Tancas serradas a muru

song

"Tancas serradas a muru" (Sardinian language; "Tancas[1] closed with wall") is a traditional Sardinian folk. The verses had been composed by the blind poet Melchiorre Murenu, shortly after the entry into force of the Editto delle chiudende, a legislative provision issued on October 6, 1820. This act authorized the fencing of de facto common land, but subject to collective use, thus expanding the scope of enjoyment of the properties. These verses have become a folk song. The piece was very popular on the island and was performed by the various choirs in the manner of canto a tenore. The first choir that recorded it was the Coro Supramonte of Orgosolo which, finally, released it in 1974 on an LP for Fonit Cetra. In 1964 the piece was rewritten by Luciano Berio (and included in the collection Folk Songs) for voice (mezzo-soprano),flute, clarinet, harp, percussion, viola and cello.

Tancas serradas a muru
Genrecantu a tenore
TextMelchiorre Murenu
LanguageSardinian

Original Text change

Tancas serradas a muru,
Fattas a s’afferra afferra,
Si su chelu fit in terra,
che l’aian serradu puru.

Literal English Translation change

Enclosures closed with walls,
made by the grabbers;
if heaven were on earth,
they would have fenced that too.

Other versions change

Notes change

  1. the term tanca is the equivalent to the English term enclosure
  2. "ArkivMusic.com". Archived from the original on 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2023-10-21.