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Friday 10 May 11-11.30am |
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Route for Programme 5 - Corsica
CORSICA
Despite a brief period of self rule in the mid 18th century, Corsica has been dominated by many outsiders since the earliest times including Etruscans, Phoenician, Greeks, Romans, Pisans and Genoans (who bequeathed them their language, Corsu, a Tuscan dialect of Italian).
The island has been an integral part of France since 1769 - the year Bonaparte was born.
Ajaccio, was Napoleon’s birthplace and the seat of Corsica’s regional government. Mountains cover two thirds of the island. The southern part of Corsica attracts the most tourists. Bastia is the business end and old port and Corte is the ancient capital and geographical and psychological heartland of Corsica.
Comedian, Linda Smith looks at the history and ancient musical tradition of polyphony and particularly the pajella which is the three voice a capella singing and investigates the notion of 'corsitude' loosely translated as Corsicanness.
TRAVEL LOCATIONS
Corte
Sylvie Bessieres at the museum talks about Pasquale Paoli, the father of the nation I Babbu della patria who wrote the first constitution in the 18th century and founded a university in Corte (L'Universite de Corse) where education was free for all. He also gave women the vote - although that didn't last long after the French took over.
Corte is also where you'll find the:
Museu di a Corsica
tel: 00 33 (0) 495 45 25 45
Museu di a Corsica website
We visited the university which is still the only one in Corsica to talk to Michele Casoni about roots and Pasquale Paoli. The university’s main campus is in Ave Jean Nicoli, Corte.
University of Corsica website
Valle di Rostino
In the tiny hamlet of Valle di Rostino, the superstar group I Muvrini (the name is after the mouflon the only species of wild sheep left in Europe)
were mixing their new album Humani. Jean Francois Bernardini comes from a long tradition of polyphonic singers - his father was a famous singer and he sang with him on tour as a child. He sees Polyphonic singing as the "blues of Corsica".
For details of concerts see the I Muvrini website. The group are planning to come to England in June to stage a gig in London.
Ile Rousse
Moving onto to the region of Ile Rousse and the village of Montecello where retired shepherd Fanfan Mattei shares his beliefs that the ancient traditions are being lost. He feels the shepherds were the traditional guardians of Corsican culture and were also poets and philosophers.
Then onto Pignes a tiny village above Ile Rousse which is a model for how to use culture to repopulate the dying village of France.
Thirty years ago a group of musicians and painters and artists got together to encourage artists to come back and work and live in Pignes.
It's been very successful and Pignes is now a flourishing community all year round with people restoring ancient instruments and an auditorium for concerts.
Beatrice Abrar Malespine is a pajella singer herself and works for Festivoz the artistic organisation in Pignes. As you heard, she manages eventually to get three people together to sing us a pajella live (in the past only men sang but now women do too)
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PART OF FRANCE
Getting there:
You have the choice of arriving in Corsica by ferry or plane: boats sail from Nice, Toulon or Marseille. For the summer schedules see either the Corsica Ferries website or the SNCM website, or fly from Marseille to Bastia
with Air France - tel: 0845 084 5111. Air France website
Accomodation:
Castel’ Brando, is a 19th century villa built by a Corsican with a garden and a pool. The hotel is located at Erbalunga, about ˝ an hour drive away from Bastia, tel: 00 33 (0) 495 30 10 30.
Castel' Brando website
La Restonica is just outside of Corte and has stunning views. It's located at the entrance to the Restonic gorge, the beginning of a fantastic trail for keen walkers. tel: 00 33 (0) 495 46 09 58
Tourist Boards:
French Tourist Board
178 Piccadilly
London W1J 9AL
tel: 09068 244123.
French tourist board website
Corsican Tourist Board
17 Bouleverd du Roi
Jerome BP 1920181
Ajaccio Cedex 01
tel: 00 33 495 51 77 77
fax: 00 33 495 51 14 40.
Corsican Tourist board website
Travel Guides:
Corsica by Dana Facaros & Michael Pauls
published by Cadogan Guides
ISBN 186011962X.
The Rough Guide to Corsica by David Abram
published by Rough Guides
ISBN 185828600X.
Lonely Planet: Corsica by Olivier Cirendini
ISBN 1864503130.
Music:
Theme music for the series is Vas-Y-Mimile by Marc Perrone, track 8 from the album Rough Guide to Cafe Paris published by Rough Guides - RGNET 1084 CD.
Read Arthur Smith's Diary of his visit
Find out the route used in programme 6
Find out the route used in programme 4
Find out the route used in programme 3
Find out the route used in programme 2
Find out the route used in programme 1
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RELATED LINKS |
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BBC French Steps - French online for beginners
BBC Language Courses on the web
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