyphonic folk singing characteristic of the island of Sardinia (Italy's second largest island), particularly the region of Barbagia, though some other Sardinian sub-regions bear examples of such tradition.

In 2005, UNESCO proclaimed the cantu a tenore to be an example of intangible cultural heritage.^[1]^[2]

Etymology

The word tenore is not to be confused with the word "tenor" as a simple description of vocal register; it refers to the actual style of folk singing and is distinguished from other similar styles called by different names in different places on the island, such as taja in Gallura and concordu in Logudoro (Sassu 1978).

In the Barbagia region on the island of Sardinia, there are two different styles of polyphonic singing: cuncordu, usually a form of sacred music, sung with regular voices, and tenore, usually a form of profane music, marked by the use of overtone singing.

Technique

Cantu a tenore is traditionally practised by groups of four male singers standing in a close circle.^[1] Each singer has a distinct role, here listed in descending pitch order—form a chorus (another meaning of tenore):

'oche or boche (pronounced /oke/ or /boke/, 'voice') is the solo voice
mesu 'oche or mesu boche is the 'half voice'
contra is the 'counter'
bassu as 'bass'

The bassu sings the same note sung by the 'oche, and contra a fifth above the bassu. The 'Oche and the mesu 'oche sing in a regular voice, whereas the contra and the bassu sing with a technique affecting the larynx. The 'oche sings a poetic text in Sardinian, which can be of epic, historic, satirical, amorous or even protest genre. The chorus consists of nonsense syllables (for example bim-bam-boo).

According to popular tradition, mesu 'oche imitates the sound of wind, while the contra imitates a sheep bleating and the bassu a cow lowing.

The solo voice starts a monodic vocal line and is then joined by the others as he indicates to them to join in.

The effect is somewhat that of a round except that the points where the other singers join in vary and, thus, the harmonies vary from version to version. The execution differs in details between each of the villages where a tenore is sung to such an extent that the village can be immediately recognized.

Tradition

Ballu Seriu starts with single voices (Oche, Bassu, Contra, Mesu Oche)

Tenores di Bitti Mialinu Pira Live recording in Modena, June 2011

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Although nowadays cuncordu and cantu a tenore are performed only by men, memories remain of a time where women groups performed as well, following the matriarchal tradition of Sardinia. According to some anthropologists, cantu a tenore was performed back in Nuragic times.^{[citation needed]}

Some of the most well known groups who perform a tenore are Tenores di Bitti, Tenore de Orosei, Tenore di Oniferi and Tenores di Neoneli.

Notes

^ ^a ^b "Canto a tenore, Sardinian pastoral songs". UNESCO. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
^ Omar Bandinu, Il canto a tenore, dai nuraghi all'Unesco, Siti, 16(2,3), 2006 Archived November 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine

References

Macchiarella, Ignazio (1990). "La polivocalità di tradizione orale in Italia". "Le tradizioni popolari in Italia; canti e musiche popolari" a cura di Roberto Leydi. Milano: Electa. ISBN 8843532464.
Mercurio, Paolo (2001). Dialogo del Canto a Tenore. Solinas, Nuoro.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Sassu, P. (1978). La musica sarda. Milano: 3 LPs and booklet, Albatros VPA 8150-52. Cited in Macchiarella (1990).
Mercurio, Paolo (2014). Introduzione alla Musica Sarda. Narcissus, Milano. ISBN 9788868850135.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)