In Puglia, the musical bands, or "tour bands", accompany every village festival, in particular the patronal feasts or the religious ones.
They are called "da giro" since they usually follow processions around the cities, while people rush to join the procession or look out from balconies and windows to admire the musicians in uniform and their glittering musical instruments.
It is a very ancient tradition that originated in the XVIII century with military connotations: originally, in fact, the bands followed armies, even in war, to spur fighters and raise morale in the most challenging hours or to celebrate the victories in battle.
Their spread in Puglia, however, starts from the XIX century, when they gradually lose their military connotation and take on a more popular character. At first, the musical bands were used to accompany funerals, then to celebrate the patron saint or other recurring events in the country. Its presence is particularly noteworthy in Orsara di Puglia, a little town near Foggia, and in Acquaviva delle Fonti, near Bari.
But which are the musical instruments needed in these bands? Piccolo, flutes, bassoons, clarinets, oboes, saxophones, trumpets, trombones and even military drums, bass drums, cymbals and triangles.
The main feature of the musical bands is the popular composition of its members: the musicians are often artisans, shopkeepers, barbers and, more rarely, peasants. The repertoire is often drawn from the Italian opera tradition, in a simplified transposition that is accessible to both non-professional musicians and to spectators. Among musicians, there is great respect for their musical instrument which is handled with care and jealously looked after to be left to their children, so that they can pass on this popular art which has had the great merit of making known the so-called "cultured music".
To understand how much this tradition is still very rooted and loved in Puglia today, just think that a bill was recently signed for the protection and enhancement of Apulian “tour bands”, now considered a cultural heritage of inestimable value.
In recent years, in Puglia, festivals and events dedicated to tour bands have increased, such as the "Bande a sud" event, which takes place in August in Trepuzzi, near Lecce, attracting every year fans from all over the world. It is a true triumph of sounds, colours and sparkling musical instruments in a party atmosphere that involves everyone, both adults and children.
(Cover photo @negramaro64)
