Alessandra Belloni Signature Tambourines
available online in the ordering section

Pictured from left to right Tamburello, Tammorra Nepoletana, Pizzica

Alessandra Belloni Tamburello pretuned: medium-low pitch red w/white ribbons 7 single rows of jingles 2 1/2" x 12" TA-2512-AB

Alessandra Belloni Pizzica pretuned: medium-low pitch beige w/white & red ribbons 11 staggered sets of jingles 3 1/2" x 12" TA-3512-AB

Alessandra Belloni Tammorra Napoletana pretuned: low pitch blue w/red & yellowribbons 7 double rows of extra large jingles 3 3/4" x 16" TA-3616-AB

The Italian frame drum is an ancient musical instrument connected to rituals often associated with women. In the Magna Grecia and Middle East women used the frame drum for rituals honoring the moon goddess. Sumer statues from 2000 BC show women playing tambourines and an ancient Egypt and Greece the instrument was mainly played by women. In Rome the frame drum was played in rituals honoring Dyonisus and Cibele. In Islam regions the tambourine was part of a woman's dowry and used for feasts and funerals. The mazhar--a large Islamic frame drum--is closest to the Italian tamburello with five groups of jingles still used to today to accompany folk dances including the tarentella and the tammorriata.

In Italy the tambourine and castanets were primarily playing by women. The large drum tammorra was used in the area of Naples and Salerno during the spring and summer festivals in honor of the Madonna especially the Black Madonna. it also provided accompaniment to the singers and dancers in the sensual and erotic couples dance of castanets. the instrument was used in music therapy in Puglia to cure the malady thought to be caused by a mythical byte of the tarantula hence the name of the dance tarantella. Women affected by this mental disorder reached a state of trance as they danced to the compelling rhythm. In Puglia the women usually played the tambourine for the healing ceremonies acting as shamans and guiding the trance. They were treated as doctors for their work in the Pizziche Tarantate often accompanied by violin guitar and accordian

Alessandra's performances are a fiery "percussive journey" through the south of Italy exploring magic rituals tarantellas used as music therapy and healing trance dance to cure the mythical bite of the tarantula women processional chants and drumming in honor of the Black Madonna lullabies women love laments and work chants specifically arranged for voice and percussion.

She is a highly sought after musician performing in festivals and conferences all over the world. The roster of artists she's performed with include Glen Velez Steve Gorn Siba Terry Bozzio and Heracio Hernandez and has been a featured artist in festivals that have included the legendary tabla maestro Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri from India Doudou N'Diaye Rose from Senegal Aja Addy from Ghana and the Wadaiko Yamato Ensemble from Japan. She is the only woman in America who uses this powerful tambourine style combined with the singing and dancing and she is very proud to be able to bring this ancient tradition back to life.