La ciapa rusa

The Profile

A group of researchers-turned-musicians from Monferrato who collect and perform traditional Piedmontese songs; their Anthology compiles material from earlier albums.

Review notes they sought songs in montanis et alpestribus loci and met traditional players of hurdy-gurdy, flute, and accordion; Maurizio Martinotti is named as a singer on the album; the name 'La ciapa rusa' means 'the red patch' in the Monferrato dialect. The album 'Antologia' is described as an anthology of the first four albums and the reviewer also mentions the group's album 'Aji e safran'.

A glowing DeBaser review of La ciapa rusa's Antologia highlights three vivid songs/episodes and the group's role as collectors of Piedmontese tradition. The reviewer praises the vocal delivery, the array of traditional instruments, and the group's research-driven approach. The album is presented as an anthology compiling earlier works and evokes rural performance contexts.