### The Rebirth of the Chitarra Battente in Cilento
The chitarra battente, a musical instrument with deep roots in the villages at the foot of Mount Stella in Cilento, has had a great diffusion, especially in Castellabate. This instrument has accompanied local celebrations for years, telling the stories and difficulties of peasant life, as well as the pain of emigration. However, its use has decreased over time, leading this cultural heritage to oblivion.
### The “Castellabate Battente” Event
To revitalize interest in the chitarra battente, the Cultural-Musical Association “Struppegna” has organized the event “Castellabate Battente”. Founded in 2016, the association promotes this event to revive the musical expressiveness of Castellabate and the areas of Monte Stella. The program will take place on October 12 at Slargo Mandria, starting at 18:00 pm. The results of research conducted over the last five years will be presented and musicians and artisans such as Domenico Ianni, Gianluca Zammarelli and Alfonso Toscano will perform.
### An Invitation to Discovery
The initiative is not only an opportunity to listen to music, but also an invitation to participants to bring their own battenti guitars, sharing memories and anecdotes related to traditional songs. This meeting aims to create a census of the battenti guitars still in existence and to collect precious memories that risk being forgotten.
### A Work of Sound Archaeology
Changing tastes and social habits have relegated the chitarra battente to the background. However, similar to the work of archaeologists, there is the possibility of rediscovering and valorizing this instrument and its cultural context. Anecdotes of the elderly, instruments forgotten in restaurants and historical recordings represent fragments of a heritage that deserves to be brought back to light.
### Testimonials and Research
The historical recordings available at the Archivio Sonoro are a precious resource for exploring the musical tradition of Castellabate. Tarantellas, pastorals and canti alla longa enrich the local musical repertoire, with unique tunings that characterize the traditional songs. These documents, together with the studies of the Struppegna association, contribute to recreating the complex mosaic of the subaltern cultures of Cilento and to making the chitarra battente shine again.
