Cantu a Tenore: Sardinia's Polyphonic Singing
One of Sardinia's most striking cultural traditions is acoustic: the "Cantu a Tenore," an archaic four-part male vocal tradition from the mountainous Barbagia.
Four voices, one circle
In Cantu a Tenore, four singers stand close together in a circle, each taking a fixed part: the melody is carried by the "boche" (solo voice), joined by the deeper, guttural "bassu," "contra," and "mesu boche." The result is a dense, almost overtone-like wall of sound, closer to Central Asian throat singing than to classical Italian vocal music.
UNESCO Cultural Heritage since 2005
In 2005, UNESCO added Cantu a Tenore as one of the first Sardinian cultural assets to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The reasoning cited, among other things, that the singing embodies the island's pastoral culture and reflects the close relationship between people and nature.
Where to experience it
Towns particularly known for their tenore groups include Orgosolo, Bitti, and Mamoiada in the province of Nuoro. Performances happen mainly at village festivals, weddings, and the island's big celebrations (see our article on traditional festivals) – it's not a fixed item on the tourist calendar, which makes it all the more authentic.