Bandella, alongside traditional and philharmonic bands, is one of the main musical forms in the canton of Ticino. Although bandella used to be widespread throughout the region to the south of the alpine range, those days are now firmly in the past; bandella is now quite a rarity and almost entirely confined to Ticino, where it is also dwindling. The bandella bands, once a staple of social, cultural and political events, faded – in the second half of the twentieth century – into something people associated with Ticino, especially in the context of tourism and folklore. A social phenomenon and a real and proprietary living tradition with deep local roots, which was also influenced by migratory experiences, these small formations are now synonymous with the identity and history of Ticino.
Bandella music is usually the preserve of clarinets and brass instruments (possibly including the saxophone, accordion and even the guitar on occasion); the players often perform without sheet music. The musical repertoire is diverse and covers everything from traditional pieces and folk songs to opera arias, pop music and the syncopated rhythms of 1930’s jazz. Although bandella is not what it once was, there are still people dedicated to keeping it alive with arrangements that include, but are not limited to, the traditional music of former times and explore – not without success – new avenues by updating their repertoires.
