Canto a tenore, Sardinia's living heritage and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enters the MusMat in Olbia: on Friday, April 30, starting at 6:30 pm, the book "Il canto di una vita" (The Song of a Life), the autobiography of one of its undisputed protagonists, Daniele Cossellu, will be presented.
The initiative, curated by the Mario Cervo Archive, will feature the participation of curator Sebastiano Pilosu and the author himself. The book retraces over ninety years of life, intertwining Cossellu's personal story with the collective history of authentic Sardinia. Born in Bitti, in the heart of Barbagia, Cossellu became a central figure in the canto a tenore; from a young age, he was immersed in this tradition within the community, learning its unwritten rules and its strong connection to daily life.
The historic leader of the Tenores Remunnu 'e Locu, Cossellu made a decisive contribution to the international spread of canto a tenore, performing with his group on stages around the world and bringing an ancestral musical practice beyond the island's borders without ever distorting its essence. Their work attracted the attention of globally renowned artists such as Peter Gabriel and figures such as Ornette Coleman and Frank Zappa, fascinated by the expressive power of this tradition. The volume, edited with a pedagogical approach by Sebastiano Pilosu, features anecdotes, encounters, and testimonies that recount Cossellu's artistic and personal journey. Canto a tenore has never been a simple performance, but rather an intimate expression of community: even in the most distant contexts, the reference point remains the hometown, as if every performance were directed at the inhabitants of Bitti.
This community dimension is what makes canto a tenore a living, non-museumized form, capable of engaging with the world without losing its roots. The presentation therefore represents a valuable opportunity not only to learn more about Daniele Cossellu, but also to reflect on the cultural value of canto a tenore. This volume inaugurates the series "Suoni. Studies in Music and Oral Poetry in Sardinia," promoted in collaboration with the ISRE - Istituto Superiore Regionale Etnografico, confirming the importance of research and dissemination in preserving and enhancing the island's traditions.
