Singers at the Carrettiera

The carters, during the journey for the delivery of goods, stopped, for rest or for refreshment, in thefondaci (sort of taverns scattered along the main transport routes where the carriers e the carters found lodging for themselves and their beasts). Here, therefore, the carters met with others and often, for pleasure, they sang songs and organized singing competitions, challenging whoever knew the most beautiful song or who possessed the best cadence. To close each execution there was the so-calledcall, that is, two hendecasyllable lines introduced freely by the cantor to invite another challenger, or the last two lines contained thanks for listening, an apology for a bad performance or indicated the origin of the song or the performer. Even on the occasion of festivals or village fairs, the carter took the opportunity to show off: he barded horse and cart at party, wore traditional costumes and performed with his singing skills. The proudest carters refined their skills by comparing themselves with the most expert masters and therefore handed down a real art, whose expressive code seemed to be known and shared by carters from different countries. Thus the art of the carter singers has come down to us, handed down from voice to voice and kept alive by now by few examples, children or relatives of elderly carters.