giornale di barganews » aristodemo casciani http://www.giornaledibarganews.com busily putting barga on the map Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:53:24 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Walter Togneri sings and pushes back the clock to happier times http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2012/01/30/walter-togneri-sings-and-pushes-back-the-clock-to-happier-times/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2012/01/30/walter-togneri-sings-and-pushes-back-the-clock-to-happier-times/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:18:09 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=66609 Regular readers of barganews will have heard his name mentioned in many articles and a few of you might even have been luckily enough to actually see and heard Silvano Togneri in action during some of the summer festivals in Barga in the recent past. Silvano left this world in 2006 (article here) but his memory is still very strong in this area. One mention of his name and people smile and recount their own “Silvano story”

The annual Silvano Togneri prize awarded each year at the Barga Jazz Festival is one of the most coveted prizes which each year is fiercely fought over by the jazz musicians from right across Tuscany and beyond (article here)

As regular readers are aware, Sunday nights in Aristo’s is when the musicians of the area habitually turn up for their weekly jam session. Most of the Emma and Aristodemos band where already there making music along with the veteran rocker Geoff from the Grizzlies when in walked a newcomer to the jam session  – Walter Togneri, the younger brother of Silvano.

listen to ‘Walter singing in aristos barga’ on Audioboo

Not just for his features which so closely resemble that of his brother but also for his singing and drumming style, it was for many people in the bar a very emotional moment as just for a few minutes it seemed like Silvano was once more amongst us.

Judge for yourselves with the following audio and video clip.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g5Q2bp_xEM

Walter Togneri – playing in Aristos in Barga Vecchia in 2012

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwE1B8xv7Y4

Silvano Togneri – outsider musician playing in Aristos in Barga Vecchia in 2006

Question: What is Outsider Music ?

Outsider music is music performed either by social outsiders, who have no or few associates in the mainstream music business, or by musicians who choose to live and work in seclusion, often due to compromising behavioral or psychological conditions. Outsider music reflects these conditions in various ways. Lyrics are often bizarre or emotionally stark and songs may show a great ignorance or disregard for structural conventions or popular trends in mainstream music. Also, outsider musicians frequently have no formal training and/or significant music skills in the traditional sense. The end result is music that is much stranger and more abrasive than more popular musical styles. Outsider music is a form of outsider art. – source – Wikipedia

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2012/01/30/walter-togneri-sings-and-pushes-back-the-clock-to-happier-times/feed/ 0 A new theme song for RAI radio programme – m’illumino di meno http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2012/01/11/a-new-theme-song-for-rai-radio-programme-millumino-di-meno/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2012/01/11/a-new-theme-song-for-rai-radio-programme-millumino-di-meno/#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:54:23 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=64080 17th February is the National Saving Energy Day, “M’illumino di meno” which is held each year in Italy when people try out various systems that visibly show that they are attempting to save energy. The campaign was launched by the Italian radio programme Caterpillar in 2005 and seeks to reduce private and public energy use. During its annual awareness-raising day, individuals and organisations are asked to make a symbolic gesture of support by switching off lights and all other non-vital electrical devices powered by non-renewable energy sources. This year, the campaign also encourages switching on lights from renewable sources.

The lights that normally illuminate many national monuments in Rome and Milano will be switched off to “highlight” this attempt at saving energy on a large scale.

Here in Barga, for the sixth year running, Aristo’s bar will be joining in and switching off the lights for the evening and instead turning to candle power to keep the dark at bay. Each year there has been live music performed in Aristo’s by the musicians who regularly use the bar. Readers to the giornaledibarganews will know that the group, Emma e gli Aristodemo’s started their musical career in the bar and it is effectively, their spiritual home (more articles here)  so it will come as no surprise that when the group learnt that it would be possible this year to take part in a competition for a new theme tune for the radio program, M’illumino di meno, they jumped at the chance.

All the members of the group lent a hand in writing the words to their new theme song, along with many regulars of the bar who put forward their own ideas and recommendations.

Yesterday evening in the recording studio of the guitarist Luca Giovacchini in Lucca, they recorded the song and today it can be found online on the “M’illumino di meno” site.

All fingers are now crossed to see which song the producers of the radio program will choose to be their new theme. Will it be the Emma and gli Aristodemo’s version ?  We wait to see. In the mean time, click on the link below to hear the song.

Emma e gli Aristodemos by minolodenmi

Genre: Swing
Members: Emma Morton (cantante / singer), Keane (percussioni / percussion), Leo Gnesi (Contro Basso / Double Bass), Alessandro Rizzardi (Mandolino / Madolin and Sax), Fabio Guazzelli (chitarra / guitar), Luca Giovacchini (chitarra / guitar)

This Band came together when local musicians Alessandro Rizzardi (mandolino), Keane (Percussioni), Fabio Guazzelli (chitarra), Leo Gnesi (contro bass), Luca Giovacchini (chitarra) and Emma Morton (cantante) found each other in Aristo’s enoteca, with instruments in hand, and exciting ideas in mind and of course, passion in heart. A new type of swing group was born. Focusing mainly on forgotten swing Italiano from the 30′s, 40′s and 50′s, Emma e gli Aristodemos welcome you to jump back in time and into their salotto.
Each concert is a piece of live theatre: a typical 40′s lounge is recreated in each performance space and the audience can witness the musicians play as a family… you may even get an invite into their ‘little home’ for tea!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh-2MuTiiKk

 

M’illumino di meno | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |

Per il sesto anno consecutivo è tornata a Barga l’iniziativa M’illumino di Meno, la giornata promossa dalla trasmissione radiofonica caterpillar (Radio Due) tutta dedicata al risparmio energetico.

Così, come ormai da tradizione, anche dal Casciani in piazza Salvi si è simbolicamente risparmiata energia illuminando il locale solo con candele e festeggiando con musica rigorosamente acustica, a cura di Emma e gli Aristodemo’s che si sono alternati alla fisarmonica di Giuliano Nardi.

Anche il Comune ha fatto la sua parte, così come tanti enti pubblici su e giù per l’Italia, spegnendo alcune luci pubbliche alle sei in punto, l’ora in cui in tutta la penisola è iniziata l’edizione 2012 di M’illumino di Meno

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2012/01/11/a-new-theme-song-for-rai-radio-programme-millumino-di-meno/feed/ 0 Geoff, still rocking almost half a century later http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/12/16/geoff-almost-half-a-century-later-still-rocking/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/12/16/geoff-almost-half-a-century-later-still-rocking/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:50:28 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=61208 Last month we published an article entitled, “Mondine, music, sausages and Christmas decorations” — now what kind of title to an article was that ? The regulars of Aristo’s bar in Barga Vecchia during the autumn months sit outside the bar in the piazza and roast chestnuts 2 or 3 times a year. It is a time for all the families to get together and join in preparing the nuts and fire, and then roasting and eating the chestnuts around the fire to the sound of music supplied by local musicians. – full article here

From then on, the locals in Aristo’s bar seemed to get the real taste for sitting outside around the fire as they continued to light it and keep it burning for weeks afterwards.
It was during one of those sessions outside with people sitting round telling “long” stories to each other, poking the fire and listening to the musicians jamming that the following video was shot, featuring Alessandro Rizzardi showing his prowess on the mandolin and Geoff Collins White with some sharp guitar playing and rough-tough-two-packs-a-day vocal skills. The fire reflecting in Geoff’s guitar looked uncannily as though his instrument was on fire (move over Jimi Hendrix)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8qp2PLi4wo

Now, probably what many people sitting round that fire that evening did not realise is that Geoff has a history of making music which stretches back right not just to his time with Jacks Pack, The Beagles or Grizzly   but in fact  to the start of the swinging sixties in London, UK with a band called the A-JAES.

A compilation disc of music from that era featuring a track from the A-JAES has recently been released, and so …..

Ladies and Gentlemen for your delight and delectation, we present Geoff Colllins White leading the A-JAES with a song written by Trevor White – “I’m leaving you”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9H-XR70duU

 

THE A-JAES- I’M LEAVING YOU.
Recorded in 1964, written by Trevor White.

Formed in January 1964, Geoff White, vocal and harmonica,
Trevor White, lead guitar and backing vocals.
Bill Parlor, Bass.
Norman King, drums.
The photos show the band shortly after the recording with  Simon Stanbrooke on bass, and Julian Ferrari on drums. This line-up stayed together for three years, playing the South London circuit with great success.
Trevor later found fame with Jook, Sparks, and Radio Stars, plus a solo single “Crazy kids”

 

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/12/16/geoff-almost-half-a-century-later-still-rocking/feed/ 1 2nd annual castagnaccio contest http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/12/11/2nd-annual-castagnaccio-contest/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/12/11/2nd-annual-castagnaccio-contest/#comments Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:33:48 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=61005 The second annual Castagnaccio contest took place in Barga Vecchia this afternoon (the first contest last year can be seen here)  A year ago there were just 6 contestants fighting it out for the honour of preparing the best traditional castagnaccio – the classic sweet dish from this area made from chestnut flour.

Twelve months later, the seasons have move round and once more the fire is lit outside Aristo’s bar in Barga Vecchia, the tables are cleared, and the contest is on in earnest with this time, almost three times the number of contestants putting their best plates of castagnaccio in front of an eager and hungry crowd ready to be judged.

Thanks to the work of the organisers, the Lake Angels, it is once again a strictly controlled event with no names on the plates just numbers with people casting their votes for which in their opinion is the best.

As the accordion played in the background, the votes were counted and the final winner announced to one and all.

listen to ‘Castagnaccio 2011’ on Audioboo

It was a fiercely contested Trofeo Castagnaccio this year with 15 entries (plus a last minute entry with was accepted for tasting but could not be judged as it arrived too late for the votes) but it came as little surprise to anybody in the bar when it was announced that Natale Bertolini was awarded this year’s best Castagnaccio 2011.

Natale Bertolini, the maestro of all things chestnut has been producing castagnaccio from his oven for the past half a century, his skill is widely known in the valley and once more he has proved it by winning for the second year running the Trofeo but coming up close on his heels was his daughter in law, Tiziana Faccio who took the second prize and then the the women from the Altana restaurant who took the third.

 

 

The humble sweet chestnut has been an important ingredient in the Mediterranean diet – Homer mentions them, and Pliny even says which kinds were grown in Southern Italy. With time their cultivation spread throughout the peninsula, because they were one of the few food crops that could be grown on steep mountain slopes, and also one of the few crops that could be expected to provide sustenance through the long winter months.

By the middle ages castagne were the staple food of the peasants in large parts of Italy. In this area it has been the saviour of many people who otherwise would have starved when times got really bad and the sweet chestnut flour is still known to this day in Garfagnana as “poor mans flour”

 

This afternoon I tried my hand at one of the most easiest and tastiest dishes from Garfagnana and Barga – Castagnaccio The classic sweet dish from this area made from chestnut flour

I sifted 250 g of chestnut flour (good quality chestnut flour from one of the local mills at Fosciandora in Garfagnana) into a large bowl with a good pinch of salt and slowly added 200 ml of water and 200 ml of milk – the added milk does change the taste and the colour of the final castagnaccio .. (the original recipe would have been just 400 ml of water)

I stirred the mix until it was a good liquid batter.

I preheated the oven to 180° and prepared with butter the inside of a large flat oven dish.

I poured the mixture into the dish and sprinkled on top, a good couple of handful of walnuts, some pine nuts, sliced orange rinds* and a few springs of rosemary.

A couple of teaspoons of olive oil sprinkled across the top and into the oven for 40 minutes.

Cut into slices and hey presto in less than 40 minutes from start to finish – Castagniaccio.

Ingredients

250 g of chestnut flour
200 ml of water
200ml of milk
walnuts
pine nuts
sliced orange peel
rosemary
olive oil
salt

* Ok so I cheated a bit with the sliced orange peel. To add just that extra hit of sweetness, I heated them briefly in a small pan in some of the juice of the orange and added two small spoons of sugar to caramelise them. Naughty I know.

I Lake Angels organizzano per sabato 10 dicembre a partire dalle 18 in piazza Salvo Salvi (del Comune) una degustazione di castagnaccio. Durante la serata ci sarà l’assegnazione del 2° trofeo “Il castagnaccio del Natale” per il miglior castagnaccio realizzato secondo le ricette popolari e locali.

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/12/11/2nd-annual-castagnaccio-contest/feed/ 0 Mondine, music, sausages and Christmas decorations? http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/11/20/mondine-music-sausages-and-christmas-decorations/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/11/20/mondine-music-sausages-and-christmas-decorations/#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:21:55 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=59665 Mondine, music, sausages and Christmas decorations – now what kind of title to an article is that ? The regulars of Aristo’s bar in Barga Vecchia during the autumn months sit outside the bar in the piazza and roast chestnuts 2 or 3 times a year. It is a time for all the families to get together and join in preparing the nuts and fire, and then roasting and eating the chestnuts around the fire to the sound of music supplied by local musicians.

Just last week they held their first roasting (article here) It was very successful but they did slightly over exaggerate on a) the quantity of wood needed and b) the amount of sausages needed to satisfy the hungry hoards … at the end of the day, there  was still a large pile of wood sitting in the corner of the piazza and a fridge full of sausages in Aristo’s bar.

Guitar and accordion at Aristos (mp3)

No problem, a good enough excuse to organise another event a week later.

And the Christmas decorations? Workmen were busily stringing up the decorations in Barga Vecchia while the roasting was taking place . Christmas seems to have come early this year.

So just what are Mondine ?

Mondine  are made by roasting chestnuts in a special steel pan, shaped like a deep sided frying pan with holes in the bottom. The chestnut are first castrate (castrated)  by having a small incision made with a knife cut into them, removing a small portion of the skin so that the chestnuts do not explode in the heat of the fire.  They are then placed in a pan which is held over an open fire.

The pan has a long handle,  about a metre long allowing a good distance from the fire.  As the skin on the chestnuts closest to the bottom of the pan becomes burned the chestnuts are flipped over allowing the ones on top to become cooked.  This process is repeated until all the skins are crisp and practically burnt off.

Depending on  which tradition is followed,  a small glass of red wine is also tipped onto the chestnuts before a final roasting on the open flames.  The chestnuts are then either tipped onto a table or sometimes into a hessian sack which is agitated between two people until the remaining skins on the chestnuts have been removed.

These are the mondine and they are now ready to eat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbAQ_PbwiYk

post scriptum

The following morning the fire was still smoking and so rather than waste all that heat, a half a dozen potatoes from the giornaledibarganews vegetable garden were wrapped up in silver foil and buried in the hot ashes … an hour later, they were cooked and ready for the table. Split in half, a dollop of salted butter and nothing better in this world – tasty hot baked potatoes.

That afternoon, the fire was still going, it must have been some pretty good seasoned wood, so a final pan of roast chestnuts were quickly roasted and handed round before as darkness fell and the flames finally died down to reveal glowing embers, perfect for roasting sausages but a small problem arose – no grill to put them on.

This was solved by placing two found terracotta tiles onto the embers and cooking the sausages directly on the now heated tiles. Necessity is the mother of Invention after all.

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/11/20/mondine-music-sausages-and-christmas-decorations/feed/ 1 Emma e gli Aristodemo’s finally making a disc http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/11/12/emma-e-gli-aristodemos-finally-making-a-disc/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/11/12/emma-e-gli-aristodemos-finally-making-a-disc/#comments Sat, 12 Nov 2011 11:04:23 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=56852 Emma e gli Aristodemo’s have now been playing on the local music circuit for a couple of seasons and the question keeps being asked “where can we get a CD of their music?”

Up until now the answer has always been in the negative but it looks as though some things are changing as this weekend the group was locked into the Barga Jazz Club with that maestro of the recording studio Andrea Guzzoletti recording five tracks for a demo disc to be released (according to the bands pr spokesman) some time in the new year.

O.K, so its not a full blown music CD but they are at least moving in the right direction so that their gradually increasing fan base can have something to listen to when Emma and the band  are not available to performing live in the piazza.

Some of the forgotten swing Italiano from the 30′s, 40′s and 50′s is about to be pushed out into the light once more .

Latest tracks by Emma & the Aristodemo’s

 

Emma e gli Aristodemo’s are: Emma Morton (cantante / singer), Keane (percussioni / percussion), Leo Gnesi (Contro Basso / Double Bass), Alessandro Rizzardi (Mandolino / Mandolin and Sax), Fabio Guazzelli (chitarra / guitar) / Lucca Giovacchini (chitarra/guitar)

This Band came together in the winter of 2009 when local musicians Alessandro Rizzardi (mandolino), Keane (Percussioni), Fabio Guazzelli (chitarra), Leo Gnesi (contro bass), and Emma Morton (cantante) found each other in Aristo’s enoteca, with instruments in hand, and exciting ideas in mind and of course, passion in heart.
A new type of swing group was born.
Focusing mainly on forgotten swing Italiano from the 30′s, 40′s and 50′s, Emma e gli Aristodemos welcome you to jump back in time and into their salotto. You may also hear something contemporary swung into Aristo gear.
We recently welcomed a new member to our group of merry men: The fabulous guitarist Luca Giovachini is now our 5th Aristodemo.
Each concert is a piece of live theatre: a typical 40′s lounge is recreated in each performance space and the audience can witness the musicians play as a family… you may even get an invite into their ‘little home’ for tea! – Articles about Emma e gli Aristodemo’s are here

Emma canta Amy (mp3)

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/11/12/emma-e-gli-aristodemos-finally-making-a-disc/feed/ 1 Calvin Laing exhibiting work at Aristo’s http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/11/11/calvin-laing-exhibiting-work-at-aristos/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/11/11/calvin-laing-exhibiting-work-at-aristos/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:14:13 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=58272 Generally to describe an exhibition or art work as “interesting” is to damn it with faint praise. It is almost the default adjective to use when commentators can think of no other BUT the work from the Scottish artist Calvin Laing now on show at Aristo’s bar – Barga’s unofficial cultural centre in Barga Vecchia, really is extremely interesting and well worth a trip in the city to view.

The problem is, the work is almost invisible – it is difficult to actually see it but that is exactly how it was conceived and executed. It blends so well into the wall at Aristo’s that many people would not actually notice it and there is the one of the more important reasons behind its creation – it is meant to blend in and become part of the background. It is not created in a vacuum but is a reaction to work that is already in existence. Something added, something that changes the original work for ever.

Calvin noticed two photograph that have been on the wall of the bar since 1991 by L.Rossi showing the fountain in Parco Kennedy covered in ice and forming a figure that could be seen as a Madonna or maybe even Queen Victoria.  He has now added a third photograph – same dimension, same print look, same image, more or less but with an added extra .. another dimension to the image.  Apart from the disturbing effect on time, as it is difficult to work out just when the image was made,  it also makes one start to doubt and look around at all the other objects in the bar – which are real and which have been added … interesting stuff.

 

Calvin Laing exhibiting work at Aristo”s (mp3)

Some words from Calvin Laing himself:  – “Firstly what’s important is the title, C.Laing 2011 & L.Rossi 1991,

This is a photograph of a photograph of the fountain in Barga, in 1991 and also the fountain in Barga in 2011. Using the reflection of the glass to take a self portrait, in the same perspective and position that L.Rossi would of taken the original photograph of the frozen fountain. Then mimicking the presentation of the original photograph that Rossi framed, and displaying it beside the originals,

Fundamentally in my work I use myself as a material. I like to think of it like this:

‘Matter & Subject’

Matter being myself, a readymade, and the subject being the place the thing that the ‘matter’ interacts with, making the work site specific. So this piece continues that development of this concept. Also, this helps explain the titles of the work for example ‘Calvin & Metro’

This photograph has a per formative element to it, usually I make videos so this is quite a different approach,

The reason is, I found this photograph really fascinating, at first I wasn’t sure exactly what was going on, its quite bizarre. I’m quite interested in appropriation and ownership of work, so I was experimenting with this idea. Using his image and re developing and updating the photograph.

Yes it is quite important that its not absolutely obvious, I wanted to retain that quality of the strangeness of the original. The fact that its in a cafe and not a gallery, its more relaxed and can function in a different way. So its quite spontaneous, you have a choice to look and it and think about what’s going on or simply pass it by or not notice it.”
 

 

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/11/11/calvin-laing-exhibiting-work-at-aristos/feed/ 0 M’illumino di meno at Aristo’s http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/02/18/m%e2%80%99illumino-di-meno-at-aristo%e2%80%99s/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/02/18/m%e2%80%99illumino-di-meno-at-aristo%e2%80%99s/#comments Sat, 19 Feb 2011 01:23:03 +0000 keane http://giornaledibarganews.com/?p=28451 18th February is the National Saving Energy Day, “M’illumino di meno” which is held each year in Italy when people try out various systems that visibly show that they are attempting to save energy. The campaign was launched by the Italian radio programme Caterpillar in 2005 and seeks to reduce private and public energy use. During its annual awareness-raising day, individuals and organisations are asked to make a symbolic gesture of support by switching off lights and all other non-vital electrical devices powered by non-renewable energy sources. This year, the campaign also encourages switching on lights from renewable sources.

The lights that normally illuminate many national monuments in Rome and Milano will be switched off to “highlight” this attempt at saving energy on a large scale.

Here in Barga, for the fifth year running, Aristo’s bar joined in and switched off the lights for the evening and instead turning to candle power to keep the dark at bay.

It (almost) all went like clockwork … the technician arrived at six to switch off the street lights but unfortunately they switched off the lights in the other piazzas but not in Piazza Salvi where Aristo’s bar is situated but whatever, “M’illumino di meno” festa 2011 was off and running.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIkdNOTtpo

Music for the evening was rigorously acoustic with Giuliano Nardi and his accordion followed by the four of the members of Emma e gli Aristodemo’s – Emma singing, Keane on Irish drum providing a strong rhythm background for Fabio Guazzelli on guitar, Alessandro Rizzardi on mandolin. Sitting in on the session were also Geoff Collins-White on guitar, Linda Turicchi and Roberto Conti on drums and Andrea Guzzoletti on percussion.

M’illumino di meno | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |

Per il quinto anno consecutivo è tornata a Barga l’iniziativa M’illumino di Meno, la giornata promossa dalla trasmissione radiofonica caterpillar (Radio Due) tutta dedicata al risparmio energetico.

Così, come ormai da tradizione, anche dal Casciani in piazza Salvi si è simbolicamente risparmiata energia illuminando il locale solo con candele e festeggiando con musica rigorosamente acustica, a cura di Emma e gli Aristodemo’s che si sono alternati alla fisarmonica di Giuliano Nardi.

Anche il Comune ha fatto la sua parte, così come tanti enti pubblici su e giù per l’Italia, spegnendo alcune luci pubbliche alle sei in punto, l’ora in cui in tutta la penisola è iniziata l’edizione 2011 di M’illumino di Meno

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/02/18/m%e2%80%99illumino-di-meno-at-aristo%e2%80%99s/feed/ 0 Accordion at Aristo’s http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/01/30/accordion-at-aristos/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/01/30/accordion-at-aristos/#comments Sun, 30 Jan 2011 20:29:39 +0000 keane http://giornaledibarganews.com/?p=28006 There is snow on the ground once again around Barga as we move out of January and into February, traditionally the coldest months of the year in this area but there is always some warmth to be found in Barga Vecchia at Aristo’s. It has to be said that there are very few people around at the moment but there is always Giuliano Nardi and his fisarmonica to liven up those chilly afternoons.

Giuliano Nardi and his fisarmonica  have featured on barganews  many times over the years.

The accordion is a portable box-shaped musical instrument of the hand-held bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist.

It is played by compressing or expanding a bellows whilst pressing buttons or keys, causing valves, called pallets, to open, which allow air to flow across strips of brass or steel, called reeds, that vibrate to produce sound inside the body.

The instrument is sometimes considered a one-man-band as it needs no accompanying instrument. The performer normally plays the melody on buttons or keys on the right-hand manual, and the accompaniment — consisting of bass and pre-set chord buttons — on the left-hand manual. – source

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-baO0Xa7MEY

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2011/01/30/accordion-at-aristos/feed/ 0 Accordion, red wine, castagnaccio and mondine http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/11/23/accordion-red-wine-castagnaccio-and-mondine/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/11/23/accordion-red-wine-castagnaccio-and-mondine/#comments Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:20:34 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=26662 Just last week we published an article bemoaning the fact that November is gradually becoming one  of the worst months of the year for services in Barga Vecchia (article here) In the article we talked in negative terms about how in the height of the summer season, it is not really a problem finding a place to sit down and eat or enjoy a drink but during the winter months it can get slightly more difficult with many places shut for a rest after the long summer season and effectively shutting the city until the Christmas/New Year holidays begin.

Maybe, now is the time to show the other side of the coin – Barga as a viable working community which sometimes flies in the face of what would be recognised as normal practice. One such occasion when it makes one feel very lucky be a member of this community happened this week in Aristos with the arrival of the great characters of Barga Vecchia, Natale Bertolini with a basket full of still warm freshly roasted chestnuts.

The humble sweet chestnut has been an important ingredient in the Mediterranean diet – Homer mentions them, and Pliny even says which kinds were grown in Southern Italy. With time their cultivation spread throughout the peninsula, because they were one of the few food crops that could be grown on steep mountain slopes, and also one of the few crops that could be expected to provide sustenance through the long winter months.

By the middle ages castagne were the staple food of the peasants in large parts of Italy. In this area it has been the saviour of many people who otherwise would have starved when times got really bad and the sweet chestnut flour is still known to this day in Garfagnana as “poor mans flour”

Natale, one of the masters of roasting chestnuts showed just why he is so famous in the whole valley for his technique. We published an article about his methods back in March 2007 (article here)

There are various methods that people try to preserve the chestnuts well past the autumn and into the winter. Some try burying them in glass demijohns and flasks in an attempt to keep them fresh. Others have even tried imitating the squirrels and edible dormice in this area who store the nuts inside hollow trees wrapped up in moss but the most widely used technique (and the one that Natale used even he didn’t want to admit to it in public) was storing them in the deep freezer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETw1rJiwXEE

Then the door to the bar opens and in walks Elena bearing a large tray of freshly baked castagnaccio – the classic sweet dish from this area made from chestnut flour. (A recipe for castagnaccio can be seen here ) Her decision to cook and bring in castagnaccio was completely independent of the arrival of Natale with his mondine – one of those great coincidences which sometimes just work here.

Within minutes the party was on, the red wine was flowing and all helped along by the stirring accordion playing of Giuliano.

Nothing every “over organised” just happening.

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/11/23/accordion-red-wine-castagnaccio-and-mondine/feed/ 0 Alaskan musicians in Barga http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/10/26/alaskan-musicians-in-barga/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/10/26/alaskan-musicians-in-barga/#comments Mon, 25 Oct 2010 22:05:37 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=26151

Betty Connor playing in Aristo's

A new sound coming out of the door from Aristo’s bar this evening – the sound of the flute and fiddle from two musicians just arrived in the city. What the regulars to the bar were treated to was some authentic Celtic traditional music, coming not from Scotland or Ireland or even Brittany but instead from the other side of the ocean from Fairbanks in Alaska.

The two musicians,  husband and wife Bill and Betty Connor are well known in their native Fairbanks for their many years of playing Celtic Traditional Music with such bands as Polar Drive plus their distinctive sound can be heard guesting on many CD’s of other musicians right across Alaska.

Click on the link below to hear a short tune played in Aristo’s this evening: Bill – flute, Betty – fiddle and Keane – Irish Drum
Bill and Betty Connor Barga 10oct2010

Celtic Traditional Music Bands in Fairbanks Polar Drive- five folks, always willing to go out on the edge to bring in new wave traditional music, usually found back East. Bill Connor (flute); Betty Connor (fiddle); Charlie Hunt (mando and banjo thingies); Nancy Bayer on piano.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBCYpuBQHhA

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/10/26/alaskan-musicians-in-barga/feed/ 0 Funeral service for Aristo http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/10/07/funeral-service-for-aristo/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/10/07/funeral-service-for-aristo/#comments Wed, 06 Oct 2010 23:24:38 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=25768 Aristodemo Casciani who had only just recently celebrated his 86th year on the planet, died two days ago on the 4th October in the local hospital. He was laid to rest this afternoon in the Barga cemetery after a moving service in San Francesco with Don Stefano Serafini leading the congregation with prayers for his next of kin.

The church was filled to overflowing with family and friends who were there to give witness to his passing.

The mood of Barga today was probably best summed up by one of the death notices posted up in the city which quite simply had one word thanking Aristo, and signed the ex Mayor of Barga Prof. Umberto Sereni.

Aristo was taken to hospital just a week or so ago after a fall during the night and had never recovered afterwards.

Aristo was the rock on which Barga Vecchia depended upon. His bar was the unofficial cultural centre of Barga.

Aristo has appeared many, many times on barganews – in fact he has his own category here on the site, his own comic strip DA ARISTO here and even a group playing Italian swing from the 30;s, 40′s and 50′s named in his honour – Emma e gli Aristodemo’s here

Click on the link below for a short recording of Aristo playing the bottles in his bar during June 2001

aristodemo23june2001_bottles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEMFRTP1lfE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C6eVpIDPmM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgLo-DtDboE

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/10/07/funeral-service-for-aristo/feed/ 0 The legend that was Aristodemo Casciani is no more http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/10/04/the-legend-that-was-aristodemo-casciani-is-no-more/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/10/04/the-legend-that-was-aristodemo-casciani-is-no-more/#comments Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:44:48 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=25726

Aristodemo Casciani during this year's Barga in Jazz Festival

The news started to filter through the city just after midday today and by three ‘o clock it was no longer a rumour but was now the truth – Aristodemo Casciani who just recently celebrated his 86th year on the planet, died this morning in Barga hospital.

He was taken to hospital just a week or so ago after a fall during the night and never really recovered since. Today at midday he finally left this world a much poorer place for his passing.

Aristo was the rock on which Barga Vecchia depended upon. His bar was the unofficial cultural centre of Barga.

Aristo has appeared many, many times on barganews – in fact he has his own category here on the site, his own comic strip DA ARISTO here and even a group playing Italian swing from the 30;s, 40′s and 50′s named in his honour – Emma e gli Aristodemo’s here

Click on the link below for a short recording of Aristo playing the bottles in his bar during June 2001

aristodemo23june2001_bottles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEMFRTP1lfE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C6eVpIDPmM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgLo-DtDboE

His funeral will be on Wednesday at 3.30 pm at S.Francesco

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/10/04/the-legend-that-was-aristodemo-casciani-is-no-more/feed/ 15 Aristodemo celebrates 86 years on the planet. http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/07/30/aristodemo-celebrates-86-years-on-the-planet/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/07/30/aristodemo-celebrates-86-years-on-the-planet/#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:49:03 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=17255 The last really big birthday celebration for Aristodemo was back in 2004 for his 80th birthday. On that day there was a large party in the piazza with one of the largest birthday cakes seen in Barga Vecchia and of course, lots of live music.
Today was his 86th birthday and as Aristo has not be seen all that much in the piazza recently, Mohammed to the mountain-like, Barga’s latest live band, Emma e gli Aristodemo’s took the music directly to Aristo and knocked on his front door to wish him a musical happy birthday.

Happy birthday Aristodemo from all the staff at barganews.

Birthday celebrations when Aristo turned 79 | and the big celebration for his 80th | celebrations last year for his 85th

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/07/30/aristodemo-celebrates-86-years-on-the-planet/feed/ 1 Bostonians 12th visit to Barga http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/05/23/bostonians-12th-visit-to-barga/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/05/23/bostonians-12th-visit-to-barga/#comments Sun, 23 May 2010 19:26:11 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=16442 Joyce from Boston USA, on her 12th visit to Barga, was in Barga Vecchia this afternoon with 20 of her compatriots for a short visit to the Museum up at the Duomo. From there they gradually moved down the steep steps of Barga Vecchia and took a well earned rest outside of Aristos in Piazza Salvo Salvi.

Marino and Lorenzo were well prepared for their visit as they had laid out tables groaning under the weight of salami, local cheese and prosciutto and of course, their famous local red wine.

The musical  was supplied by the accordion of Giuliano Nardi playing out in the piazza and even managing one get one or two of the Bostonians on their feet dancing

The musical show lasted for a couple of hours and then once more they trekked back down the hill to Villa Moorings, their hotel in Barga Giardino.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7pewyvt1rU

Click on the link below to hear Joyce talking about her love of Barga:

joyce_boston_22may2010

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/05/23/bostonians-12th-visit-to-barga/feed/ 0 Swallows on the ground http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/05/18/swallows-on-the-ground/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/05/18/swallows-on-the-ground/#comments Tue, 18 May 2010 19:39:47 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=16314 Some strange weather conditions over the past few weeks in Barga – unseasonably low temperatures and lots, and we do mean lots, of rain has left not just the Barghigiani a bit baffled and lost but also the bird population has been put to the test. The swallows and swifts which come back to Barga each spring after their long winter sojourn in warmer climes are once again in evidence but in very reduced numbers this year.

Many people have noted that the birds have been seen not just flying low, generally thought to be a sign of impending bad weather, but also actually stopping their swooping flight and resting on the ground – something which does not happen all that often, according to local lore.

The cooler weather has meant that the insect population is also weeks behind its normal timespan and so there is some doubt as to just what the swallows are actually feeding on.

It turns out that the low level scavenging on the stones in Barga Vecchia is not with the idea of eating but rather the other main reason that the birds are here – making nets and breeding. They are scavenging for material to add to their nests.

Marino from Aristo’s bar in Barga Vecchia put this to the test by placing small pieces of white cotton wool on the piazza outside his bar. Within seconds the birds has located the white objects and swooped down in a flurry of acrobatic flight to snatch the cotton wool from the ground.

The award winning barganews photographer O’Connor was there to capture some of the action.

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/05/18/swallows-on-the-ground/feed/ 0 Aristo’s – M’illumino di meno http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/02/13/aristos-m%e2%80%99illumino-di-meno/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/02/13/aristos-m%e2%80%99illumino-di-meno/#comments Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:21:14 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=14662 12th February is the National Saving Energy Day, “M’illumino di meno” which is held each year in Italy where people try out various systems that visibly show that they are attempting to save energy.

That evening the lights that normally illuminate many national monuments in Rome and Milano will be switched off to “highlight” this attempt at saving energy on a large scale.

Here in Barga, for the fourth year running, Aristo’s bar will be joining in and switching off the lights for the evening and instead turning to candle power to keep the dark at bay. A team of cyclists will take turns to mount and keep turning the pedal power generator which will supply, if all goes according to plan, the lights to keep everybody in sight.

It all went like clockwork … the technician arrived at five to switch off all the street lights in Piazza Salvi. The comune put out large candles around Palazzo Pancrazi and outside the shops in the piazza. The Mayor of Barga, Marco Bonini and members of his administration arrived just as it was getting dark and the “M’illumino di meno” festa 2010 was off and running.  Two bicycles were set up inside Aristodemo Casciani’s bar with dynamos attached produced the light for the event and first up on the bikes was none other than the Mayor himself.

Outside in the piazza Nicola Salotti from the art group Venti d’Arte started to put of his candle installation but the wind whistling through the piazza finally put paid to that so in the end he gave up, promising that he will be back next year for another try.

Inside the bar the musicians started up their concert of traditional Italian light music .. mandolin, accordion and drum and they were quickly joined by Geoff on guitar and Keane on the Irish drum. More people arrived to take the place of the local politicians on the bikes and the party moved on.

Next up came the 100 year old coffee machine ( article here ) Another smaller version suddenly appeared on the bar, nobody was really sure from where it had arrived but that too was prepared ready to make coffee. The beans were first ground by hand in an restored coffee grinder and then the small alcohol stoves under the coffee machines were lit.

While people waited, freshly baked castagnaccio was passed round. It did take some time for the coffee to percolate through but finally it did to a round of applause from the gathering, although their were not that many people prepared to risk tasting the bevarage. The brave one or two who did actually sip the coffee pronounced it surprisingly good. The machine will be cleaned and put back up on the top shelf to gather dust for maybe a few more generations before it will be called into action once again.

The pedal power generator was a “work in progress” involving quite a few organisations here in Barga.

The base is an exercise bike from the spinning studios of the palestra Activity di San Pietro in Campo The mechanics at Tecnocross supplied the dynamo, lights and wiring from a three wheeler Ape and the talented wrought iron specialists at Togneri Ferro Battuto  assembled the bike. Claudio the electrician in Piazza Angelio wired everything up and made sure that the thing worked on the night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLTxLO3uD8k

Per il quarto anno consecutivo Barga ha aderito a “M’Illumino di Meno”, giornata simbolica per il risparmio energetico lanciata dalla trasmissione radiofonica Caterpillar a livello nazionale.
Ritrovo per tutti, dunque, da Aristo in Barga Vecchia, dove, a partire dalle 18.00 di venerdì 12 febbraio, la fantasia e la forza cinetica dei barghigiani ha illuminato (fievolmente, per la verità) il locale in modo alternativo.
Due biciclette, una da spinning offerta dalla palestra Activity di San Pietro in Campo, l’altra più modesta tirata fuori dalle cantine di Barganews (uno dei maggiori promotori dell’iniziativa a Barga) sono state collegate a una dinamo che raccogliesse energia da ridistribuire al fanale di un’ape recuperato insieme all’impianto elettrico grazie a Tecno Cross, il tutto assemblato da Togneri Ferro Battuto per le parti meccaniche e dall’elettricista  Claudio Redini per la parte elettrica.
Spente le luci pubbliche dei lampioni di piazza Salvi e del vicino palazzo Pancrazzi (sostituite da candele sui davanzali) alle 18.00, in contemporanea con il resto d’Italia, si è quindi cominciato a pedalare per ricavare un po’ di luce alla mescita del Casciani, nel frattempo riempitasi di musicisti, pedalatori, curiosi. Ad iniziare la produzione di luce tramite bicicletta a dinamo il sindaco Bonini e gli assessori Salotti e Salvateci, poi affiancati per le due ore della manifestazione da altri/e valorosi/e.
Intanto, musica per tutti e rigorosamente acustica, con fisarmonica, mandolino, percussioni, accompagnata dal castagnaccio offerto dal locale e da un caffè… storico. È stata usata infatti usata una strana moka centenaria alimentata da un fornello ad alcol per preparare la bevanda, tanto per rimanere in tema di fonti alternative.
Avrà invece maggiore successo l’anno prossimo l’idea di Nicola Salotti per Venti d’Arte, che aveva preparato un’istallazione a base di candele da esporre fuori dal locale, che però è stata funestata dal vento continuo.
Anche gli altri comuni della Comunità Montana della Media Valle hanno dato il loro contributo: a Ghivizzano è stata spenta la torre di Castruccio Castracani; a Fabbriche di Vallico è rimasto al buio il ponte medievale; a Borgo a Mozzano luci spente invece sul Ponte del diavolo, alla chiesa di San Martino e presso il centro di Protezione Civile.
A Roma, fulcro dell’iniziativa, addirittura è stata accesa la più grande lampadina illuminata da energia rinnovabile (diametro di sette metri per  un’altezza di tre piani), attivata da 5.000 watt prodotti da 50 ciclisti, ma anche in altre città italiane non sono mancate istallazioni creative e di sensibilizzazione verso la produzione e l’uso di energie rinnovabili ed di loro corretto utilizzo. Il tutto appoggiato da Camera e Senato, Citta’ del Vaticano, Parlamento Ue, ministero degli Esteri, ministero dell’Ambiente, da aziende come Poste italiane, Edison, Coop e dalle associazioni ambientaliste, Lega Ambiente e WWF in testa.  – Full article and more images on the Il Giornale di Barga site here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1yASfUFC_0

The European Parliament, the European Commission, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, the Court of Justice and the Council will all take part in the Italian-based awareness-raising campaign on energy saving ‘M’illumino di meno’ (I’m using less light) on 12 February.

Staff in the different institutions is being encouraged to participate by turning off all non-essential lighting and electronic equipment between 18.00 and 19.30.
In addition, the Institutions will participate as follows in a symbolic act of support:

As in previous years, the European Parliament will switch off all the outside lights and the maximum possible number of inside lights in the buildings in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg between 18.00 and 19.30.

The exterior lights of the Berlaymont, the Commission’s flagship building in Brussels, will be switched off for 10 minutes between 18.00 and 18.10. In addition, all non-emergency lighting in the entrance halls of the Commission’s buildings in Luxembourg will be switched off at the same time.

The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions will switch off all external lights and all non-essential lights in all of their buildings from 18.00 to 19.30.

The Court of justice will switch off the maximum possible number of both outside and inside lights of its main building in Luxemburg between 18.00 and 19.00.

The ‘M’illumino di meno’ campaign was launched by the Italian radio programme Caterpillar in 2005 and seeks to reduce private and public energy use. During its annual awareness-raising day, individuals and organisations are asked to make a symbolic gesture of support by switching off lights and all other non-vital electrical devices powered by non-renewable energy sources. This year, the campaign also encourages switching on lights from renewable sources.

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/02/13/aristos-m%e2%80%99illumino-di-meno/feed/ 0 M'illumino di meno – pedal power http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/02/10/millumino-di-meno-pedal-power/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/02/10/millumino-di-meno-pedal-power/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:58:46 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=14651 The 100 year old coffee machine has been dusted off and tested (article here), the antique coffee bean grinder has been completed restored and this week the preparations have been going on all over Barga for the other vital part of National Saving Energy Day, “M’illumino di meno” to be held at Aristo’s bar in Barga Vecchia on Friday – the pedal power generator which will be used to light the event.

12th February is the National Saving Energy Day, “M’illumino di meno” which is held each year in Italy where people try out various systems that visibly show that they are attempting to save energy.

That evening the lights that normally illuminate many national monuments in Rome and Milano will be switched off to “highlight” this attempt at saving energy on a large scale.

Here in Barga, for the fourth year running, Aristo’s bar will be joining in and switching off the lights for the evening and instead turning to candle power to keep the dark at bay. A team of cyclists will take turns to mount and keep turning the pedal power generator which will supply, if all goes according to plan, the lights to keep everybody in sight.

The pedal power generator is a “work in progress” involving quite a few organisations here in Barga.

The base is an exercise bike from the spinning studios of the palestra Activity di San Pietro in Campo The mechanics at Tecnocross supplied the dynamo, lights and wiring from a three wheeler Ape and the talented wrought iron specialists at Togneri Ferro Battuto spent most of today assembling the bike. Next in line will be Claudio the electrician in Piazza Angelio to make sure that all is working as it should and then on Friday it will be the turn of the cyclists to supply the human leg power to make the whole project light up.

Music (rigorously acoustic) will be supplied by members of the Barga Jazz Festival. This year there will also be an installation by some of the artists from Venti d’Arte

barganews.com e Giornaledibarga.it organizzano per il quarto anno consecutivo “M’illumino di meno… da Aristo”.
Barga si inserisce così a pieno titolo nella iniziative intraprese nell’ambito della campagna “M’illumino di meno” promossa dalla trasmissione Caterpillar di Radio2 e che si terrà la sera del prossimo 12 febbraio
All’antica bottega di mescita Da Aristo in piazza Salvo Salvi, luci spente, illuminazione fornita da una dinamo alimentata da una bicicletta da spinning dove pedaleranno a turno diversi partecipanti in costume d’epoca; concerto rigorosamente acustico dei musicisti di BargaJazz e accensione della prima moka da caffè prodotta in Italia nel 1910.
Non mancherà anche una parte artistica: ci sarà un concerto di strumenti a plettro ed a fiato, senza l’ausilio di elettricità a cura dei musicisti del festival BargaJazz che proporranno musica all’esterno della Bottega, una speciale installazione artistica a lume di candela curata dagli artisti di Venti d’Arte.  – La manifestazione aperta a tutti.

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/02/10/millumino-di-meno-pedal-power/feed/ 1 100 year old coffee machine at Aristo's http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/02/03/100-year-old-coffee-machine-at-aristos/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/02/03/100-year-old-coffee-machine-at-aristos/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:01:13 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=14351 For many years there has been a small copper coloured Aquilas coffee machine sitting on the top shelf gathering dust above the bar in Aristo’s. This week it was taken down and looked at more closely after questions were asked about its origins. Some names were printed at the base of the small machine – “Fratelli Santini” and “Ferrara” – with the aid of some quick search engine action, it was found that the Aquilas coffee machine was the first Moka machine to be produced in Italy. It was designed and made by the Santini brothers in Ferrara way back in 1910 – so this year the Aquilas machine in Aristo’s bar is 100 years old and is a bona fide antique.

It was brought into Barga directly from Ferrara by Aristo’s  father in law as a present for his daughter Luciana Agostini and was used for many years to make coffee for their clients before changing habits and larger, faster machines relegated the Aquilas to the top shelf.

The machine has now been cleaned and tested to make sure that it is still safe to make coffee and will be used for the first time in many, many years on the 12th February as part of the National Saving Energy Day, “M’illumino di meno” held each year in Italy when people trying out various systems that visibly show that they are attempting to save energy.

That evening the lights that normally illuminate many national monuments in Rome and Milano will be switched off to “highlight” this attempt at saving energy on a large scale.

Here in Barga, for the fourth year running, Aristo’s bar will be joining in and switching off the lights for the evening and instead turning to candle power to keep the dark at bay. A team of cyclists will take turns to mount and pedal a fixed bike connected up a  number of dynamos which will supply, faltering at times, a light source to keep everybody in sight. Music (rigorously acoustic) will be supplied by members of the Barga Jazz Festival. This year there will also be an installation by some of the artists from Venti d’Arte

]]> http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2010/02/03/100-year-old-coffee-machine-at-aristos/feed/ 0 Biadina co' pinoli and the accordion http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2009/12/29/biadina-co-pinoli-and-the-aaccordion/ http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/2009/12/29/biadina-co-pinoli-and-the-aaccordion/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:08:13 +0000 keane http://www.giornaledibarganews.com/?p=13976 Biadina or sometimes known as “biadino”  is one of those drinks which were invented generations ago,  reached a peak of popularity and then kind of disappeared as tastes changed and people moved away from highly alcoholic beverages,  aperitif  and digestivi.  It can still be found in bars in Garfagnana and the Barga area  but these days it is mainly a drink for the cognoscenti -  those in the know.  Deceptively simple .. a small glass of  Sambuca with a small spoonful of pine nuts sitting in the bottom of the glass ready to be eaten as the last of the Sambuca is drained.

Aristo’s bar in Barga Vecchia is where the real connoisseurs gather of an afternoon to enjoy the delights of a Biadina made from a bottle of  Sambuca which probably dates back to the early 60s or 70s.

Sambuca is an Italian anise-flavoured, usually colourless liqueur. Sambuca contains essential oils obtained from star anise, Illicium verum, which give the liquor a strong anise flavor. The oils are added to pure alcohol, a concentrated solution of sugar, and other flavouring. It is commonly bottled at 42% alcohol by volume (84 proof*). – source

Aristodemo’s famed bottle collection (which can be seen here) going back right through to the 1940′s contains (at least for the moment)  examples of local Sambuca  distilled and bottled by companies long since disbanded but their wares live on.  These are the bottles that the Biadina connoisseurs jealously guard and watch over.  This does not stop them drinking the precious liquor, these were made to enjoy after all, but opening and drinking them is not something that is highly publicised.

Nobody is shouting in the Piazza that Marino has just opened another 1970 Sambuca  but there is a certain intensity in the eyes of his customers whenever the pine nuts are brought out that could almost be said to have a fanatical edge to them.

 

Further down the valley they have their own version of a biadina which for the Luccesse is a speciality of Lucca but that has very little to do the local version in this area.

La storia narra che il nome biadina derivi dalla biada per i cavalli. In particolare era rinomato a Lucca un negozio in Piazza San Michele nel quale il padrone Tista offriva ai viandanti venuti a Lucca per il mercato “un po’ di biada per il cavallo”.

*It has to be said that it’s not a drink which can be drunk every day and for every occasion – for that there is nothing better than a glass of wine ….  and maybe some music to help the atmosphere along.

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