Current Events
by Amy Austin
Italy:
A Legacy of Sardinia
...for Class Afloat News, May 23, 1997
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital is the port city, Cagliari. Although the island is considered part of Italy, it is actually one hundred-twenty miles to the west of Italy, but is just south of Corsica. The inhabitants of Sardinia speak a language that is so different from the Italian spoken on the mainland, that it is considered a separate language. Sardinians also celebrate more saints’ days than their mainland counterparts and still love to dress up in traditional elaborate costumes.
A part of their culture that Sardinians particularly are proud of is their contribution to the music world. There is an ancient instrument that is native to Sardinia and cannot be found anywhere else. The instrument is known as the launeddas. Crude evidence of its existence go back to ancient Punic statues of the 8th-9th centuries BC found in Sardinian ruins. Researchers have found more recognizable evidence in a 13th century miniature portrait by Juan Gonzalez.
A launeddas is made of three connected hollow canes of different lengths placed next to each other and punctured with five holes each. The longest cane is known as the tumbu, and plays only one droll note. The medium cane is the mancosa manna and the shortest is the mancosedda. One hole of each is located towards the bottom of the cane, while the other four are located towards the top so that the fingers can cover the holes (much like a flute).
Learning to play the launeddas is a difficult process due to the breathing technique that must be used. Because of the nature of the instrument, the player cannot stop breathing into it from the beginning of the musical piece until the end. Musicians learn to breathe in deeply before they begin to play, and discover how to store extra air within their cheeks, until they can take a quick break to "refuel."
Since the launeddas is such a traditional piece there are few Sardinians who learn to play it, and even fewer who can construct them. Those people that can play or build them well, however, are esteemed as national treasures.