All the sonic and evocative potential of a Southern Italian traditional instrument «chitarra battente».

For the past decade, Francesco Loccisano and Marcello De Carolis, classical guitarists hailing from Southern Italy, have immersed themselves in a profound love affair with the ‘chitarra battente’ – a baroque-style guitar boasting 5-10 strings, traditionally used to accompany tarantella-inspired dance forms. The instrument is traditionally used as accompaniment, so a duo is quite unprecedented with their mostly original repertoire, inspired by different musical traditions of the area.

The duo has put the ‘chitarra battente’ on the world map, captivating audiences and showcasing the instrument’s beauty and their inspiring blend of tradition and innovation at esteemed showcases such as Internationales de la Guitare (2022), Womex (2023), and Napoli World (2023).