Representing the variety and beauty of Italian music in different ages and in different fields was the goal of “Music and culture: an Italian Perspective” held at the Musco Center for the Art at Chapman University of Orange. It is a cultural journey through Italian music that covers Medieval Times, the Renaissance, up until our times.
Dr. Federico Pacchioni who organized the event, began by saying, “Music makes up part of who we are, both individually and collectively. If you really want to know someone, you must listen to their music.”
This was followed by a speech by Professor Daniele Struppa, President of Chapman University for the past few months, who stated, “I have liked music since I was a child. I grew up in a household where my father was an opera fan. In high school, Nietzsche helped me understand why music is so important in human experience. In one of his aphorisms, the philosopher said, “I cannot distinguish between music and tears.” A couple of weeks ago, I was in Sicily with a group of friends and on the last day we had the opportunity of listening to a beautiful folk singer song and one by Bellini- a well known composer from Catania. I am not embarrassed to say that I had tears in my eyes as I listened to the notes. The tie between music and one’s emotions is incredibly powerful. Music has the capacity to allow you to understand certain things that words alone cannot express.”
The first to guide the public toward the interpretation of the music in Dante Alighieri’s, The Divine Comedy, was Professor Francesco Ciabattoni, director of Italian Graduate Studies at Georgetown University. Dante’s work is full of music, from the cacophonous cries of Hell to the joyful hymns of the blessed. The smallest details to which the great poet gets us used to, do not overlook in the musical aspect. An eloquent example is found in Purgatory, where various psalms and liturgical choirs are found, which Dante describes in a very realistic manner. Gregorian chants and polyphonic music were played during the event, most likely the same ones that Dante had also heard in the churches during his time.
Professor Giulio Ongaro, Dean of the College of Performing Arts at Chapman University, focused his attention instead on Secular Music, concentrating on amorous themes and political satire, both of which play an important role in the cultural landscape of the Renaissance as well as in the Frattola, recognized for its simplicity and written in the language of the common people- often in dialect. Lastly, the more sophisticated Madrigale was examined in depth, which initially was made up of music based on Petrarca’s texts, but later developed by composers in a more refined way, as a way to better analyze and interpret poetry through music.
The best words to introduce the third guest, Prof. Alessandro Carrera, Director of Italian Studies at the University of Houston, are those said by President Struppa,: “Despite what some purist would like us to think, there is no real delineation separating classical music from folk music.” Folk music in Italy has deep roots and in every region you can find unique musicality that is very different from each other. According to Prof. Carerra, “Folk music will never die because even if it is forgotten, it will always come back in some way, be it with new voices or new instruments.”
In the theater, the audience was able to appreciate some popular songs such as “O Gorzia tu sei maledetta” and “No potho resposare”, sung by the incomparable voices of Maria Carta and Andrea Parodi. Guests also listened to Ludovico Enaudi’s version of “Fimmine” as well as its oldest version by the American ethnomusicologist, Alan Lomax.
Michela Musolino concluded the event. The singer sang timeless songs, played with traditional instruments and also with instruments of “luck” such as two cups of coffee, as further proof that popular music can be played at any moment, even without sophisticated instruments. Folk melodies are often passed down from generation to generation, but evolve over the years, thanks to the personal contributions of each who sings them. Every occasion, every aspect of life is an opportunity to play music, and in Sicily, as in other regions of Italy, fortunately there is no lack of such occasions.
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