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For those of you who've never encountered tammurriata before, it's both a kind of music and a philosophy of life. You'll hear it in towns and villages around Napoli, throughout the south of Italy, though the heart of tammurriata is Mount Vesuvius. Although many of the songs are about the Madonna, the pre-christian roots of the music are pretty visible; after all, it's arguably not a big transition from the Great Mother to the Madonna. It's an ancient, ancient form of music; in fact, there are images of tammorras in the frescoes of Pompeii.
The first time you hear it you might wonder, where does this music come from? Is it African? Arabic? It couldn't be Italian, could it? It is and it isn't ... it mirrors the ethnic complexity of the region. The first thing you'll notice is the pounding drum (called a tammorra). And the dancers ... whirling and leaping, hands tapping out rhythms. And the singers ... conversing (and competing) with each other in song.
Now, there are more and more people becoming interested in the music, including many from Napoli, which never happened before. Some attribute this to a desire for something to feel proud about, to have something that is authentically of this place, in the face of economic and social difficulties. It's certainly true that there's a general and wonderful enthusiasm for concerts and courses and the feste. And it's also true that the Nuova Compagnia della Tammorra, with O Lione out in front, is a big part of why these people are so enthusiastic. He especially is a very charismatic figure, right at the centre of the movement, and he is so passionate about his music and this way of life that other people can't help but be caught up in it.
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| A traditional southern Italian folk song, opening with O Lione's exciting solo. Yes, that's all him, with just one drum. |
CD: Trirecemiseevintinovejuorne
Label: Nuova Compagnia della Tammorra
Credits: Nuova Compagnia della Tammorra |
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| Traditional tammurriata performed for the festa of Madonna di Bagni (Scafati, Salerno). |
CD: Terre, Feste e Tammorre
Label: Nuova Compagnia della Tammorra
Credits: Nuova Compagnia della Tammorra |
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| Tammurriata in the style of Giugliano (Provincia di Napoli), accompanied by flute and tammurriata. |
CD: Terre, Feste e Tammorre
Label: Nuova Compagnia della Tammorra
Credits: Nuova Compagnia della Tammorra |
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