Le Cantu in Paghjella, au coeur de la tradition polyvocale de Corse

The Cantu in paghjella is a living singing tradition of the Mediterranean island of Corsica, and it is based on three parts vocal registers. It is performed a cappella and it begins with the so called segonda, that gives the pitch and carries the main melody, followed by the accompaniment and support of the bassu, while the highest voice, called terza enriches the song with its melismatic ornamentations.The main subjects of the poetry of the traditional repertoire of paghjella are love, nature, daily life, work, emigration, and it represents the historical collective identity of the Corsican society.Iviu Pasquali, the founder of the vocal group Madricale, was raised in the Castagniccia, in the Northeast of Corsica, and practised the cantu in paghjella since his youth dedicating his life to the transmission and dissemination of this oral tradition that in 2009 was inscribed in the UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, with the condition of a periodical reporting due to the need of urgent safeguarding.About Iviu PasqualiPasquali is from San Damiano on his father’s side and from Zuani on his mother’s side, two villages in Castagniccia, the region where Cantu in Paghjella was born and where tradition runs deep. Born in 1957 into a family of polyphonic singers, he was immersed from childhood in the world of traditional secular and sacred songs that accompany life from birth to death.In 1986, he founded the first school of cantu in paghjella, with the aim of passing on these traditional polyphonic songs to younger generations. He has always worked on a voluntary basis to ensure that these traditional male songs do not become commercialized, but instead remain an essential link that keeps a deeply rooted Corsican tradition alive.Episode's musical sources listMadricale / Paghjella traditionnel San DamianuMadricale / Si ne parte Bernardinu / Paghjella traditionnel OrezzaMadricale / U versu di Mocu Tirriola / Paghjella traditionnel AlesgianiMadricale / Curentina / traditionnelMadricale / Kyrie / traditionnel Zuani PianelluMadricale /Eramu en campu / traditionnel Tagliu IsolacciaMadricale / Nun ti scurda de me / terzettu traditionnelMadricale / Sanctus / Traditionnel San DamianuDisclaimerMediterranean Intangible Heritage Soundscape is a podcast by Paolo Scarnecchia, produced by UNIMED, Mediterranean Universities Union. Musical works included in the Podcast are used for purpose of illustration for teaching, and not for commercial purposes.Please notice that opening and closing voice over is generated with AI tools.