Ritmu Roots Festival - An Introduction to the Chitarra Battente

The chitarra battente, or "beating guitar," is an Italian iteration of the guitar, bearing closer resemblance to instruments like the lute or mandolin. Featuring five double strings, it is crafted in cities such as Venice, Bergamo, and Naples, serving as a cornerstone in the traditional music of southern Italian regions like Calabria and Basilicata. Still crafted by family businesses in these regions, the chitarra battente derives its name from a distinctive playing technique where strings are struck together with the body, producing a percussive effect. The instrument is traditionally used as accompaniment, so a duo is quite unprecedented. Based on their original repertoire, mostly inspired by different musical traditions of the area, Loccisano & DeCarolis explain how the instrument is a celebration of ancient music and an exploration of the future sonic possibilities.  

This workshop is open to all levels. This venue is not wheelchair accessible.

This event is supported by the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di La Valletta.

Register here