Compagnia Dell'Asino Che Porta La Croce
Compagnia Dell'Asino Che Porta La Croce
Genres: medieval folk, folk, italian, medieval, neo-medieval
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About Compagnia Dell'Asino Che Porta La Croce
Compagnia dell'asino che porta la croce is a medieval folk group from Italy, formed in 1991. It was the result of Fabio Bonvicini, Davide Bortolai and Giovanni Tufano's meeting; they were artists coming from different experiences (Conservatory, Schools of traditional music, University) but united by the common interest in ancient and traditional music. After many co-operations, today the group is composed of: Fabio Bonvicini, Giovanni Tufano, Francesca Malavolti, Renzo Ruggiero and it also works with many other artists; in 2001 the singer and flutist Alida Oliva has entered in the group. Since 1992 the group has been carrying on an intense teaching and divulgation activity about early music in schools and cultural associations and it has created many laboratories and concert-lessons. In 1996 it takes part in the first national concert in favour of "Fondazione Fossoli", an institution that works for the recovery of the area ex-concentration camp in Fossoli (Modena). In 1997 it began to organize many cultural events as "Puss-in-boots, itinerary festival of arts and nature in Appennino" (Frignano, Modena). Following its own musical course in the widest panorama of performing arts, the group's proposal embraces a multidisciplinary range. The Compagnia dell'asino che porta la croce has performed in Italy and abroad since 1993 on many musical occasions like theatre, busker and medieval festivals. In 1997 the group's members attend a course of Commedia dell'Arte at the International Comic Actor School in Reggio Emilia, directed by Antonio Fava. In 1998 they stage "La saviezza giovenile" (1607), Comedia Harmonica by Adriano Banchieri (1568-1634) with direction, masks and costumes by Antonio Fava. In the latest years the Compagnia dell'asino che porta la croce is carrying out on historic research from Middle Ages and Renaissance sources, concert activity and record production, working out a merely acoustic repertory based on a careful study of musical instruments from Italian and Mediterranean tradition. The first record "Buona roba abbiam brigata" (MC 1993) is done with Fabio Bonvicini (bass voice, recorders), Davide Bortolai (tenor, lute, mandoline, bagpipe) and Giovanni Tufano (tenor, buzuki, darabukka, tammorra, tambourine). It offers a repertory of Renaissance Italy composed of carnival songs from the Medicis' Florence, frottola songs from the Gonzagas' court, villanelle and the Spanish-like tunes from the Kingdom of Naples. The second record "Virtus Asinaria" (MC, CD 1996), published in the magazine Medievalia, contains compositions inspired by the search of sacred and profane popular religiousness in the Middle Ages. This work, done with the participation of Roberto Romagnoli, an ancient drums player and maker, and Gabriele Bonvicini, voice of the group, goes through the performance of religious lyrics in vernacular whose metrics is close to the ballad, made by anonymous composers who lived between 12th and 13th century. The latest work "Onni diletto e ogni bel piacere" is published by the new label Enrosadira Records in Belluno (CD 1999) and presents a new cast that includes Francesca Malavolti (voice and medieval harp) and Renzo Ruggiero (hurdy-gurdy, Persian psaltery, keyed vielle). With this new record the group goes to a more concert-like idea that brings out the good knowledge and experience gained, as well as the interpretation quality and music taste of the group and of each player.
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