Event: Carnival and Festa dei Gigli: Music, Feast and Performance in two case-studies from Campania (Italy)
Date: Wednesday 10 April 2024
Time: 14:00 - 15:30
Venue: SHCR (Student House Conference Room), University of Malta, Msida Campus
Guest Speaker: Prof. Giovanni Giuriati (Università di Roma “La Sapienza”)
The School of Performing Arts (UM) is proud to present the Second in a Series of Public Lectures titled 'Performing Arts Encounters.'
The lecture series forms part of the School of Performing Arts Community Engagement (SPACE) project, which aims to support all initiatives taken by the School in reaching out to diverse groups within the University of Malta and beyond.
Music is intricately linked to the context of its performance. This lecture will explore two case studies derived from personal research conducted in the Italian region of Campania, in the area around Naples.
In this region, the connections between music and festive occasions are deeply intertwined. The first case study revolves around the Carnival of Montemarano, where a tarantella is performed for three days by masked dancers in the streets of the village.
The second case study focuses on the Festa dei Gigli in the town of Nola, where music propels the movement of the 'Gigli'—large shoulder-borne processional towers recognised as a UNESCO element of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
These towers are carried throughout the day, with the music ordering the unfolding of the feast. Music, dance, and theater are all integral parts of these celebrations, creating a dynamic and ever-changing interaction.