ORG.NET
ORG.NET
Pierpaolo Vacca, Giacomo Vardeu, Totore Chessa,
MariAntonietta Bosu, Ambrogio Sparagna
Five diatonic organ stories differing by repertoire, age, geography and gender. Linked by the thread of improvisation, they will give life to an original and visionary project where the artisanal visions of a popular instrument such as the accordion intertwine through a new sound and repertoire research between acoustic and electronic sounds.
Comparison of generations investigating the current meaning of Italian popular music and the possibility of expanding the possibilities of the instrument through new repertoires and new technologies.
PierPaolo Vacca
ACCORDION
Born in Ovodda in the province of Nuoro, a pupil of maestro Peppino Deiana, he made his debut at a very young age in the squares of the island, in exhibitions, festivals and processions. In 2004 he joined the Ovoddese Oleri folk group, which he still accompanies today. In 2011 he founded the Folkaos, a combat folk group, with which he performed in various squares and festivals in Sardinia. With the collaboration of the “Lobas” association, he attends various bal folk festivals around Italy, and beyond. Since 2014, together with the guitarist and singer Giuseppe Muggianu, he has been carrying on the project “In giro per canzone”, a show dedicated to Italian songwriters. Since 2018 he has presented a solo show, a project in which traditional Sardinian music is approached with a personal style characterized by the use of electronic effects. In June 2019, he participates in the Music@Work project conceived and developed by the Cherimus association. From a short stay in Dakar, the formation and recording of the album of the Sardinian-Senegalese group “Gegò Yegó” was born, a formation composed by Massimo Congiu, Francesco Medda (Arrogalla), Pape Ndiaye, Pape Ndiop and Kalsoum. Project that mixes the tradition of Sardinia with the music and rhythms of the Senegalese tradition. In October 2021 he was involved by Paolo Fresu in the theatrical project produced by the Teatro Stabile di Bolzano, “Tango Macondo”, directed by Giorgio Gallione, and from which an album called precisely “Tango Macondo” was born, recorded for TUK music, together to Paolo Fresu and Daniele Di Bonaventura. He is currently working on his first solo album which will be released in July 2023 again for TUK.
GIACOMO VARDEU
ACCORDION
Giacomo began his piano studies at the age of 11, later he undertook accordion studies with maestro Carlo Boeddu at the civic school of Nuoro. He immediately showed skill and passion for this instrument which allowed him to enhance the traditional music of Orosei, the boy’s native town, and also the music of distant territories, such as the Basque ones. He begins an intense research activity and performs in numerous concerts accompanying folk groups, and collaborating with formations such as Tenores, Cuncordu, Choirs, instrumental ensembles … He also performs with great musicians such as Ernest Raiseghen and enjoys improvising on some occasions even with greats like Paolo Fresu. There are several concerts in which he takes part: on 15 August 2020 for Time in Jazz in Berchidda, where he performs with Maestro Fabio Calzia and in the finale he has the honor of playing with Paolo Fresu and with artists such as Marco Bardoscia and Dino Rubino. In December 2021 Giacomo won the Alziator award in Cagliari, a recognition that is attributed to the “excellence” of Sardinia. In May 2022 he collaborated with the great writer Manu Invisible in an art and music project “Manu in musica”, which will end with the creation of a large mural and a very special concert in Orosei. In June 2022 he was invited to participate in the “Festa delle 7 Arts in Rome”, sponsored by Rai Cultura, performs on the Tiber for the occasion, with many great artists.
TOTORE CHESSA
ACCORDION
Born in Irgoli, a town in central eastern Sardinia, in 1959. He began playing at age 15 as a self-taught musician. He learned the first rudiments of both the accordion and traditional dances from the authentic sources of the elders. He has collaborated with numerous musicians with different styles, including Luigi Lai, Paolo Fresu, Tenores di Bitti, Enzo Favara, Marino Derosas and many others. This has allowed him to broaden his horizons to multiple musical genres. He has released a CD entitled “Organittos,” produced by the Robi Droli record label. He was awarded the title “Master of Folklore” in 2014 by the organizing committee of the “Regional Folklore Festival” on the occasion of the Feast of the Redeemer in Nuoro. He received the Sardinia Award from the Civitas Association of Sassari, Albo D’Oro Award in 2015 from the Andrea Parodi Foundation of Cagliari. He created the first accordion festival in Sardinia in Irgoli, of which he is coordinator and artistic director. He has an important collection of bellows instruments from different eras and nations, which he makes available, upon request, for exhibitions and lectures.
MARIANTONIETTA BOSU
ACCORDION
Talent, determination and an infinite passion. These are the three adjectives that can best tell and represent Mariantonietta Bosu, both as a person and as a musician. The passion for Sardinian music matured in her since she was a child thanks to her grandfather Peppino and her father Giuseppe, who with the guitar and the barrel organ, enjoyed chanting those notes that smacked of celebration. The big dream at the age of ten comes true on Christmas day: that letter where he asked to be able to receive a barrel organ as a gift turns into reality. Thus began his journey in music, first thanks to the advice of a player from Ottana, to then embark on a path of his own and improve thanks to the advice and lessons carried out with the great masters. It is the sounds of the community of Ottana that dictate the rhythms and that link the story to the emotions: Mariantonietta Bosu is also a player of the s’affuente, a liturgy instrument which then becomes an instrument for accompanying dance. Protagonist in Sardinian festivals and present at the great events taking place on the island, Mariantonietta, thanks to her style and that passion that could be defined as contagious, has managed, despite her young age, to carve out an important space for herself in the world of Sardinian traditions. But it is that phrase engraved on her organ that animates her heart: “I will play for you”, in memory of her father Giuseppe, who with pride and immense esteem, passed on to her a passion that she managed to transform into art.
AMBROGIO SPARAGNA
ACCORDION
One of the most important musicians of European popular music with numerous projects to his credit in collaboration with important and prestigious institutions, concert and non-concert, national and international and with Italian artists and soloists from all over the world. In 1976 he founded the first popular music school in Italy and in 1984 he founded the “Bosio Big Band”, an original accordion ensemble with which he made numerous recording and music theater productions. From 2004 to 2006 he was Maestro concertatore of the Festival La Notte della Taranta directing a large orchestra of 60 elements composed of popular instruments and realizing many concerts, from Puglia to China. Since 2007 he has been the founder and director of the Orchestra Popolare Italiana of the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome, a large stable instrumental group that brings together many performers from all regions of the peninsula, with the aim of promoting and enhancing the repertoire of Italian popular music. With this staff he gives life to numerous entertainment projects both within the Fondazione Musica per Roma season, and in Italy and abroad. Ambrogio Sparagna has to his credit an intense international concert activity in numerous European and non-European countries and a broad teaching experience also through the publication of numerous essays and audiovisual documents on Italian popular music. He had the opportunity to collaborate with numerous and qualified artists of the music scene including Francesco De Gregori, Lucio Dalla, Angelo Branduardi, Peppe Servillo, Teresa De Sio, Nino D’Angelo, Simone Cristicchi, Ron, Giovanni Lindo Ferretti and many others.
