Michela Musolino: Music
Lu Sceccu
(Recorded live on May 16, 2005 at BIOYA Studios, Paterson NJ Michela Musolino on vocals and tamburello with Christa Patton on ciaramella, Mark Sganga on guitar and Michele Ramo on violin)
2005-05-16
Traditional. The anthem of the 1848 Bread Uprising in Palermo
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This song is fromthe time when the Palermitani wanted to overthrow the oppressive Bourbons...it is the story of a starving donkey who begs his master for some bread. When the master refuses, the donkey stops laboring for the master,throws himself on the ground and cries, "The man who has plenty to eat doesn't believe the one who is starving."
In August of 2004 while in Selinunte, I visited the home of the artists, Ute Pyka and Umberto Leone. Umberto was most generous and shared this traditional song with me. It was a joy to record this with my friends!
Nu sceccu avvezzu a traspurtari pani
un jornu lu pitittu lu futtia
“Patruni, a nomu di li cristiani”
ci dissi “quacchi tozzu ni vurria.”
“La cira ‘nmanu di li sacristani
squagghia comu la nivi a la campia.
Tu ca li costi l’hai robbusti e sani
pensa un momentu a ristorari a mia”.
Rispusi di bon cori lu patruni
“Si fussi pagghia t’avirria cuncessu
mangiaritinni magari un saccuni,
ma di lu pani nun ci trovu nessu.”
“Ti dugnu un cozzu di lu vastidduni
e lu pittittu to sempri è lu stessu”.
Lu sceccu fu ‘mpurtunu, si curca ‘nterra e dici:
“Lu sazziu un criri a lu diunu”