Biography

The Teatino Folk Group was formed in the summer of 2010 at the Circolo ACLI 2000 “Padre Ugolino Frasca” in Via Padre Alessandro Valignani in Chieti, starting its activities, relying on the artistic director Maestro Vincenzo Pasta (Chieti, December 18, 1939), in the premises made available by the Parish of the Sacred Heart, which had as parish priest Father Marcello OFM.
For organizational reasons he then joined the “Lu Scaricarelle” Association since March 2011, based at the former Social Center of Via Cutelli in the Filippone District, gaining popularity and success, with appreciation from the public and critics with his growing performances.

An initiative started with the love for music and for the singing traditions of Abruzzo, which meets the favor not only of fans of an ageless genre, but also of those who love to follow performances that recall the agro-pastoral culture of their land.

Participation in festivals and exhibitions in Abruzzo and other regions of Italy, including that of Grottammare (AP), in the nearby Marche, entitled “Italy and Regions”, by the Italian Federation of Popular Traditions (TFPI) to which it has joined, with performances in Calabria and Ravenna, in the annual appointments of the Federation. He also participates in the Settembrata Abruzzese.

In October 2015 the Teatino Folk Group decided to become autonomous by setting up a new Board of Conductors, chaired by Mario D’Alessandro, with Tina D’Alessio, Ezio Di Federico and Remo Febbo, economic coordinator.

The costumes worn by the Group, the choristers, consisting of 15 female and 15 male voices, the three accordionists and ddu’ bbotte (accordion) and guitar-bass players, have been chosen and made taking into account the actual correspondence to local traditions.

Popular dances are also performed, such as quadrille, saltarelli, exchanged mazurka, etc. and above all with the representation of the “lace of love” (the central pole around which the ribbons of various colors are intertwined and melted, a good omen for wedding parties), when the Group performs under the guidance of the choreographer Natale Di Crescenzo di Guardiagrele.

The Teatino Folk Group is invited to parishes for liturgical animations and concerts, to welfare institutions and retirement homes, to various municipalities of Abruzzo and other parts of Italy for popular events and exhibitions, with an average of 30 outings per year.

Further developments took place, not without moments of difficulty, when Maestro Vincenzo Pasta, in January 2018, for health reasons had to give up the artistic direction that was entrusted, temporarily to Maestro Crispi Seccia, until in spring 2018, with the entry as Artistic Conductor in the Group of Maestro Gianluca Moresco of great preparation, competence and availability, allowed to resume full activity without any interruption, with a series of tests that helped to consolidate the basic preparation of the choristers.

With the registration of new members both female and male, the staff of the Folk Group has reached a more than satisfactory consistency, of at least 35 elements, including two accordionists, a bassist, a guitar, a mandolin and in case of need also a violin, confirmed by the participation in a series of performances, always greeted by consensus and applause, with particular reference to the participation in the “Italy and Regions” Meeting in Silvi, organized as every year by the Italian Federation of Popular Traditions chaired by Benito Ripoli.

The emergency caused by the Codid-19 pandemic and the consequent confinement has prevented the continuation of the activity of the Folk Group, with the suspension of weekly rehearsals and blowing up the program, already prepared, for the year 2020, with the performance in various churches and locations with the Songs of the Passion, with performances at Churches and Welfare Institutes for the Disabled, Prisons, with participation in summer events and conclusion with Christmas carols.

It is hoped that in 2021 the activity can resume with serene operational prospects.