La Ciapa Rusa

An outgrowth of popular Italian band, Ensemble Del Doppio Bordone, La Ciapa Rusa remains committed to the preservation of northern Italian traditional music. Founded by hurdy-gurdy, dulcimer and psaltery player and vocalist Maurizio Martinotti and two-row melodeon player and vocalist Beppe Greppi, the group continues to combine traditional instruments, including the hurdy-gurdy, psaltery and piffero (a double-reed wind instrument) and modern instruments including electronic keyboards, sequencers, samplers and drum machines. Martinotti joined with violinist Bruno Raiteri to form a new band, Tendachent, in 1997. ~ Craig Harris