CARMELO SALEMI's Page

Carmelo Salemi studied clarinet at Musical High School “Vincenzo Bellini” in Catania and he graduated brilliantly in 1992. Since he was a child he had a part at many bands and folk groups. He won some prizes in the most important competitions showing singly and in groups. He made numerous concerts and cooperated with important artists and Sicilian groups like Kaballà, Dounia, Carlo Muratori, Nakaira, Cecilia Pitino. Moreover he had the honour to know Rosa Balistreri and to sing with her some years before she died. He took part in the laboratory “ The Gulliver’s travels” with Angelo Branduardi’s artistic direction. He composed scene music for “Liolà”, a L.Pirandello’s comedy, with Turi Giordano’s supervision. He played and composed music for Hugo von Hofmannsthal’s “Elektra”’s realization with Giannella D’Izzia’s production. For some years he is collaborating with Skenè Theatre in Vizzini (Ct) as composer and executant of scene’s music for Verga’s Performances. In 2001 he has signed a contract Piedmontese label “Folkclub/Ethnosuoni, which in March 2002 has published his first album with Hybla title, a search work founded on Sicilian “Friscalettu” and percussion instruments; it has been accepted by critics and public with enthusiasm. In the midst of cd guests there is Faisal Taher, a Palestinian singer. In May 2002 he has been invited with his band to take part in the prestigious FIMU Festival, wich takes place in Belfort(France) and registers every year about 65.000 presences of public.
In 2003 some of his songs have been chosen for publication in some compilation in France and in Spain: Italie instruments de la musique populaire (label BUDA RECORDS –MUSIQUE DU MONDE, distributed by UNIVERSAL FRANCE) and SICILIA Canto Nuovo(IRIS MUSIC label, distributed by HARMONIA MUNDI) and more Las Musicas de Italia (FNAC label ,Espana). In July 2004 he has taken part in the festival LES VOYAGES DU TIRE LAINE at Lille (France).and in September at Colfontaine (Belgium). In September 2005 two other songs have been included in another compilation produced by the English label ARC MUSIC, and at the same time he published his second album A SUD DELL’ANIMA (TO SOUTH OF THE SOUL) (FolkClub Ethnosuoni),which represents a journey to search spirituality, emotions and feelings: the Sicilian chant that melts with an explosion of sounds bound at the “south of the world”. Vincenzo Zitello has contributed to this cd as guest musician ;he is co-composer of the song “Cavi”. C.Salemi has sounded at twelfth edition of International Prize “Ragusians in the World” with the participation of Susan Sarandon ( American cinema star ) and Franco Di Mare (RAI giournalist). In October 2006 he has taken part in the prestigious festival “CAP SUD”( in Mons,Belgium) and he has been interviewed by RTBF ( Belgan national television net). In November 2006 two of his songs have been included in the historical compilation Anthology of Sicilian music produced DEJA VU label. From 2006 to 2007 he has directed a workshop with the title “ Friscalettu and popular singing” in behalf of Sicilian Region (Superintendence at cultural and ambiental Property of Siracuse ) which has permitted to sound in many places: Villa Badoer – Fratta Polesine(Rovigo); Casa museo Antonino Uccello – Palazzolo Acreide (Sr); Faculty of Arts and Phjlosophy –Siracuse; International Museum of Marionettes Antonio Pasqualino-Palermo; Museum “I luoghi del lavoro contadino”- Buscemi (Sr).
In January 2008 he has had the honor to introduce a job of search on the songs of the Christmas tradition of the countries of Sicily to Rome: Church of Sant'Antonio of the Portuguese; Church of Saint Maria Odigitria.