Cultura marinara, ricerca folklorica e turismo "culturale" in Sicilia. Stato dell'arte e prospettive

The Orbi Tradition: Blind Street Singers in Sicily

In Sicily, the street music was primarily entrusted to a class of professional singers and players called orbi (“blind”). In 1661 orbi gathered in Palermo at the brotherhood of the Immaculate Conception under the protection of the Jesuits, marking their first official appearance in the historical record. The testimonies of the activity of orbi between the 18th and 19th centuries offers a detailed account of both their repertoire – composed mainly of sacred songs, but also of storii (“narrative songs”), canzuni (“songs”), ditties and dance music – and their performative contecxts. For instance, they were called to perform at religious celebrations, weddings and convivial events, serenades, a…