Search for music
 Need Help?

The Ethnica Series from Taranta Records of Italy represents one of the most comprehensive collections of truly traditional music available from Italy. Each volume focuses on a specific region and style of music. They are of good to excellent recording quality, the notes are primarily in Italian with short excerpts in English.


Chilla Stilluccia Mia - Canti tradizionali in Abruzzo - Vol.4 - various (Taranta Etnica)
$17.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica26)
Folk songs of Abruzzo: Domenico di Virgilio. The songs on this CD present the vocal repertory from the Abruzzo region and present both single multiple voice songs. These authentic recordings of the folk culture give a brief tour of the variety of spoken dialects of Abruzzo.


M'oli tin passiuna - Suoni e canti di Corigliano d'Otranto - Giovanni Avantaggiato
$17.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica28)
In Corigliano d'Otranto, one of the most important towns of the Greca Salentina of southern Italy, there are several families or individuals who have cultivated a particularly intense musical heritage and who are reference points today for their fellow townspeople and for scholars. One of the most notable is Giovanni Avantaggiato, a musician with a lively personality, over 80 years old, who with his hand organ and his voice, is one of the most important repositories in all of the Greek-influenced area of the Salento.

Balli Popolari In Abruzzo Vol. 1: Saltarella E Spallata Dell'area Frentana - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica6)
An anthology of the popular dances of the southern Abruzzo. The Frentana region is one of the most interesting for the number, variety, and the physiognomy of the dances still in use (saltarella, spallata, 'ntricciariello, valzer scambiato, mazurka scambiato, serpetille, isciana, sciottė, cotta, danza, tre passi. The hand organ (organetto) is the instrument which predominates in the Abruzzo. Recordings from 1981 to 1991.

Musica Da Ballo In Sicilia - various
$17.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica16)
A mix of music for dancing performed in the last 80 years in various parts of Sicily. In addition to the performances recorded during recent research, the album presents historic recordings produced by immigrants in America from 1916 to 1939. Contraddanze, quadriglie, tarantelle, scotis, balleti, valzer, polke, and mazurka present an initial inventory of the many ethnic traditions of Sicily.

Balli Popolari In Abruzzo: Vol. 3: Musica tradizionale dalla Majella e dalla Val Pescara - various
$17.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica25)
Folk music from the Majella and the Val Pescara: Abruzzo is a surprising territory which offers many repertories and a lively folk culture. In this central region, a cultural crossroads, there is a rich history of dance music: saltarella, ballarella, quadriglia, tre passi, danzo, scossė, valzer, polka e mazurka. Many of the pieces are performed by older musicians, in a traditional style which makes the recordings irreplaceable today.

Tomma Tommė - Various artists
$17.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica24)
Musiche e canti dalla Murgia dei trulli - Le tradizioni musicali in Puglia Vol. 4 is the 24th CD in the exceptional Taranta Ethnica series.

Bonasera Bbona Ggende - Various
$17.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnicas02)
Canti e musiche dall'Abruzzo Li Sandandonjirė, Volume 2 in Taranta's Ethnica Symphonia series.

Pizzica Taranta: Le Tradizioni Musicali In Puglia, Vol 3 - various
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica23)
Recorded in Lecce (with a few from Brindisi), this edition from the Ethnica series looks at the social, spiritual and dance music of the region. The pizzica pizzica, pizzica tarantula are performed the tools most expected for this music: vocals, percussion (tambourine, castenets and friction drum), harmonica and organetto. Quadrilles, schottishes, polkas, and marzukas are offered on mandolin, violin, and guitar.

Cantigos A Chiterra: Sardegna - various
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica22)
Traditional guitar music from Sardinia, recordings made by Andrea Carpi in 1984-85. They are performed by a number of artists, including the wonderful Nino Cau in full melismatic splendor (and might take a bit of getting used to!).

La Tarantella Del Gargano: Le Tradizioni Musicali I Puglia - Vol. 2 - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica21)
The traditional music of Puglia. Vol 2. - An ample collection of songs for serenata and tarantella in the fascinating melismatic style of the peasant culture of the Gargano, to the sounds of the chitarra battente, chitarra francese, castagnole, and tamburo. There are also pieces from the artisan world (tarantella, quadriglia, valzer fiorato) with mandoline and violin. Recordings from 1980 to 1988.

Suoni D'irpinia - Vol. 3 - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica20)
Traditional songs and folk dances from Iripinia, Campania, Italy

Suoni Di Canto - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica19)
Irpinia remains today a grand depository of traditional music: The cd presents tarantella songs, stornelli, and serenades with hand organ, polivocal songs, and instrumental dance pieces (polka, valzer, tarantella, ecc.) Recordings from 1984 to 1999

Tarantelle E Maschere: Balli E Canti Tradizionali In Irpinia - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica18)
The region of Irpinia, in the province of Avellino east of Napoli, is the area in Italia with the greatest intensity of carnival rituals, including processional dances. Lengthy and spirited tarantelle dances with traditional masks weave their way through villages. The disc also presents other dances (batticulo, quadriglio, valzer, polka, and marzurka) and various songs performed with the hand organ. Recordings from 1984 to 1999

Vecchi Balli Di Romagna No.2: Manfrine, Quadriglie E Vecchio Liscio - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica17)
This disc continues the musical explorations of the liscio dances of Romagna, among the many tradtitional dances that were in use up to the Second World War and that still exist today in the memories of elderly musicians and dancers. (saltarelli, manfrine, furlane, quadriglie, veneziane, galleto, roncastalda, trescone, ballinsei, vanderina , etc) These are important recordings, when one considers the gradual disappearance of the archaic musical forms. Recordings from 1970 to 1997

Ballos Sardos (No. 1) Anthology Of Sardinian Folkdances - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica15)
Sardinia today offers the richest and most lively ethnomusical and ethnochoreutic patrimony in Italy. Its insularity has helped maintain the cultural identity of Sardinians. The disc is the first in a significant anthology of the musicians (Burranca, Vercellino, Chessa, Fulghesu, ecc,), of the instruments (laundeddas, benas, organittu, ghitterra, tamburrinos, etc) and the dances (tundu, passu torrau, durdurinu, dillu, logudoresa, arroxiada, passu e trese, campidanesa, etc). Recordings from 1987 to 1997.

Campania - various artists, Italy
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica14)
In Campania, the region of Naples, the calendar is studded with ethnic festivals with interesting anthropological aspects. The carnivals and the religious festivals of this magical and hidden South are present in this album with their profound sonority: The tamburine and the castanetts travel through the various musical and choreutic styles of the tarantella, the ballo ‘n copp’o tammurrė and the ballintrezzo. Recordings from 1981 to 1996.

Trescone A Veglia - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica13)
The Maremma is the south-western part of Tuscany and is an area of great interest. For centuries it has been host to the seasonal migrations and cultural exchanges with the Apennine regions. Today in fact it preserves many customs that have been lost in other area. The musical and choreutic patrimony is rich with pieces such as trescone, veneziana, ballo dei gobbi, galletta, quadriglia, scotis, ballo del chiamo, etc). Recordings from 1982 to 1993.

Cumpagnu Ti Mannu Lu Signuri - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica12)
In Sicily grain is the emblem of survival; to it are linked ritual forms of protection and inauguration. The disc contains a precious collection of songs and orations of the harvest and threshing of grain, in both monovocal and polivocal forms. Several pieces come from the ethnomusical archives of the National Academy of Saint Cecelia in Rome. Presentation by R. Leydi. Recordings from 1955 to 1994.

Balli Popolari In Abruzzo: Vol 2 - La Saltarella Del Teramano - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica11)
Ethnomusical anthology of popular dances from the northern Abruzzo, an area which conserves the most prestigious and difuse tradition of the du’ bottė, the Abruzzese double base hand organ still produced by several workshops. Together with the saltarella, other ethnic dances appear (laccio d'amore, ballo dell'insegna, denzė, polka figurata, ballo della sala, ballo del merlo, etc). There is also an exemplary selection of valzer, polka, and marurka of local origins. Recordings from 1982 to 1998.

I Doli Du Signuri - various artists, Italy
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica10)
The sorrows of the Lord - As with Christmas, the Passion and Death of Christ have long stimulated the popular musical creativity in various compositions. The album presents research documents from the provinces of Messina, Enna, and Catania: monovocal and polivocal songs from the rituals of Holy Week in Sicily. The Passion, the Stations of the Cross, and Resurrection, through the liturgical songs and the traditional religious culture. Recordings from 1979 to 1992.

Vecchi Balli Di Romagna: Vol. 1: Saltarelli, Furlane E Vecchio Liscio - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica9)
The disc is the fruit of a capillary investigation into the remains of the traditional dances of Romagna. The memories of former musicians and dancers has brought to life manfrine, saltarelli, furlane, russiano, vinchia, giga, scotis, bolognese, lavanderina, ballo della mela, galoppo , etc. The anthology also examines the old liscio dances from the end of the 19th century and the early 20th century. Recordings from 1970 to 1994.

A Cantata Di Li Pasturi - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica8)
Vocal and instrumental pieces from the Christmas tradition in the province of Messina, with an wide and varied panorama of monovocal and polivocal pieces (ninne nanne, litanie, novene ) and instrumental pieces (pastorali with bag pipes). The collection demonstrates the profound roots of the rich culture of Christmas in the popular religious traditions. Recordings from 1984 to 1993.

Violini E Serenate A Canosa - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica7)
The populous centers of Puglia once were characterized by grand musical ensembles, small dance orchestras and fervent instumental schools composed principally of craftsmen. These artisans, musically literate, adapted the antique serenade (matėnčtė) in fascinating suites of dance music. The disc presents tarantelle, quadriglie, scotinė,valzer, polke, mazurka, beghine, tanghi, and slow taken from rituals of the serenade still in use. Recording from 1979 to 1992.

Saltarella Dell'alta Sabina - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica5)
The Alta Sabina, a part of the Abruzzo region for centuries, conserves still today traces of an original pastoral tradition with influences from the regions of Lazio and the southern Marches due to centuries of transumation The pride of the amatriciana area is the vivacious saltarella, which is danced to the sounds of the organetto, the hand organ, the tamburello, and a particular type of zampogna, the ciaramella, which has only two sound pipes. Ballo del canto, ballo della sala and quadriglie complete the panorama together with the valzer, mazurke, and marcette. Recordings from 1988 to 1993.

Balli Tradizionali In Umbria - Various Artists
$out of print
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica4)
Volume 4 in the Taranta series of tradtional Italian folk music. Umbria is one of the least explored regions of Italy, musically speaking, due in part to the progressive dispersion of the popular dance. But a difuse musical memory remains, and the disc demonstrates a great variety of repertoires, a historical testimony that makes Umbria a crossroads of diverse influences (saltarello, tarantella, manfrina, trescone,etc.) Recordings from 1987 to 1992.

L'arpa Di Viggiano: Le Tradizioni Musicali In Lucania. Vol. 3 - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica3)
Volume 3 in the Taranta series. Viggiano, an agricultural and pastoral center in the Agri Valley in Lucania, was famous in Italy and abroad for being the production center of portable harps, arpicelle, and the home of many ambulatory musicians. The disc presents an interesting repertory of rediscovered harpists and an ample panorama of the traditional instrumental production of Lucania (the guitar battente from the Cilentano area, the violin, the mandolin, and guitar). Recordings from 1980 to 1991.

Organetto E Tarantella - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica2)
The traditional music of Lucania includes 34 tracks of the real roots, field recorded folk music from Italy. The organetto, the hand organ, in Lucania is the direct descendant of the zampogna . Produced by the small semi - artiginal industries of central Italy, it has gradually taken the place of the zampogna since the mid 19th century: The hand organ offers richer and more definite tones and harmonies, has a vivacious timbre, is easily transportable, and is always in tune and ready to use. Various tarantelle, quadriglie and older dances from the 19th century are woven with interesting vocal pieces. Recordings from 1979 to 1991.

La Zampogna Lucana - Various Artists
$18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica1)
The traditional bagpipe music of Lucania, Italy, the zampogna - the bagpipes and the wind instruments of the pastoral tradition: a rich archaic repertory of song and dance executed with various types of keyed zampogne, surdulina, ciaramelle, flutes, and clarinets. Recordings from 1981 to 1991.

In production:

Credit card orders are placed on a secure server.

Please note!
 Most CDs have been imported from Europe or Asia. They are not all shrink-wrapped, and I am not going to con you by wrapping them here just to make you think they have been sterilized in America. We guarantee that the CDs and the contents are all brand new and in perfect condition. Whenever I can, I use recycled shipping materials. They may not look as pretty on the outside, but they save money and keep the trash dumps a little bit emptier.