program OCTOBER 6, 2019

8:00 pm
HELICONIAN HALL

Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto presents:

THE SPIDER’S WEB

TARANTELLAS FROM THE ANCIENT Riturnella (Tu rinnina chi vai) Traditional - Calabria
AND MODERN WORLDS
The Tarantella as Instrumental Showpiece

Frasca Traditional - Calabria Tarantelle Johann Kaspar Mertz (1806-1856)

from Barden-klänge Heft 6, #13
Tarantismo: Music as Medicine
Melodies from Athanasius Kircher’s Anonymous Tarantella Raffaelle Calace (1863-1934)
Magnes sive arte magnetica
(Rome, 1641) La Volombrella Guido Morini (b1959)
Tarentella
Primus / Secundus / Tertius modus Detoxifying the New World
Antidotum Tarantulae
Tono hypodorico La Meglio Giuventù Traditional - Puglia

Sogna Fiore Mio Ambrogio Sparagna (b1957) Peppeniello (Tarantella 21) Marco Cera (b1970)
(Ninna nanna sopra la Tarantella)
Searching for the Sound: Improvisation
Tarantismo alla Barocca
“Audience choice” Tarantella Improvised
Tarantelas from Saldivar Codex #4 Santiago de Murcia (1673-1739)
Land of the “Re-bite”: The Spider’s Birthplace in Puglia
Lu guarracino Traditional - Campania
La pizzica di San Vito dei Normani Traditional - Puglia
The Brides of St. Paul: Music and Desire

Pizzica tarantata / Pizzicarella mia Improvised

Melodies Don Francisco Xavier Cid VESUVIUS ENSEMBLE

storyteller SPECIAL GUESTS
from Tarantismo Observado En España,
Madrid 1787 Francesco Pellegrino Elisa Citterio
voice, chitarra battente violin
Taranta Romina Di Gasbarro Marco Cera Romina di Gasbarro
Alla Festa guitars, mandolin, ciaramella voice, chitarra battente
Pizzica di Cellino Traditional - Puglia Lucas Harris Ben Grossman
lute, guitars, chitarrone percussion, colascione
INTERMISSION

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 song translations
Frasca
Vitti du’ rosi penni da na cimma
Non aju a quale prima ohimè
frugari.
Tutti mi dinnu fuje da la primma
E la secunda no ne po’ mannare.
Scigli la primma ca fa li catine
E la secunda po’ appriesso vene.
Nu juornu venarria nu gran tureri
Vienci alla caccia mia senza paura.
Sogna Fiore Mio
(Ninna nanna sopra la Tarantella)
Sogna fiore mio, sogna e riposa
Chiude sta vocca che pare na rosa
Sogna e chiude gli occhi tunne
tunne
Ca quanne sogni tu sogna gliu
munne
Chiude gli occhi e nun parlare
Sogna gliu funne di gliu mare
Chiude gli occhi e nun avè paura
Sogna nu munne fatta a sunature.
Sogna lu ventu e sogna la
tempesta
Sogna gliu mare e sogna la foresta
Ca la musica de st’organetto
Te riempe ‘ncore e te scaveta
‘mpette
E raziulella mia nun parlare
Nun’`è cchiù tempe ‘de rifiatare
Oggi hai finite de disperare
Dopedimani jamma a faticare.
Ch gl’amma da fare nu gran castelle
Piene de tante cose belle
PHOTO BY SCARLET O’NEILL Gl’ammma da fare d’ore e d’argente
c’hanna abitare tutta la gente
E ogni jorne sarà allegria
Francesco, Marco and Lucas welcome you to the first concert of
E ci sarà pure mamma mia
Vesuvius Ensemble’s 2019/20 season.
4 Vesuvius Ensemble 2019-2020 Concert Season
I saw two roses hanging from a twig;
I did not know, alas, which to pick
first.
Everyone told me to avoid the first
and to make sure of the second.
I chose the first because it was attached
to the second which came with it.
One day a great bullfighter will come,
he’ll come and chase me fearlessly.
Dream, my flower, dream and rest,
Close your rosy lips.
Dream and close your wide, wide
eyes
For when you dream, the world
dreams.
Close your eyes and say no more,
Dream of the deep, deep sea.
Close your eyes and have no fear,
Dream of a world full of musicians.
Dream of the wind and dream of the
storm,
Dream of the sea and dream of the forest.
The music of this barrel organ
Fills your heart and moves your
breast,
And, my pretty one, speak not,
This is not the time for sighing.
Today your despair is over,
After tomorrow we’re going to work.
We’ll build a great castle
Full of fine things.
We’ll make it of gold and silver,
With room for everyone,
And every day will be full of gaiety,
And my mother will be there too,
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song translations
E la fatia nun sarà cchi`ù amara
Pecchè saremo allora tutti quanti uguale.
Sogna fiore mio sogna e riposa
St’occhi toi so` comme li rose
Sogna tutti sti cose belle
Gliu cielo…gliu mare e tutte li stelle
E sogna sogna e nun tardare
E falla subito reposare
E scegne sogne e se non vo`venire
Co chesta musica falla addormire.
Lu Guarracino
(The Damselfish)
Lu Guarracino che jeva pe’
mare
lle venne voglia de se
‘nzorare:
Se facette nu bello vestito
de scarede de spine pulito pulito
co na perrucca tutta ‘ngrifata
de ziarelle ‘mbrasciolata.
Co lo sciabò de scolla e puzine
de ponta angrese fine fine.
Ddoje belle cateniglie
de premmone de conchiglie,
no cappiello aggallonato
de codarino d’aluzzo salato
tutto posema e steratiello,
jeva facenno lo sbafantiello,
gerava da ccà e da llà
la ‘nnammorata pe’ se trovà.
La sardella allo barcone
steva sonanno lo calascione,
e a suono de trommetta
jeva cantanno st’arietta:
“E llarè lo mare e lena
e la figlia d’a si’ Lena
ha lassato lo ‘nnammorato
pecchè niente l’ha rialato.”
6 Vesuvius Ensemble
And our fatigue will no longer be bitter Lo Guarracino ‘nche la guardaje The Guarracino looked at
For we shall all be equal. de la sardella s’annammoraje, the sardine and fell right in love.
Dream, my flower, dream and rest, se ne jette da na He went to a vavosa (another kind
Your eyes are like roses, vavosa of fish),
Dream of all those pleasant things: la cchiù vecchia maleziosa, the oldest and shrewdest,
The sky… the sea and all the stars. l’ebbe bona rialata and gave her a nice bribe
Dream and go on dreaming now. pe’ mannarle la ‘mmasciata, to deliver his message.
And now let her take her rest, la vavosa pisse pisse The vavosa psst psst
Sleep descends, and if it will not come, chiatto e tunno ‘nce li disse. told her loud and clear:
Let this music lull her to sleep…
‘Si aje voglia de t’allocà ‘If you wish to find a husband
tanta smorfie non aje da fa, you mustn’t be so surly.
fora le zeze e fora de scuorno Stop all this coyness and
anema a e core e faccia de cuorno.’ bashfulness:
The Guarracino (damselfish) faring
Ciò sentenno la si’ sardella tough spirit, heart and face!’
through the sea
s’affacciaje a la fenestella Hearing this, the sardine
was taken by the wish of getting
fece n’uocchio a zennariello showed herself at the window
married.
a lo speruto ‘ and made eyes
He made himself a beautiful suit
nnammuratiello. at her timid suitor.
of scale and (fish) bone nice and clean
with a wig all entwined
Ma la patella che steva de posta But the watchful limpet nearby
with rolled up ribbons,
la chiammaje faccia tosta, then called her shameless,
with jabot, neck and cuffs
senza parola, male nata, a betrayer and scoundrel,
of fine English embroidery.
ch’avea ‘nchiantato l’alletterato for she had left the little tuna fish,
primmo e antico ‘nnammorato, her first and former suitor.
Two fine chains
de carrera da chisto jette, She (the limpet) rushed to him
of seashell lungs,
e ogne cosa le dicette. and told him everything.
a hat, ornamented
with salted pike tails.
Quanno lo ‘ntise lo poveriello, When the poor thing heard this story,
All primped and tarted up
se lo pigliaje farfariello, the devil made him go berserk.
he went, showing off,
jette a la casa, s’armaje He rushed home and armed himself
cruising here and there
a rasulose up to his ears:
looking for a sweetheart.
carrecaje comm’ a nu mulo he loaded himself like a mule
de scoppette e de spingarde, with guns and muskets,
The sardine on her balcony
povere, palle, stoppa e scarde, gunpowder, balls, hemp and flint;
was playing the colascione
quattro pistole e tre bajonette four pistols and three bayonets
and with a trumpeting sound
dint’ a la sacca se mettette. he put in his pocket.
was singing this song:
“E llarè lo mare e lena
‘Ncoppa a li spalle sittanta pistune, Upon his shoulders he had seventy
and the daughter of signora Lena
ottanta bomme e novanta cannune, guns,
left her suitor
e comm’ a guappo pallarino eighty bombs and ninety cannons,
for he’s not given her any sort of gift.”
jeva trovanno lo Guarracino, and like a brave paladin
2019-2020 Concert Season 7
song translations

la disgrazia a chisto portaje
che ‘nmiezo a la chiazza te lo
‘ncontraje
se l’afferra p’ o cravattino
po’ lle dice “ah malandrino!
tu mme lieve la ‘nnammorata
e pigliatella sta mazziata”
Tuffete taffete a miliunelle
deva pacchere e secazzune,
schiaffe, ponie e perepesse,
scoppolune, fecosse e connesse,
scerevecchiune e sicutennosse
e l’ammacca osse e pilosse.
went looking for the Guarracino.
Bad luck would have it that
he met him in the middle of the square:
he grabbed him by his little necktie
and said to him, “You scoundrel!
So, you’re taking my beloved away from me?
Then take this beating!”
He hit him with millions of blows:
slaps and punches,
smacks, wallops, and thwacks,
beatings, trouncings, thumps to the neck,
cuffs and shouts,
bruising his bones and cartilage.
Che se dèvano, arrassosia!
A centenare le barrate!
A meliune le petrate!
Ma de cantà so già stracquato,
e me manca mò lo sciato,
sicchè dateme licenzia,
graziosa e bella audienzia,
‘nfì che sorchio na meza de seje,
co’ salute de luje e de leje,
ca se secca lu cannarone
sbacantànnose lo premmone.
Pizzica Tarantata
they gave one another – heaven help us!
Stick knocks by the hundred!
Stone bashings by the million!
But now I am tired of singing
and I’m getting short of breath,
So please give me leave,
gracious and handsome audience
So that I can slosh down a measure
to her and his health,
for the throat gets dry
as the lungs get empty!

Venimmoncenne ch’ a lo Then it happened that upon hearing

rommore
pariente e amice ascettera fore,
chi co’ mazze, cortielle e cortelle,
chi co’ spate spatune e spatelle,
chiste co’ barre, chille co’ spite,
chi co’ ammennole
e chi co’ antrite,
chi co’ tenaglie e chi co’ martielle,
chi co’ torrone
e sosamielle.
Patre, figlie, marite e mogliere
s’azzuffajeno comm’ a fere.
A meliune correvano a strisce
de sto partito e de chille li pisce.
Che bediste de sarde e d’alose!
de palaje e raje petrose!
Sarache, dientece ed achiate,
scurme,
tunne e alletterate!
Capitune sàure e anguille,
pisce gruosse e piccerille,
d’ogne ceto e nazione,
tantille, tante, cchiù tante e tantone!
Quanta botte, mamma mia!
Addó t’ha pizzicato la tarantella Where did the tarantula sting you?
this noise
Sott’a la puttarria di la vunnella Was it beneath your underskirt,
relatives and friends came out,
Ca se vasa nu cardillo e where the goldfinch and
some with clubs and knives
na palomma? the dove kiss?
some with daggers, some with swords,
Te preu San Paulo falla guarire I beg you, St. Paul, to heal her,
some with bars, some with spears,
Ca l’avea pizzicato la tarantella. for she’s been bitten by the tarantula.
some with almonds and others with
Oj, vej-li-vuej li-voje-là, Oh, vej-li-vuej li-voje-là, love is
hazelnuts,
Bello è l’amore e beautiful
some with pliers and others with hammers,
ci lu sape fà. and so are those who know its ways.
some with nougats and others with
Ci nun lu sape fà, And for those who don’t know, have
sesame sweets.
cunfidenza nun ni dà. confidence:
Ca ci ste la mamma ca ci penza. Mama is here and she’ll take care of it!
Fathers, daughters, husbands, and wives
La figghia di la massara s’è ‘mparatu The landlady’s daughter has learned
fighting like wild beasts!
le jaddinaru, how to garden,
By the millions raced bands of fish
S’è ‘mparatu lu pertusu edda sotta e she has learned the little hole: her
from the one or the other mob.
ju susa. below and me on top.
You should have seen all those sardines
Si non ci tu ni vai da ccà quanta cose Ah, I’ll do so many things to you if
and shads!
c’agghia fà. you don’t leave here!
How many soles and thornback rays!
T’agghia scascia lu cantaro I’ll break your bedpan, and then
Bass, snappers, sea breams,
e addò diavulo where the devil will you do your
mackerels, big and little tuna fish!
a tà cacà. business?
Addò t’ha pizzicato pozz’esse accisa, Where did he sting you, beneath your
Giant eels, Horse-mackerels, sea snakes,
Sott’a la puttarria di la cammisa. undershirt?
small and large fish
Ci è taranta lassala ballarì. If you’ve been bitten, then dance!
of every class and nation
Ci è malincunia, cacciala fora. If you’re melancholy, chase it away!
from the smallest to the most gigantic!
How many blows, mamma mia,

8 Vesuvius Ensemble 2019-2020 Concert Season 9

 song translations
Taranta Riturnella
(The Little Swallow)
San Paolo é venuto in sonno Saint Paul came to me in a dream Tu rìndina chi vai lu mari mari You, swallow who flies over the seas,
Svolazzava sopra il mio letto He hovered over my bed Oi riturnella You little swallow,
E mise il ballo nel petto And put the dance in my chest.
Ferma quantu ti dicu du’ paroli Remember these couple of words
Le voci volano sul vento The voices that fly in the wind are Oi riturnella I’m telling you,
fantasmi sull’aria che sento Ghosts that speak to me. You little swallow,

Stanotte barcollando per il Tonight, staggering through the fields Vorria jittari nu suspiru a mari You’d cast your sighs into the sea,
campo, I wander, search, and call for you Oi riturnella You little swallow,
vago, cerco, e ti chiamo In the sound of the drum, I’ll meet
nel suono del tamburro ti rangiungo. you. Pe’ vìdiri si mi rispundi a lu me’ beni To see if my sweetheart gives me an
Oi riturnella answer,
Taranta! Taranta! Tarantula! Tarantula! You little swallow,
Vienimi a piglia’! Come and get me!
No mi rispundi no è troppu luntanu I got no answer, for he is too distant,
Gira, gira, gira mondo Spin, spin, spin world, Oi riturnella You little swallow,
Gira, gira, gira, gonna Spin, spin, spin skirt!
È sutt’a na friscura chi sta durmendu, He is sleeping in a tree’s fresh leafy
San Paolo con la spada in mano St. Paul with your sword in hand Oi riturnella shadow,
Nel bacino di notte aspetto in the *bacino of night, I await You little swallow,
Che mi metti il ballo nel petto for you to put the dance in my chest.
Poi si ruscigghja cu lu chjantu all’occhi Then he wakes up with eyes full of
Stanotte barcolando . . . Tonight, staggering . . . Oi riturnella tears,
You little swallow,
(words by Romina Di Gasbarro) *bacino can mean: field, hollow, or
little kiss. Si stuja l’occhi e nci passa lu chjantu He dries his tears away and weeps
Oi riturnella no more,
You little swallow,

Pigghia lu muccaturi lu vaju e llavu You take his handkerchief so I can

Oi riturnella wash it,
You little swallow,

Poi ti lu spandu a nu peri di rosa Then I’ll spread it on a rosebush to

Oi riturnella dry,
You little swallow,

Poi ti lu mandu a Napuli a stirari Then I’ll send it to Naples for

Oi riturnella ironing,
You little swallow

10 Vesuvius Ensemble 2019-2020 Concert Season 11

 song translations
Peppeniello
Poi ti lu cogghju a la Napulitana Then I’ll fold it in the Neapolitan fashion, (Tarantella 21)
Oi riturnella You little swallow,
Stongo ‘mpziere da nu pare e juorne I’ve been worried since
Poi ti lu mannu cu Ventu a purtari Then I tell the south wind to bring it to Nu furastiere e` arrivato in citta` a stranger arrived in the city.
Oi riturnella thee, Cu nu vestito tutto elegante He dresses very elegantly,
You little swallow, ma a me` me pare nu grande brigante. but he looks like a bandit to me.

Ventu và portacello A lu mio beni Go wind and bring it to him, to my Seduto in piazza a bere o cafe’ Sitting in the square drinking coffee,
Oi riturnella sweetheart, trattato comme fosse nu Re treated like a king,
You little swallow, Tutto ‘o paese lo riverisce the whole city reveres him
e sta a sentire quello che dice. and listens to everything he says.
Mera che nun ti cada Pé supra mari Mind that it does not fall from o’er the sea,
Oi riturnella You little swallow, Peppeniello! chillo e’ papa’ “Peppeniello, that guy is your father!
Mo E’ venuto a ce piglia’ He has come to take us
Chi perdi li sigilli ed iu ‘stu cori Or thou wilt lose the seals of this loving Tanta ricchezza jamme a truva` to seek a great fortune --
Oi riturnella heart, Nuje ce ne jamme a lu Canada’ we’re going to Canada!”
You little swallow.
Quanta fatica dint’a So much work we’ve done in the
La Meglio Giuventù campagna countryside
Cu lu Barone ca tutto se magna and the baron eats everything,
La meju gioventù partiu l’America The best youth leaves for America, Lassanne sulo quatto mulliche leaving us only hard bread
la meju gioventù, The best youth - mugliere e figlie a paga` paid for by the work of wives and
oh Maria, sorta mia, O Maria, my fate - sti` fatiche. children.
la meju gioventù partiu l’America. The best youth leaves for America.
Chesta vita nun se po fa We can’t live in these conditions
Maritama è sciutu l’America e nu me My husband left for America and doesn’t Ca nun tenimme niente a magia` having nothing to eat.
scrive write – Dint’e Briganti Either we become thieves, or we
forse ca s’ha truvata, Maybe he’s found - o a Emigra` must emigrate,
oh Maria, sorta mia, O Maria, my fate - Mo ce ne jamme a lu Canada so now we’re going to Canada.
forse ca s’ha truvata n’americana. maybe he’s found an American woman.
O Canada, O Canada, Oh Canada, oh Canada,
Se iddu se lha truvata l’americana If he’s found an American woman, Quanta grazia c’e` fatto truva` how much mercy you’ve shown us!
jeu m’aggiu truvatu, Then I’ll find - O Canada, O Canada, Oh Canada, oh Canada,
oh Maria, sorta mia, O Maria, my fate - A lu paese nun ce fatto you won’t make us forget our
jeu m’aggiu truvatu nu paisanu. Then I’ll find myself a peasant. scurda`. homeland!

L’America nu se chiama chiui
l’America
se chiama la ruvina,
oh Maria, sorta mia,
se chiama la ruvina de la casa.
America isn’t called America Peppeniello ‘ncoppo a na nave Peppeniello on board the ship
anymore, Senza sape` addo` lu purtava not knowing where he was going
It’s called the ruin - S’era addurmuto cu nu sole cucente fell asleep under a beautiful sky
O Maria, my fate - Allu risveglio nu cielo fetente. but then woke up under an ugly one!
It’s called the ruin of families.
Tutta sta gente! l’italia sta cca So many people! All of Italy is here,

12 Vesuvius Ensemble 2019-2020 Concert Season 13

 song translations biographies
Brilliant violinist Elisa Citterio has moved to Toronto
Mille palazzi avimma cria` constructing thousands of houses. from her native Italy to join Tafelmusik Baroque
Lu Canada ce da a mangia` Canada gives us enough to eat, Orchestra as Music Director in 2017. Elisa was born in
comme fa freddo e nevica cca`. but also cold and snow! Brescia, Italy, grew up in a musical family and began
playing piano and violin as a pre-schooler. By sixteen
she began formal studies in violin and viola at the L.
O Canada . . . Oh Canada . . .
Marenzio Conservatory in Brescia, winning many
prizes in national competitions and graduating with
(Words by Francesco Pellegrino) highest honours. Since 2004 she was a member of
the Orchestra del Teatro della Scala di Milano. Elisa
La Pizzica di San Vito dei Normani Citterio’s discography includes more than 35 recordings
with Accademia I Filarmonici (Vivaldi), Europa Galante,
Non c’era da venì I should not have come here, but I’m Zefiro, Accordone, Brixia Musicalis, Accademia
e so’ venuto here now, Bizantina, Il Giardino Armonico, La Venexiana, Joachim
so li sospiri tua m’hanno chiamato. I know that your sighs have called me. Quartet, Helianthus Ensemble.
Ahi, core de zuccaru e limone, Ah, heart of sugar but also of lemon,
t’agghia dà nu vasu a mocca I must kiss you Raised in Toronto and Italy, Romina Di Gasbarro
m’agghia zuccherà la vocca. In order to sweeten my mouth. first began singing Italian folk songs taught to her by
her father as a child. Her formal training includes a
E si chiu bella tu de na cirasa You are lovelier than a cherry; Bachelor’s degree in classical guitar, Artist Diploma
iata a l’amore tua quannu te vasa. Blessed be your love when I kiss you. in Voice Performance, Masters of Fine Arts in Music
Ah, uellì uellì uellà, Ah, uellì uellì uellà, Composition, Bachelor of Music Education, and PhD
tu bedda di stu cori Beauty, you won’t forget studies in Italian music from Western University and
tu di me non ti scurdà. About this heart of mine. York University respectively. Romina pursued post-
graduate voice studies in Milan, Italy and San Francisco,
Di li capelli tua so ‘nnamurato, I’m in love with your hair California with legendary figures like Victoria de los
li veco di vulà d’intra lu viento. I see it flying in the wind Angeles and Olivia Stapp. Her discography includes
Ah, uellì uellì uellà Ah, uellì uellì uellà EP, Little Rome, Poema, and recent Italian-language
tu bedda di stu cori Beauty, you won’t forget release, Risorgimento (2017) featured on CBC Radio and
tu di me non ti scurdà. About this heart of mine. making World Music top 40 charts across Canada. She is
delighted to be a regular guest with Vesuvius Ensemble.
E vulia cu te la dau lu core miu And I would like to give you my heart,
no me nde curu ca io senza vau I don’t care if I have to leave without it. Ben Grossman is a busy musician: improviser, studio
na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na musician, composer, noise-maker and audio artist. He
beddhu l’amore Love is beautiful and so are those who works in many fields, having played on over 100 CDs,
e ci lu sape fa. know its ways. soundtracks for film and television, sound design
for theatre, installations, work designed for radio
transmission, and live performances spanning early
medieval music to experimental sound art. Ben’s tools
of choice are electronics, percussion, and, especially,
the hurdy gurdy (vielle à roue), a contemporary
CREDITS: electro-acoustic string instrument with roots in the
Elisa Citterio’s photo by Cylla von Tiedemann European middle ages. He studied the instrument in
Romina Di Gasbarro’s photo by Jay Lolli Europe (with Valentin Clastrier, Matthias Loibner and
Ben Grossman’s photo by Paul Orenstein Maxou Heintzen) and has also studied Turkish music
Graphic Design by Giorgia Pellizzari
in Istanbul.

14 Vesuvius Ensemble 2019-2020 Concert Season 15

 VESUVIUS ENSEMBLE OFFERS HEARTFELT

THANKS TO
OUR SEASON SPONSORS:

PRESENTING SPONSORS PATRONS

John Donald & Linda Chu
Valerie Elia
Al & Jane Forest
Tony Gagliano
Patrick Luciani
John & Angela Caliendo Tony Boccitto
Paul & Rebecca Elia Nicola Casciato
Paul Golini Antonio Signoroni
Alberto & Caroline Di Giovanni
Fabio e Ivano Varlese

UPCOMING AT HELICONIAN HALL

quanno
nascette
ninno
christmas
in
southern
italy

Friday
DECEMBER 13, 2019
7:30PM

www.vesuviusensemble.com
Tickets available at bemusednetwork.com