“Mamma Sirena” (AnimaMundi, 2015)
Italian band Officina Zoè celebrates the Mediterranean Sea and recreates the traditional trance music of Salento in southern Apulia, Italy. The material featured in their new concept album Mamma Sirena includes a mix of traditional songs and originals minted by vocalist and songwriter Cinzia Marzo, who has spent time researching the region looking for traditional songs.
The album’s music and songs revolve around topics related with the Mare Nostrum (the ancient name given to the Mediterranean Sea) that is an essential part of daily life in Salento: mermaids, fishermen, mariners, explorers, dreamers and cultural exchange with other Mediterranean civilizations.
Gifted with a wonderful voice, Cinzia Marzo delivers a set of songs with a traditional flavor where she mesmerizes the listeners with trance-like vocal techniques and contemporary folk musical arrangements of pizzicas (traditional dances from Apulia).
The CD covers features an illustration of the self-biting fish “uroboro” (a creature that also appears as a serpent and dragon) taken from the 8th Century “Missale Gelonese.” The booklet includes song lyrics, some dialogue of sirens taken from Maria Corti’s novel “Il canto delle sirene“ (Bompiani, 1989) and illustrations of Medieval mermaids.
The Officina Zoè lineup includes Cinzia Marzo on vocals, flutes and percussion; Lamberto Probo on tammorra (tambourine), cucchiari (spoons), tamburello (tambourine), scalmi, vocals; Donatello Pisanello on diatonic accordion, guitar and mandola; Giorgio Doveri on violin and mandola; Luigi Panico on guitar and vocals; Silvia Gallone on sonagli (bell tree), tammorra, tamburello, Calabrese lira, vocals and scalmi. Guests featured include Francesco Probo on electric guitar and Ottavio Marzo on vocals.
“Mamma Sirena” is an enthralling album by one of the finest Italian world music ensembles rooted in the musical traditions of southern Italy.
Purchase the digital download version of Mamma Sirena
CD available from www.suonidalmondo.com
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
Is it Italian language the one they use in the CD Mamma Sirena?
If it isn´t, what dialect is it?
Thank you very much.