8. Sos Tenores

The “canto a tenore” (in Sardinian, “cantu a tenore”) is a genre of Sardinian choral singing and artistic expression with an original and indigenous foundation, developed within the agro-pastoral culture of Sardinia. In 2005, canto a tenore was proclaimed an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO and subsequently included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.

It’s a form of polyphonic singing performed by a group of four men using four distinct voices called “bassu,” “contra,” “boche,” and “mesu boche.” It’s characterized by the deep and guttural timbre of the “bassu” and “contra” voices and is sung while standing in a circle. The soloist sings a piece of prose or poetry, which can even belong to contemporary cultural expressions, while the other voices provide accompanying harmonies.

Information about the origins of canto a tenore is vague, making it challenging to pinpoint a specific date of origin. It’s believed to have originated as an imitation of natural sounds: “su bassu” imitating the bellow of the ox, “sa contra” the bleat of the sheep, and “sa mesu boche” the sound of the lamb, while the soloist, “sa boche,” embodies the human, the one who has managed to master nature. According to tradition, shepherds might have developed these forms of singing to establish a connection with the spiritual entities permeating all things, gaining strength through the imitation of animal sounds and nature.

Canto a tenore in Sardinia is practiced by around 3,500 people, primarily in the central part of the island and in around a hundred villages. Loculi is among these villages.

The “tenores” group of Loculi was formed in 2006 with the encouragement of some elderly members of the village who were enthusiasts and scholars of canto a tenore.

The original lineup consisted of four individuals: Antonello, Massimo, Francesco, and Pietro. Over the years, several other young members have alternated within the group.

The group is called “Santu Pretu,” in honor of the village’s patron saint. Their devotion to the saint and to religious matters, in general, is also palpable in their musical repertoire. This primarily includes “sos gosos,” devotional and paraliturgical songs with Iberian origins but widespread in Sardinia, composed in the Sardinian language, as well as songs in honor of “sa Defessa,” the protective Madonna of Loculi. Additionally, there are “sos muttos,” where the lyrics are traditionally based on improvised verses centered around themes of love, humor, or controversy. The singing styles are diverse, including “boche seria” (ancient), “boche lestra,” and various types of “boche ballu” depending on the occasion. The tenores of Loculi are protagonists in various local, regional, national, and international events.