Metric-rhythmic ambiguity in the dances of Central-northern Sardinia

Abstract

In central-northern Sardinia dance was, and still is, accompanied by the cantu a tenore, an oral- tradition polyphony in four parts for four male voices. Among the principal characteristics of this musical form we find: the text is expressed by the only soloist voice (sa boghe) accompanied by the non-sense syllables of the other three voices (su tenore), the guttural timbre of the two lowest voices (su bassu and sa contra) and the fact that every village preserves its own tradition, which is distinguishable based on the composition of the repertoire, the timbres of the voices, the macrostructural organization, the movements of the parts and the use of certain not-sense syllables [Lutzu 2003]. These local specificities notwithstanding, in numerous villages some dance songs presents striking particular metric-rhythmic relationship between the soloist (sa boghe) and the rest of the choir (su tenore). The aim of this research is to propose an analysis of this relationship.