I’Alba – Grilli

The text I Grilli (“Crickets”) that inspired this album sketches a vision of Corsican music: not only its identity, but also its multiple influences. It is made up of three verses which lead into subsets of interconnected songs. Sometimes the text is sung in its entirety, while at other times a single verse is enough to introduce a subset, revealing unique musical nuances. The aim of this album is to offer an immersive experience in which each song, while having its own identity, is part of an overall creation with the I Grilli text as the common thread.
Polyphony is very much in evidence and forms the basis of the exploratory work: it occupies a central place in the genesis of the album, which is a continuation of the previous compositional work À Principiu.  The creative inspiration came largely from the island’s geographical position and its history, as well as from a musical approach that chooses to look towards other horizons.
The part integrating ancient writings, preceded by a specially created Currente(an improvised text sung to a well-known traditional tune) is imbued with a sonic atmosphere that matches the group’s musical identity. An important place is given to compositions in the “Corsican cabaret song” style, inspired by the works of emblematic singers from the pre-Riacquistu (a cultural movement that emerged in Corsica in the 1970s) period, when Corsican music was beginning to evolve while remaining deeply rooted in the island's musical traditions. This section begins with a reading of the I Grilli text. The album closes with a nanna (lullaby) and a series of unclassifiable pieces that perfectly illustrate the group’s exploratory work.

Track Listing:
1. I Grilli Di Maghju -   2. Di Carne E Dosse -   3. Misere Mei -   4. Grilli -   5. Ombrilume -   6. A Petra Di Ghjacintu -   7. I Grilli Di Lugliu -   8. Figliola -   9. Paghjella -   10. Castichi Damore -   11. I Gridda Di Luddu -   12. Chi Paese Sera -   13. Torna Una Volta -   14. Un Chjarasgiu -   15. Terzini Guagnesi -   16. I Grilli Di Ferraghju -   17. E Piu Belle Matine -   18. U Sognu -   19. U Grillu -   

Personnel:
Laurent Barbolosi (viulinu) , Antoine-Léonard Belgodere (ghitare accustiche, mandola & mandulina) , Eric Ferrari (bass) , François Guironnet (voce è fiati) , Sebastien Lafarge (voce, harmonium, chitare accustiche & mandola) , Ghjuvanfrancescu Mattei (voce, chitara accustica & mandola) , Petrughjuvanni Mattei (Voce & chitara accustica) , Tarek Abdallah (oud) , Gilles Chabenat (viela à ròtula) , Lauriane Orsini (flautu di traversu) , Pierre Sangra (buzukì, saz, ukulele, viulinu, chitara accustica Moktar Samba, percussioni) , Natali Valli (voce (lettura) & chitara accustica) , Carla Maria Benedetti / Frédéric Bosseur  / Melina Ferrari Baldacci / Jean-Luc Geronimi / Jean-Laurent Luciani / Stephane Serra (voce)