Whoever in Cabras knows how to play the launeddas has learned by following his advice and secrets. The lagoon town, but in reality all of Sardinia, mourns the passing of Giovanni Casu, known to all as “Paui“.
At 91, one of the greatest launeddas players on the island has passed away. Casu was the first, in the Sinis area, to found a school that in the 80s taught about 150 kids the sound of the reeds. He was venerated by young people, but in general by those who understood the value of the tradition that the maestro was committed to keeping alive. He was an excellence of Sardinian popular music.
Throughout his life, with his pipes, he animated parties and many religious moments. He knew dozens of songs by heart and never used the score . He took this musical instrument around the world, which very few people play today. Giovanni Casu received several awards and recognitions during his long career.
There have been so many messages appearing on social media in these hours. Especially from “his” kids.
«Giovanni was the first to have transmitted the art of launeddas to me at the end of the 80s - wrote Stefano Pinna, launeddas master - an important interpreter».
