Tarantata: Dance of the Ancient Spider

Amazon.com
Thanks to dozens of old bargain-basement LPs and Saturday morning radio shows, the tarantella has been reduced to one of those hokey dances done by the old folks at parties. But the truth of the dance and its music is much darker and deeper. Alessandra Belloni explores the roots of "the spider dance," an erotic dance meant to cure the "affliction" of love in women. Belloni is best known for her years of work with the American-based Italian folk-revival band I Giullari di Piazza. On this recording she has brought together a remarkable and diverse group of musicians to join her own singing and percussion: John La Barbara, the classical guitarist; accordionist Charlie Giordano, whose subtle work on this recording is extraordinary for its artful restraint; jazz violinist Joe Denizen; percussionist Glen Velez, who supplies the frame drums and tambourines; and Steve Gorn, who contributes his Indian bansuri flute. What this group achieves is a contemporary yet fundamentally ancient sound, a formal art music that has all the raw energy of street-level folk. It's a balancing act few artists can handle, but Belloni and company bring these old songs to glorious life. --Louis Gibson

Tarantata: Dance of the Ancient Spider,Alessandra Belloni,Sounds True Direct,Int'l & World Music,Italian,Italian Folk,Italy,Pop,World Music

Average customer rating:

GREAT...GREAT...GREAT

Don't market this as a traditional Tarantella CD for wedding

back to the roots

Interesting music, but NOT for a traditional Italian wedding

Interesting music, but not for an Italian wedding

Tarantata: Dance of the Ancient Spider
Alessandra Belloni
Manufacturer: Sounds True Direct
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Tarantelle and Canti d'Amore

ASIN: B00004C4QM
Release Date: 2000-02-22

Tracks:

Pizzicarella
Ave Mama E Deu
Ballo Tondo
Ave Maria Di Montserrat
Canto Di Sant'Irene
Sola Sola
Agur Iziarko
Canto Della Madonna Di Montserrato
Madonna Della Grazia
Fimmene Fimmene
Tarantella Di Sannicandro
Tu Bella
Tarantella Alla Carpinese
Tarantella Di San Michele
Canto Della Luna
Inno Al Brasile

Amazon.com

Thanks to dozens of old bargain-basement LPs and Saturday morning radio shows, the tarantella has been reduced to one of those hokey dances done by the old folks at parties. But the truth of the dance and its music is much darker and deeper. Alessandra Belloni explores the roots of "the spider dance," an erotic dance meant to cure the "affliction" of love in women. Belloni is best known for her years of work with the American-based Italian folk-revival band I Giullari di Piazza. On this recording she has brought together a remarkable and diverse group of musicians to join her own singing and percussion: John La Barbara, the classical guitarist; accordionist Charlie Giordano, whose subtle work on this recording is extraordinary for its artful restraint; jazz violinist Joe Denizen; percussionist Glen Velez, who supplies the frame drums and tambourines; and Steve Gorn, who contributes his Indian bansuri flute. What this group achieves is a contemporary yet fundamentally ancient sound, a formal art music that has all the raw energy of street-level folk. It's a balancing act few artists can handle, but Belloni and company bring these old songs to glorious life. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews:

GREAT...GREAT...GREAT.......2006-06-14

This is the real deal. Great energy.
Maybe, not for the wedding....but it would
be good for the wedding "night" :-)
Get this album!

Don't market this as a traditional Tarantella CD for wedding.......2005-04-05

I bought what must have been a dozen CDs that were supposed to be appropriate for an Italian wedding (my Granddaughter was getting married). I purchased this one upon recommendation of the virtual italia website. What a mistake. There was really no way we could play this music at a traditional Italian wedding reception. While it may have some interest for historians interested in the development of the tarantella, it is definitely NOT for musical entertainment at any social Italian American functions. Future buyers should know this. Thanks for allowing me to comment.

back to the roots.......2004-12-31

Alessandra Belloni is a singer, dancer and actress with impecabble credentials: she studied Commedia dell'Arte with Dario Fo, worked with Anna Magnani and Federico Fellini and, as one of the greates female percussionists in the world, she has performed with Glen Velez, Olatunji, Mickey Hart and Gilberto Gil. Her main interest is in ancient peasant music from Southern Italy, with its syncretic mix of Catholic and pagan influences. Here she demonstrates the Calabrian tarantella, a quick dance the origins of which stretch back to the Dionysian rites of ancient Greece. In the Middle Ages, the tarantella was allegedly used to help tarantulla-bitten peasant women in Southern Italy sweat the poison off their bodies. In reality, however, the quick tempo of the tarantella which unleashes the power and ecstasy that resides in the woman's body was used to excite erotic passions in men. In this CD I can see why.

Belloni is a true visionary whose exquisite beauty and power breathe out of every piece on this CD. From medieval prayer chants to peasant celebrations and love ballads, the music evokes the ecstasy that occurs when the body becomes a vessel for ancient forces that rise out of the land and its cycles; it shines with the tremendous power of the feminine reaching all the way back into ancient shamanic roots of Europe and ancient Greece. It is a rare occasion indeed that these rhythms became available. Highly recommended.

Interesting music, but NOT for a traditional Italian wedding.......2004-03-03

While the music on this CD is interesting from a historical viewpoint, it is definitely NOT appropriate for an Italian American wedding reception. I purchased the CD on the recommendation I received from a popular Italian American website (I won't mention names) that listed it in the category of "Italian Wedding Music." I couldn't have been more disappointed. Again, the music is interesting, but so very ethnic that Italian Americans would NEVER understand or relate to it. Fortunately, I was able to find The Italian Wedding cd on amazon.com that filled the bill, and my reception was saved.

Again, I'm not knocking this music. It is great for people interested in the really grass roots, traditional Italian sound. In fact, it is quite haunting and great for an event other than a lively Italian wedding. But am I ever glad I had this other CD in hand to save my wedding reception.

Interesting music, but not for an Italian wedding.......2004-03-03

I purchased this CD because it was billed as "Italian Wedding Music" on a popular Italian American website. While the selections were very interesting from a historical viewpoint, this was definitely NOT the CD to play for an Italian American wedding reception! Fortunately, I was able to purchase another Italian Wedding CD from amazon.com that definitely filled the bill. Just wanted to advise potential brides that, while this CD may be great for a background dinner reception or other background music need, it is definitely NOT for the DJ at your Italian wedding.

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