Long-term readers of barganews will of course have no doubt about the claim that Aristodemo Casciani’s bar in Barga Vecchia is the unofficial cultural centre of Barga … we have been reporting this for over a decade now. (articles here) With time marching on and Aristodemo now in his mid-80s it is becoming more and more difficult to actually catch sight of the man himself sitting at his keyboards and hammering out his particular mixture of pre/post war popular Italian music mixed up with syncopated American jazz /big-band/show tunes.
But that does not mean that live music is no longer being played in the bar. Far from it in fact. Aristo’s protégé, Alessandro Rizzardi, the noted jazz player has spent the past few years playing along with Aristodemo but not on his usual instrument of choice – the saxophone, instead he has been getting to grips with that most Italian of musical instruments – the mandolin.
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Playing along with Aristo, listening and learning all the time has meant that Alessandro now has a repertoire of songs dating back to the early 40s. All learnt by ear from the master himself. Now has come the time to put these songs and experience back into the community. Since the summer there has been a growing group of musicians being drawn to the bar and playing together an ad hoc jam sessions to the delight of the other customers.
Fabio Guazzelli on guitar, Cinzia Lenzarini and Alessandro Santini on vocals have been regular participants. The recent arrival of the jazz guitarist Luca Giovacchini has further galvanised the group and the sessions are gradually turning into rehearsals. For the moment it’s more about playing together in enjoyable company with a glass of wine and of course some of the best sheep’s cheese in the area on the marble tables in front of them but maybe there will be some more public performances to come out of this situation in the near future.
Click on the link below to get just an inkling of what it was like in the bar this evening with two guitarists, a mandolin player and drummer.
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oohhhhh please….. Dear Barga News investigative reporter… It is painful and yet wonderful to read and see and hear about the music, the cheese, the bright lights, the Tocchino’s ohhhh to be there now…… thank you and I hate you both for teasing me with these images, sounds and words about a regular night in Aristo’s…..
per le prossime jam sessions da Aristo…… grandi!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anche se questa di sicuro non fa parte del repertorio del maestro…..
El pueblo unido jamás será vencido,
el pueblo unido jamás será vencido…
De pie, cantar
que vamos a triunfar.
Avanzan ya
banderas de unidad.
Y tú vendrás
marchando junto a mí
y así verás
tu canto y tu bandera florecer,
la luz
de un rojo amanecer
anuncia ya
la vida que vendrá.
De pie, luchar
el pueblo va a triunfar.
Será mejor
la vida que vendrá
a conquistar
nuestra felicidad
y en un clamor
mil voces de combate se alzarán
dirán
canción de libertad
con decisión
la patria vencerá.
Y ahora el pueblo
que se alza en la lucha
con voz de gigante
gritando: ¡adelante!
El pueblo unido jamás será vencido,
el pueblo unido jamás será vencido…
La patria está
forjando la unidad
de norte a sur
se movilizará
desde el salar
ardiente y mineral
al bosque austral
unidos en la lucha y el trabajo
irán
la patria cubrirán,
su paso ya
anuncia el porvenir.
De pie, cantar
el pueblo va a triunfar
millones ya,
imponen la verdad,
de acero son
ardiente batallón
sus manos van
llevando la justicia y la razón
mujer
con fuego y con valor
ya estás aquí
junto al trabajador.
El pueblo unido jamás será vencido,
el pueblo unido jamás será vencido…
The people united will never be defeated,
The people united will never be defeated…
Arise, sing
We are going to win.
Flags of unity
are now advancing.
And you will come
marching together with me,
and so you’ll see
your song and your flag blossom.
The light
of a red dawn
already announces
the life to come.
Arise, fight
the people are going to win.
The life to come
will be better.
To conquer
our happiness.
and a clamor
of a thousand fighting voices will rise,
speaking
a song of freedom.
With determination
the fatherland will win.
And now the people,
who are rising in struggle
with a giant voice
crying out: Forward!
The people united will never be defeated,
The people united will never be defeated…
The fatherland is
forging unity,
from north to south
they’re mobilizing.
From the salt mines
burning and mineral
to the southern forests.
united in struggle and labor
they go
covering the fatherland.
Their steps already
Announce the future.
Arise, sing
the people are going to win
millions now
are imposing the truth
Their steel battalions
are on fire,
taking in their hands
justice and reason.
Woman
with fire and courage
is already here
Along side the worker.