DOWNLOAD THE LYRICS OF THE CHANTS.

The work documents part of the repertoire of the informal choir “Canta Che Non Passa”. The choir is a spontaneous group of middle age/old people that constituted a part of the NO TAV* movement in Valsusa, northern Italy. The choir’s repertoire consists mainly of protest songs adapted from preexisting musical sources, with new lyrics that have been created from scratch.

I recorded the choir during one of their rehearsals. Rather position the microphone at a certain distance from the group to capture the multiplicity of voices, I chose to focus on individual voices of those members that sat beside me. This strategy was designed to stress the fallible and imperfect nature of the chorale and place emphasis on: 1) the singular/plural dimension of collective singing; 2) the beauty, strength, and vulnerability of non-professional voices.

* As clearly stated by the name of the choir (“Canta Che Non Passa” means “Sing, So It Won’t Pass” or better “Our Singing Will Stop It”) the NO TAV movement opposes the creation of the new high speed railway line between Turin and Lyon. More info: brief history of the no tav movement and notav.info.

Thanks to Mariano, Renato, Fulvio, Gianni, Marisa, Gildo, Lucio, e tutt*.