polyphonic tracks (songs from Corsica & Sicily) cowbirds SIDE A SIDE B 1. A Gallinella 4’18 5. Stu Figghiu Beddu mé 4’54 2. A Sette Galere 7’24 6. Miseremini mei 3’00 3. A Ricusata 1’44 7. Salmu XXI 2’41 4. Terzini Guagnesi 4’22 8. Eramu in Campu 3’06 cowbirds Clélia Colonna, Irene Coticchio, Caroline Decker, Rotraud Kern Concept by Clélia Colonna Recorded in Austria by Nik Hummer Mixed and mastered by Nik Hummer at minusgroundzero Graphic design: C. Colonna, Photos: I. Coticchio Produced by Gallinella Records AT-EG6 This album was made possible THANKS to ALL our CROWD-FUNDERS. This album came from the desire to share our singing practice; one where songs and soundscapes are in a constant dialogue and feed each other; one where the tuning occurs on two levels; between the voices themselves and together with the surrounding acoustic space - actual or suggested. polyphonic tracks features mostly traditional Corsican polyphonies, two Sicilian lamentations and two monodies. We recorded with light equipment; digital sound-device with two or four microphones and at times a magnetic tape recorder. A fictional field recording that took us from Vienna to Upper-Austria through fields, forests, churches, trains... as well as in the recording studio. A cinematic experience in which voices act on different planes and depth, joined at times by other actors such as birds, bugs, engines or passengers; sketching multiple perspectives, volumes, stories, places and ambiances. An attempt to anchor these songs in our “here and now”. Ownership is a very sensitive matter when it comes to people’s traditions and we dove into this material with a deep respect to the keepers of these oral traditions. Is a song outside of its context still traditional? Is it important? Traditional songs travel, they “deterritorialise” and “reterritorialise”, passing from voice to voice, changing slightly according to the personality of the interpret, while their essence stay the same. These songs carry secrets about humanity, about community, about philia - what bounds us together until death do us part, and this aspect is what is important to us. 1. A Gallinella 2. A Sette Galere 3. A Ricusata Traditional Corsican complain, Guagnu Traditional Corsican complain (arr. Clélia Colonna) Traditional Corsican complain, Pianellu secunda: Clélia Colonna bassa: Irene Coticchio, Rotraud Kern bassa: I. Coticchio, secunda: R. Kern, terza: C. Decker recorded in S2, Vienna secunda: C. Colonna, terza: Caroline Decker recorded in Huckingersee, Upper-Austria recorded in St Michael Kirche, Tarsdorf Oghje mi trovu suletta Avia una gallinella Spieghi chì puole Tutto festoso Da la ghjente abbandunata Si chjamava “Culumbella” Con onorato Parti dal ricco In cantone era la sola Vanto Di poesia Lido Di Barcellona Vogliu qui sopra à la carta Un ci n’era cum’ella Il suo giocondo canto Con onorato grido Inscrive lu mio passatu Che per me sin da principio Don Andrea quel duca Doria La dumenica, la mane Mi sentu commosso alquanto Al suo Rè costante e fido Cù l’aiuta di la musa Ma quand’ella si è spullata Non mi dà l’animo in vero Capo di sette galere D’una povara Ricusata Cu l’altre a line e’n tondu Trattener dagli occhi il pianto Qual armato al mare infido O ma fendu li la parata Parchè la voce Spiegate dunque 4. Terzini Guagnesi Incu li ali cantendu Pria di cantar Le grande vele Traditional Corsican, Guagno O andendu a la pruminata mi trema che il mio core Al vento li remi isnelli bassa: R. Kern, secunda: I. Coticchio, terza: C. Colonna Andavan’a la pruminata Ingemito si gema Al liquido elemento recorded in Huckingersee, Upper-Austria Ale sparte e cap’artditi Sol pensando al caso strano Le sette galere armate Mi disgusta e parchè gema Con magnanimo ardimento Avanti di sulcà l’onda del mare Oghje so tutti le piazze Dalla pena impietosito Finche giunsero propose Spero di rivederti un altra volta O codi basse e stramurtite Dalla doglia cosi estrema Fino a Calvi a salvamento Per pudemi da te licenziarmi La me cresta appinzittata La me bicca cristallina Li ventisei di novembre Dimmi qualessi sono li toi suspetti Scaduto Si tu nun m’ami più dammi il motivo Face l’ova a dui torli, Fece partenza Forse avrai cambiatu amore hai d’altri ogetti Unu per ommu, ogni mattina. Chì mai non l’ha saputo O la me ali frisgiata Con sei mila combattenti Duve si? duve stai? Duve domori? O la so cresta a pindaloccu Alla fin per dar aiuto Idulu del moi core, Nice si bella, Che temea dal rè di Francia Hà tante pene perchè non sucorri? Culumbella, dammi un basgiu, Qualche assalto risoluto O cura preda, amore accessa! Parché so tre, ell’un n’è piu ne, O ch’e l’aspettu, a braccie tese 5. Stu Figghju beddu 6. Miseremini mei 7. Psalm XXI Traditional Sicilian lullaby Traditional song from the mass of the Dead, Vicu prima voce: I. Coticchio bassa: R. Kern, secunda: C. Colonna Traditional corsican song from the Office of Darkness, drone: C. Colonna, C. Decker, R. Kern recorded in the Chapel of Point-Coeur, Vienna Valley of A Serra recorded in Zacherlfabrik & minusgroundzero, Vienna secunda: C. Decker, I. Coticchio bassa: R. Kern, terza: C. Colonna recorded in St Josef Kirche, Vienna Stu figghiu beddu mé c´avi lu sonnu Miseremini Mei, la nott´un si pó ´gghiri o camminannu Miseremini mei, saltim vos Deus, Deus meus, respice in me; quare me dereliquisti ? Amici mei longe a salute mea verba delictorum meorum Dormiti u beddu me c´u ´nna durmutu Sancte manus, amici mei cumu nacuzza unn´avissiti avutu Deus meus, clamabo per diem, et non exaudies; et nocte, Quia manus Domini et non ad insipientiam mihi. Sant´Antuninu calati calati Tetigite me, tetigite me ca ju l´annacu e vui l´addrummisciti Requiem æternam Tu autem in sancto habitas, laus Israel Dona eis, Domine L´addrummisciti tri voti lu jornu Et lux perpetua luceat eis. In te speraverunt patres nostri; speraverunt et liberasti eos la sira e la matina e lu ´ntrajornu Et lux perpetua Luceat eis. Ad te clamaverunt, et salvi facti sunt; in te speraverunt, et Stu figghiu unn´era natu e ju l´amava non sunt confusi. priava lu Signori o chi ´nnascia Miseremini Mei, Miseremini mei, saltim vos Quoniam tu es qui extraxisti me de ventre, spes mea ab Amici mei. uberibus matris meae. In te proiectus sum ex utero; 8. Eramu in campu Traditional Corsican Madrigale bassa: C. Colonna, R. Kern, secunda: C. Decker, terza: I. Coticchio recorded in Fucking, Upper-Austria Eramu in campu d’amore graditu Duve frà i fiori circava più bellu Eu sentia un falsu gridu È mi sembrava chè fussi un acellu Eu guardai, dà duve veniva E vidi fra i fiori dormir un deu cowbirds is a Vienna-based collective; 4 women from 4 different Caroline Decker - countries who are dealing with traditional forms and structures - terza / higher voice (tracks 2, 3, 5 ) of traditional singing from Corsica and Sicily since 2013. Coming - secunda / leading voice (tracks 7, 8) Born in eastern Berlin, she studied dance in Dresden and at SEAD from the contemporary dance & performing scene, they explore in Salzburg. She moved to Vienna where she works as a dancer/ the potential of polyphonic singing and create different formats of performer. She practices Yoga since many years under guidance presentation; live sound installations, participatory performances, of Prasad Rangnekar and teaches open classes and workshops in parties… The emphasis on their work lies on bringing together different venues. traditional music with either new music or contemporary Rotraud Kern performance. The collective also pursues a regular exchange with - bassa / lower voice (tracks 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) singers and musicians from Corsica and Sicily, either in the two - secunda / leading voice (track 3) islands or in Vienna. Born in Braunau in Upper-Austria she grew up in a small village on the border to Bavaria. After her studies at SEAD (Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance) in Salzburg in 2004, she lives and works as a freelance dancer and choreographer in Vienna. Clélia Colonna She collaborates with different artists from the dance and - secunda / leading voice (tracks 1, 2, 6) performance scene at home and abroad. She realises own works, - terza / higher voice (tracks 4, 7) where she tries to shift situations by using what the space offers. - bassa / lower voice (tracks 5, 8) Born in Paris, she grew up in its eastern suburbs punctuated by regular visits to her family in Carghese, a village nested on the western coast of Corsica, sharing roman catholic and greek orthodox cultures. After studying Applied and Visual Arts in Paris, she moved to Vienna. Active as a singer and a maker, she makes songs, graphical objects, videos and performances. Her quest for forgotten sounds and harmonies led her from Corsican curvy roads to Ukraine, Russia and Sicily… She’s interested in forms, story-telling, specific sound qualities, naivity and every-day beauty. Irene Coticchio - secunda / prima voce / leading voice (tracks 4, 5, 7) - bassa / lower voice (tracks 2, 3) - terza / higher voice (track 8) Born in Caltanissetta in the center of Sicily, she studied Foreign Nik Hummer - Recording, Mixing, Mastering Languages and Literature in Palermo, acting at Philippe Gaulier in Born in Upper-Austria, Nik has been working intensively on London and singing in Italy, London and Vienna. For her singing, alternative forms of sound as well as unfamiliar sound events for theatre, dance and her literature studies, are just different sides of a more than 20 years as musician and sound artist.