Tenores de Aterúe - Department of Music Residency
Channeling the rich and singular tradition of Sardinian folk songs.
Channeling the rich and singular tradition of Sardinian folk songs.
The only ensemble outside of Sardinia dedicated to singing cantu a tenore, Tenores de Aterúe transports you to the heart of the ancient Mediterranean island. Cantu a tenore is characterized by its distinctive guttural singing, intricate overtones and impeccable rhythmic precision.
The New England-based quartet reverse-engineered this Sardinian musical form based on what they knew from studying other polyphonic folk singing. After performing casually, they went viral in Sardinia and were called to the celebrated island. There they were joined by a documentary filmmaker on an ethnomusical adventure that brought them face-to-face with the singers they had long been obsessed with.
Since then the group has continued expanding their repertoire and sharing Sardinian music and culture with North American audiences. They also sing some traditional songs from Sardinia's neighbor, Corsica.
