What a terrific group Newpoli is! They gave a concert live-streamed by Global Arts Live on October 25, 2020 from Starlight Square, Cambridge (Massachusetts). The group plays taranta music from southern Italy, largely from Campania and Puglia. It comes from periods between the Middle Ages and the 19th century and has Greek, Turkish and Spanish influences.
Two signorinas (Carmen Marsico and Angela Rossi) usually handled the vocals. Five guys backing them up on guitar, traditional drums, tamburello, oud or mandola, ciaramella (a large end-played flute) and other flutes, traditional drums and castanets.
La Signorina Marsico opened with the line “Mama la luna” in a piercing high voice with a great guitar twinkling behind her. Then rhythm came in as the guys start riffing behind her. La Signorina Rossi joined, sometimes taking the lead from the first, sometimes doubling with her.
There was a dance from Naples that the group composed. On another song the singers taught us to clap with them: 1-2 — 1-and-2. Sometimes one of the men, Fabio Pirozzolo, would sing solo. At one point the women sang a lively staccato with only clapping behind them.
Le signorinas sang a sweet love song – or was it a lament? – in counterpoint. For this song one of the guys played a small flute with a gorgeous sound like a bird song. The Italian title of another song meant “Don’t look back”. A woman sang the lead and then gave it to Mr. Pirozzolo while she sang a sort of descant in vocalese.
All the singers are obviously well trained. The ladies sometimes sang with a sort of controlled scream like Laura Nyro used to do. Their voices can handle anything from a belt to a delicate trill. Mr. Pirozzolo can sing powerfully and in a mix with falsetto.
There was a tarantella from Calabria, a jumpy ballad of unrequited love, followed by another song during which the women danced, a frisky song called Pizzico (bite). In this song all three singers sang in unison.
The wonderful instrumentals were supportive but always well behind the vocals. And it was great to see the woman dance – they invited the crowd to dance, as I’m sure they did. No one could resist dancing to this music. This concert was an hour of absolute musical bliss, a delight. Bravi!
More about Newpoli
headline image: Newpoli – Photo by Liz Linder
Author: Steve Capra
