The
folk group
BABEMALA’ was formed in 1998 by 4 amateur musicians, already
active individually on the Turin folk scene.
The group
developed out of a
desire, common to all its members, to play ‘traditional folk
music’ from various parts of the world.
The result is a
vast
repertoire of folk songs and dances both Italian and international
(Occitanian- Provençale, Irish, Breton, Asturian, Basque and
even music from Israel and the Yemen) which the group plays at numerous
concerts all over the northern Italy.
During their
performances
Babemalà alternates between songs and instrumentals just for
listening to and music specifically for dance which will usually see
the participation of the audience. When asked, the group will also
teach the dances proposed in their repertoire. The aim of this is to
recreate an atmosphere of village folk dances of old where the people
gathered to dance and socialize.
Over the years
the group has
collaborated with many exponents of the folk scene in Piedmont (the
region in which Turin is located) including various schools of
traditional dance and also many musicians. This has led to their
participation in numerous musical and folk events in Piedmont.
To further the
initial aims
of the group and particularly to promote folk culture in general, the
members of the group, together with friends, formed the
Babemalà Cultural Association.
The group is
extremely active
but not only on the live concert scene. They have produced 2 CDs to
date, the first, which was released in September 2001 and entitled
“Vietato Dondolarsi”
collects songs and dances from the folk tradition (mp3).
The title which means “rocking prohibited” comes from a
sign on the wall in the basement where the group practiced warning of
the extremely rickety chairs that were there. The second CD, released
in 2004 with the title “ComEmilio”
(just like Emilio)
features many friends/musicians. The CD is named after Emilio Salgari
the author of Sandokan who wrote of adventures in remote parts of the
world without ever actually leaving his native city of Turin, a little
like Babamalà whose repertoire on the CD ranges from the Yemen
to Finland though they have not as yet, played abroad.
On both CDs
there are tracks
composed by members of the group itself but which are arranged strictly
in keeping with the styles of traditional music. As the group feels
that music belongs to everyone the original tracks on the CD
can
be copied freely and they are not covered by copyright.
The Babemalà
folk group is comprised of:
Laura Sartore:
vocals. Laura started out in the Turin-based choir
“Incontrocanto” and has taken part in numerous folk dance
courses held at various folk festivals.
Giovanna
Garzena:
recorders and vocals. Giovanna has taken part is courses at the Scuola
Civica di Torino under the guidance of maestro Balestracci. She has
also attended many courses in antique and baroque music and performed
in many concerts. She works with children and adolescents using music
as an educational tool.
Paolo Ferro:
Hurdy-Gurdy, percussion. Paolo plays is various folk groups
and
has taken part is many folk dance courses and Hurdy-Gurdy workshops.
Ivan Ravalli:
Button Accordion. Ivan has played in various groups in the Canavese
area and holds courses in Occitanian folk dancing in Primary schools.
Mauro
Sarcinella:
Guitar. Mauro has played in many groups in the Piedmont area. He has
worked with children and after frequenting the School of Musical
therapy in Assisi now works as a music therapist collaborating with
various organizations and schools in Turin and the surrounding area.
Giuseppe
Tabbia:
accordion,mandolin. He achieved the diploma in theory and
solfeggio at the Academy of Music G. Verdi in Turin. He has played in
many groups in the Piedmont area among others “Cantovivo”.
He also has experience in the recording studio.
Contacts:
babemala@yahoo.it
Paolo
Ferro +393391254781
paolinoferro@virgilio.it
Mauro
Sarcinella
+393391256436 bkeaton@sarcinella.it
Translated by Ian
Stimpson