The Emilia-Romagna based folk music group Cisalpipers was formed in the Autumn of 2004. The idea arose out of the members' passion for the 'piva' - a type of bagpipe developed in the region of Emilia-Romagna - combined with a careful research in the vast musical-historical repertoire of the popular and traditional music of central and Northern Italy.
The 'piva' was developed in the Appenines, in the area near the cities Reggio-Emilia, Parma and Piacenza, and was used mainly by peasants and artisans on festive occasions. The instrument is made up of a bag made of the skin from an animal, a chanter and two drones, and is a direct descendant of the 'tibiae utricularis' played in ancient Rome.
The Cisalpipers' repertoire includes music from the Italian popular tradition, such as 'saltarelli', jigs, waltzes, quadrilles, 'manfrine' and 'galoppa romagnola' - in other words the dances of our grandfathers - but also original pieces composed by the band and inspired by the atmospheres evoked by the peculiar sound of the piva, but in contact with the influence of more modern sounds.
Instruments used are: 'pive emiliane', flutes, percussions, renaissance drums, piano and drums.
The Cisalpipers play in three different line-ups: travelling line-up (4 musicians), with a tribal sound, and the use of 'pive' accompanied by ancient drums; concert line-up (4 musicians), the original formula, suitable for every occasion and concert, with the addition, alongside the 'pive' and renaissance drums, of flutes, clarinet, drums, percussion and piano; expanded line-up (7 musicians), with the further addition of violin, accordion, double-bass and electric bass, acoustic guitar, mandolin, bouzouki and vocals.
The music of Cisalpipers is a journey through the centuries, touching distant ages of which we have lost memory. It is a kind of music that enthrals those who had forgotten certain distant voices - and those who have never heard them.
LINE-UP:
Domenico 'Uxmak' Foschini piva emiliana, flutes, clarinet
Chiara Temporin piva emiliana, flutes
Mauro Pambianchi piano, percussion, historical drums
Stefano Peretto drums, historical drums
The expanded line-up with seven musicians includes:
Andrea Bandi vocals, accordion and violin
Roberto Romagnoli vocals, guitar, bouzouki and mandoli
Gianluca Rizzoni bass guitar and double bass