South Italian Folk Songs

Salento, the southernmost region of Puglia at the heel of the Italian boot, has an extremely rich and lively musical tradition. This music is diverse, melodically memorable, full of power, magic and emotion and is essentially determined by the rhythmically propulsive, impulsive-gripping pizzica (tarantella). In particular, all this applies to the songs of the minority in the so-called Grecìa Salentina, which speaks a fascinating mixture of Greek and Italian (Griko).
Michael Aschauer has selected musically very different songs that are extremely popular in the area and sensitively arranged them for mixed choir and piano. The arrangements can be performed individually or as a small cycle. The additional English lyrics represent a subtle translation that is closely based on the original. The complete recordings, the piano parts as playbacks as well as audio pronunciation aids (spoken by Manuela Pellegrino and Salvatore Tommasi) are available free of charge via the HELBLING Media App, which make it easier to rehearse the original texts.
These songs, so moving, soulful and captivating, often about the many facets of love, represent a musical treasure that is worth singing and listening to far beyond Italy. With these arrangements, you will bring the southern Italian lifestyle, its passion and joie de vivre, to your region. Performers and audience alike will be thrilled and moved.