A Filetta (, ) is an all-male singing group that performs traditional music from Corsica. It's made up of Corsican singers who try to popularize the traditional Corsican

Polyphony Polyphony ( ) is a type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to a musical texture with just one voice, monophony, or a texture with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords, ...

singing style. To assert its Corsican identity, the group's name refers to a kind of fern that grows on the island.

History

For over 35 years, A Filetta has been singing traditional polyphony but also innovate. They have recorded extensively and performed internationally. In 2009, they performed in France, Germany, Poland, Ireland, Brazil, in the Baltic States, Belgium, Italy, and Austria. The year 2010 brought them to Japan, Korea and the Réunion.

Beginnings of A Filetta

The group A Filetta was founded in October 1978 in Balagne by Michel Frassati, a young teacher, joined by Tumasgiu Nami, apiculturist. This association whose first objective was to contribute to the salvation of the Corsican oral heritage was linked to the '' Riacquistu'' mouvement. In 1981, the first album of A Filetta, ''Machja n'avemu un antra'', is released. This first album will be followed by others, including one with children, (''Sonnii Zitillini'', 1987) and their first ''a cappella'' album, ''A' u visu di tanti'' (1989). At the same time, A Filetta put a lot into cultural associations, including '' U Svegliu Calvese'' with which they launched in 1989 the first '' Rencontres de Chants Polyphoniques de Calvi: "A l'iniziu c'era a voce"'', now an established festival.

Members

The group is currently composed of 6 singers: * Jean-Claude Acquaviva (since 1978); * Paul Giansily (since 1983); * Jean-Luc Geronimi (since 1994); * Jean Sicurani (since 1978); * Maxime Vuillamier (since 1989); * Ceccè Acquaviva (since 2005).

Discography

*1981 : Machja n'avemu un altra *1982 : O'Vita *1984 : Cun tè *1987 : Sonnii Zitillini and In l'abbriu di e stagioni *1989 : A U VISU DI TANTI *1992 : AB'ETERNU (

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) *1994 : UNA TARRA CI HE (choc du monde de la musique) *1997 : PASSIONE (diapason d'or et choc du monde de la musique) *1998 : Soundtrack "

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*1999 : Soundtrack " Himalaya - l'enfance d'un chef" by

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*2000 : Soundtrack "Le libertin" by

*2000 : Participation at the soundtrack of " Comme un aimant" by

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*2001 : Soundtrack " Le Peuple migrateur" by

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*2002 : INTANTU (Deda), reviewed as a "remarkable CD" by The IndependentThe Independent, January 24, 2010
/ref> *2002 : DVD : "A FILETTA, voix corses" by Don Kent (Éditions Montparnasse) *2003 : SI DI MÈ *2005 : Soundtrack "Liberata" France 3 *2006 : MEDEA *2008 : BRACANÀ (Deda/Harmonia Mundi distr.) *2009 : DVD "TRENT'ANNI POCU, TRENT'ANNI ASSAI" : a documentary by Cathy Rocchi and a concert at the Oratoire de Calvi, + bonus + a CD with songs. (Harmonia Mundi) *2011 : Mistico Mediterraneo with

Paolo Fresu Paolo Fresu ( sc, Pàulu; born 10 February 1961) is an Italian jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player, as well as a composer and arranger of music. Career Born in Berchidda, Sardinia, he picked up the trumpet at the age of 11, and played in the ba ...

and Daniele di Bonaventura ( ECM) *2011 : ''Di Corsica Riposu, Requiem pour deux regards'' with Daniele di Bonaventura *2013 : ''Puz/zle'' soundtrack for

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Filmography

* 1995: ''A Filetta, en concert - Chants et Polyphonies de Corse'' (Olivi) * 2002: ''A Filetta, voix corses'' (DVD) de Don Kent (Éditions Montparnasse) * 2004 : ''A Filetta, Di Corsica Riposu'' d'

Ange Leccia Ange Leccia (born 19 April 1952) is a contemporary French painter, photographer and film-maker. He works in Paris primarily with photography and video. Life and career Leccia was born in Minerbio, Barrettali commune, in Corsica, and studied fi ...

(Camera Lucida) * 2009 : ''Trent'anni pocu, trent'anni assai'' (DVD), un documentaire de Cathy Rocchi et un concert à l'Oratoire de Calvi (Harmonia Mundi)

Awards

*Grand Prix de l'académie Charles Cros (1995 et 2008) *Diapason d'Or (1993, 1997) *Choc du Monde de la Musique (1993, 1995, 1997) *César de la meilleure musique de film pour "Himalaya l'Enfance d'un chef" (2000)

References

Bibliography

A Filetta - tradition et ouverture
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- Colonna Editions, Ajaccio, 2009

External links

Site of A Filetta''Tra Noi'', Site of fans in English, Dutch, German and French''L'invitu'', Site of fans in French, German and Italian
{{Authority control Italian musical groups Corsican musical groups