7. Taranta | Romina Di Gasbarro

TARANTA (Italian for “tarantula) is a song based on the historical phenomenon of “Tarantism”; an ancient affliction brought on by the bite of a tarantuala (also spider, or snake) that is cured by cathartic dancing to the tarantella. The victims are known as “Taranti” or “Tarantate” for women. These “tarantate” were known as the Brides of St. Paul who was the only one who could relieve the afflicted of their venom induced state.

*****
The Italian countryside remains harsh and magnificent. For those that remain in the southern towns, the modern era of northern industry and technology seem as far away as America is to Sardegna. Prosperity is as distant as feudalism is to freedom. In the small villages of the Adriatic south, spiders await their victims in tobacco fields – ready to drive them into the catharsis of frenzied dancing. The spiders hold their victims in a web high above the misery of their predictable quotidian lives. Suspended in an altered reality, the women spin to the frenzied rhythms awaiting their Saint-groom to release them. It is an expensive but mystical break from the subaltern state of little freedom or power. A young girl watches as one woman after another becomes a victim. She watches and decides – She will not wait for the spider to decide. She wants out.

7. TARANTA
Romina (voice), Elmer Ferrer (guitar, charango), Gianluca Campanino (chitarra battente, tamburello).

San Paolo é venuto in sonno / St. Paul came to me in a dream
San Paolo é venuto in sonno / St. Paul came to me in a dream
Svolazzava sopra il mio letto / He hovered over my bed
E mi mise il ballo nel petto / And put the dance in my chest.

Le voci volano sul vento / The voices that fly over the air
le voci volano sul vento / the voices that fly over the air
fantasmi sull’aria che sento / are ghosts in the wind, I sense
le voci che volano sul vento / the voices that fly over the air

Stanotte barcollando per il campo / Tonight, staggering through the fields
vago, cerco, e ti chiamo / I wander, search, and call you
nel suono del tamburro ti rangiungo / in the sound of the drum, I’ll meet you
nel suono del tamburro / in the sound of the drum.

Taranta! Taranta! / Tarantula! Tarantula!
Vienimi a pigliá! Vienimi a pigliá! / Come and get me! Come and get me!

Gira, gira, gira, mondo / Spin, spin, spin, world
Gira, gira, gira, gonna / Spin, spin, spin, skirt
Gira, mondo. Gira gonna. / Spin, world. Spin, skirt.
Gira, gira, gira, donna, gira! / Spin, spin, spin, woman, spin!

San Paolo con la spada in mano / St. Paul with his sword in hand
San Paolo con la spada in mano / St. Paul with his sword in hand
Nel bacino di notte, aspetto / in the *bacino of night, I await
Che mi metti il ballo nel petto / that you will put the dance in my chest.

Stanotte barcolando per il campo / Tonight, staggering through the fields
vago, cerco, e ti chiamo / I’ll wander, looking for, and calling you
velata nel mistero, ti ragiungo / Veiled in mystery, I’ll meet you
nel suono del tamburro. / in the sound of the drum.

Taranta! Taranta! / Tarantula! Tarantula!
Vienimi a pigliá! Vienimi a pigliá! / Come and get me! Come and get me!

*bacino, translation: 1. field, 2. hip bone, 3. pelvis, 4. hollow
Words and music by Romina Di Gasbarro © 2018 Romina Di Gasbarro (SOCAN)