Village Harmony
5748 Hollister Hill Road
Marshfield, VT 05658
(802) 426-3210
vharmony@sover.net
Village Harmony
From left to
right: Amity, Patty, Emily
Trio Eccuci (“Here we are”) was formed a year and a half ago by central-Vermont musicians Patty Cuyler (co-director of the Marshfield-based ensemble Village Harmony), Amity Baker (leader of Burlington’s Social Band) and Emily Wells (veteran performer at Bread & Puppet Theater).The three women have sung together for years in projects dreamed up by Larry Gordon, founder and head director of Village Harmony and Northern Harmony, and director of Montpelier’s popular community choir, Onion River Chorus.
About Corsican Polyphany
The three-part singing of the Mediterranean island of Corsica is not music intended as spectacle. It is intimate and personal, full of the moments and rhythms of everyday life, full of passion, sorrow, joy.
Corsican song is traditionally performed with a single voice on each of the two top parts. The lead is given to the 'secunda' (pronounced “segunda”) or principal voice, with special ornamentation allotted to the 'terza' (“tertsa”) or top voice. An alternating drone and continuo is provided by the 'bassu' (“uwazu”) or bottom voice, which alone can be doubled or trebled. Traditional polyphony, both sacred and profane, features an elaborate free form of ornamentation with vibrato or 'ribucatta' (“ribujata”).
Following its revival in the 1970s, polyphony has become a central part of the expression of Corsican culture. The latest generation of Corsican musicians is trying both to continue the preservation of the ancient songs and to make the music their own. Since the 1990s increasing numbers of women have joined men in singing traditional music on the public stage.
Program
Tota pulcra es Maria
A two-part Corsican chant from the late 17th century, found in a Franciscan manuscript. “Thou art fair, O Mary, and there is no stain of original sin in thee. Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, the joy of Israel, the honor of our people, the advocate of sinners. O Mary, virgin most prudent, mother most merciful, pray for us, intercede for us with the Lord, Jesus Christ.”
Kyrie eleison and Sanctus
From the traditional Corsican mass for the dead (‘defunti’). Sacred polyphony was passed down from mouth to ear among lay brotherhoods (‘cunfraternita’) dating from the middle ages, formed to provide chanted religious ritual for masses, funeral services and feast days. Today sections of the mass are frequently performed by Corsican ensembles in concert, and
one is unlikely to hear a traditional concert without a dies irae, miserere or a kyrie.
Impresta mi le to ale and Que so voci muntagnole
Two examples of 'paghjella' singing. The 'paghjella' is the base form of Corsican polyphony. It is sometimes said that only by mastering the 'paghjella' style can one truly sing Corsican music. The form always utilizes three stanzas of poetry, each consisting of two lines of eight syllables set to a specific pattern of rhythm and accent.
Eramu in campu d’amore
A 'madrigale' or lyric song about a young hunter who comes upon a sleeping maiden.
A short set of Shape-note tunes
Diafunia
A modern composed two-part song with a text lamenting the passing of time and the loss of traditional ways.
Sta mane le tre culombe
Another style of ‘paghjella’. “This morning three doves woke very early. They are going up on top of the mountain, afraid of nothing. Perhaps there are no more falcons in Mazzola village.” This referred to three young sisters, orphans who had been mistreated by a certain man who was now dead, and they could go about with no fear.Terzetti di filenu
The 'terzetti' genre uses Italian dialects and emphasizes the text of the poetry. This is a letter from a shepherd who has left his love to take his flocks into the mountains for the season.
S'e tu passi
A rare poetic song recorded in the mid-20th century by the famed FelixQuilici. The text discusses the theme of the vanquished Corsicans of the 18th century.
A short set of shape-note tunes
A puce
A humorous folk song about a flea that bites the singer in ever more intimate places.Dio vi salvi regina
A hymn to the glory of the Virgin Mary, protectress of Corsica. This song is considered the unofficial anthem of Corsica (which has officially been part of France since the mid-1700s) and is almost always sung at the end of a public concert.