Luigi Lai, the living legend of the music of Sardinia, was a launeddas pupil of the great Antonio Lara and Efisio Melis. He also plays accordion and saxophone, having studied the latter at the Zurich Academy for four years while in Switzerland. Upon returning to Sardinia, he participated as a player in the Sant’Efisio parade, where he still performs every year. He created the first launeddas school, later collaborating with Angelo Branduardi and in film with director Gianfranco Cabiddu. He currently teaches at the Cagliari Conservatory, the first course authorized by the Ministry of Education of University and Research. Mauro Palmas is a composer, instrumentalist and researcher. In 1977 he founded the group Suonofficina, which opened Sardinian traditional music to encounters and experimentation with those from all over the Mediterranean. He then specializes in the study of dance rhythms, creating a technique that allows him to apply the language of ancient launeddas nodas on the mandola. In 1979 he met singer Elena Ledda, with whom he shared choices and projects that resulted in an intense and fruitful concert and recording activity. For the past thirteen years he has been in charge of the artistic direction of the traveling music festival Mare e Miniere.
MEMBERS:
Luigi Lai: launeddas;
Mauro Palmas: mandola, liuto cantabile, voice.
