Aracne y Duende

The project explores the relationship between Spanish and Southern Italian folk music traditions, focusing in particular on their shared rhythmic and cultural roots. At the center of this investigation lies the Taranta, an ancient musical form that spread across Italy and Spain from the 16th century onward, distinguished by its intense and hypnotic rhythmic patterns. Originally conceived as a form of musical therapy for the supposed effects of a spider’s bite, this tradition gradually evolved over the centuries, eventually finding expression within the classical guitar repertoire.

The primary objective of the project is to establish a dialogue between the 16th-century Spanish Tarantelas—transcribed for the modern guitar—and selected works from the classical guitar canon that exhibit comparable rhythmic or expressive characteristics. Through this comparison, the project seeks to revive the spirit and energy of the ancient Taranta within a contemporary musical context.