In Mezz'una Strada Trovai una Pianta di Rosa: Italian Folk Music Collected in New York and New Jersey, Vol. 1

This Folkways recording, released in 1979, focuses on the Italian musical art form la musica popolare, or Italian folk music. As a genre, la musica popolare has been frequently overlooked due to the popularity of Italian opera. Producer Anna Chairetakis collected this music from Italian immigrants living in New York and New Jersey who still fondly remember their homeland traditions. The album also includes recordings from the 1976 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Chairetakis details her experiences making this recording in the liner notes, describing the background behind each song and the song’s connection to the Italian working class. This recording is part of a two-volume set.

Track Listing

101	Dove Te Vett, O Mariettina? - 4-Part Harmony	Simone Fellin, Mario Dellao, Cornelio Facinelli, Luis Flaim, Umberto Flaim, and Guido Endrizzi	02:25
102	La Villanella	n/a	03:13
103	Enté Stu Carlevá - Trallalero	Pietro Martini, Roberto Crespi, Giuseppe Bruno, Domenico Embriaco, Roberto Rebaudo, Giovanni Martini, and Nicodemo Martini	02:08
104	Intu de Stendi i Drappi - Trallalero	n/a	02:01
105	La Pastorale - Bagpipes	Vincenzo De Luca	01:32
106	La Mietitura - Reapers' Chorus	Giuseppe Crincoli, Vincenzo Milano, and Pasquale Guiducci	01:50
107	Stornello Vallatese con Tarantella Montemarinese	Gerardo Paternostro	01:54
108	Voglio Salire Sopra una Canna - Serenade with Chitarra Battente	Antonio and Maria Mastrolia	02:35
109	Serenata alla Cupa-Cupa - Ballad with Friction Drum	Antonio Davida	01:52
110	Alla Zampognara - Love Songs with Bagpipes	Antonio Davida and Vincenzo De Luca	02:44
201	Mattinata - Allegria, Vocal with Accordion	Antonio Davida and Giuseppe De Franco	01:12
202	Sicily: Marranzanu - Jews Harp	Filippo Pascià	01:01
203	Sicily: Canto dell'Aia - Thresher's Song	Vincenzo Ancona	02:04
204	Sicily: Friscalettu - Tarantella - Flute, Percussion	Giovanni Pellitteri	01:15
205	Sicily: Nun Fazzu Cchiù Lu Carritteri - Carrettiera	Giovanni Pellitteri	01:19
206	Sicily: Quadriglia - Cane Flute	Mariano Principato	01:28
207	Sicily: Ci Sunnu Tri Suruzzi - Carter's Serenade	Antonino Curatolo	01:35
208	Sicily: Leva Leva - Shanty	V. Ancona, N. Curatolo, Angelo Curatolo, Giuseppe Turriciano, F. Pascià, and Calogero Cascio	01:12
209	Sicily: V'alamó - Shanty	Sabastiano Venza, N. Curatolo, V. Ancona, Gaetano D'Angelo, and C. Cascio	01:07
210	Sicily: Abbanniatina - Vendor's Cry	Antonino Curatolo	00:49
211	Sicily: Mazurka - Mandolin, Violin, Guitar	The Ridgewood-Cusenza Mandolin Group	02:00
212	Sicily: Amuri Amuri - Carrattiera	Calogero Gioieni	04:08
213	Sicily: Mazurka - String Trio	The Ridgewood-Cusenza Mandolin Group	02:42