Read what the
New York Times
says about
Rhythm Is The Cure
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With several
recordings to her credit, Alessandra has captured the traditional
music of Southern Italy. Listen to the audio clips from
the selected recordings and order them from the ordering
section.
|
Alessandra
Belloni's New CD
Daughter
of the Drum
more
info
A
fiery "percussive journey" through
the
South of Italy
A live CD from one woman show |
| $15 |
 |
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A
fiery "percussive journey" through the
South of Italy exploring the rhythmic similarities
between southern Italy and the North East of Brazil
especially Recife, the State of Pernabuco, by blending
tambourines and frame drums with music ancient and
new, Belloni creates a bridge between ancient rituals
and modern rhythms into a vibrant musical tapestry.
Southern Italian & Brazilian dance, putting a
new spin on original and traditional arrangments
from the musical backgrounds. The program includes
electrifying performances of the Tarantella, a purifying
Italian healing dance used as an antidote to the
mythical bite of the tarantula, processional chants
and ritual drumming in honor of the Black Madonna,
and love laments, lullabies, and women's work chants
from the dawn of Southern Italy. The disc also features
innovative takes on Brazilian chants and rhythms,
including samba, baiao, forro, and samba de coco. |
Melt in the Sizzling Sounds of Southern Italy
Hot New Music from Italian Songstress Alessandra Belloni
FRANKLIN, TN – Naxos World is pleased to announce
that on March 18th, Naxos World will release Tarantelle
& Canti d’Amore (Dances of the Spider & Love
Songs), an exciting foray into the sensuous music of the
people of Southern Italy. This disc features Alessandra
Belloni, a recognized authority on ancient Italian dances
and rituals. Fervid rhythms, haunting lullabies, and desperate
love songs characterize this latest volume in Naxos World’s
rapidly growing library.
The tarantella originated in Southern Italy as a healing
dance ritual to cure a mental disease called tarantismo,
which the people believed was caused by the mythical bite
of the tarantula. Women with these imaginary bites, known
as tarantate, suffered from symptoms such as depression,
hysteria, schizophrenia, and anguish. They would enter a
hypnotic state, and in a trance they danced frantically
for days. This wild, erotic dance music is performed mainly
by female musicians on tambourines.
The larger, heavier tambourine and Alessandra’s instrument
of choice, Tammorra Napoletana, is about 16 inches in diameter
and 3 ½ inches thick. In addition to the frenzied
percussion, the recording features guitar, violin, and many
other instruments that are common to the music of the area.
Accompanied by Alessandra’s eerie Italian chants,
the disc provides a mystifying passage into the ancient
roots music of Southern Italy.
An advocate for educating the masses about the music traditions
of the region, Alessandra Belloni has studied the music
of Southern Italy for over 20 years. The Village Voice has
proclaimed her “a sexy and sure performer” and
the New York Times raved that she is “curiously haunting...profound.”
She has also been featured in publications such as the Los
Angeles Times, Drum!, Modern Drummer, and Global Rhythm.
Alessandra is acknowledged as one of the top living female
percussionists in the world and has also designed her own
signature line of Italian tambourines.
Tarantelle & Canti d’Amore marks the 13th release
from Naxos World, the world music imprint of classical label
and distributor Naxos. The label will release 12 titles
in 2003, and has plans to be able to stock an entire world
music section with representative recordings from all corners
of the globe.
Tarantelle & Canti d’Amore: The Songs of Alessandra
Belloni and other Naxos World titles are available for the
suggested retail price of $9.99 in music and book retail
stores, mail-order catalogs and Internet sites throughout
the United States and around the world. Visit our website
at www.naxosworld.com or call (877) NAXOSCD for information
about a store near you.
Listen to
Alessandra Belloni's
newest recording from
Sounds True |
The mystical-erotic trance rituals of southern Italy...haunting
prayers to the Black Madonna and the Goddess of the
Mediterranean...the breathtaking love songs of its
storied islands - from the dawn of Italy's magical-spiritual
song tradition comes Alessandra Belloni's new release,
TARANTATA: Dance of the
Ancient Spider. With her soaring mezzo-soprano
and mesmerizing tambourine rhythms, Alessandra casts
a spellbinding web of sensuality spun from the tarantella-the
ecstatic rites used to cure young women of a mysterious
affliction known as "the bite of the ancient
spider."
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Other
recordings:
Various Artists
MEDITERRANEAN LULLABY
CD Ellipsis Arts 4290
2000
DIVINE DIVAS
A World of Women's Voices
CD Rounder 5071
1997
GLOBAL CELEBRATIONS
Authentic Music from Festivals & Celebrations Around
the World
CD Ellipsis Arts 3230
1993
DEA
FORTUNA
Shanachie
1989
SULILLO
MIO
Shanachie
1985
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