We must observe that the lockdown is negatively affecting both our organization and the individuals and communities who hold and safeguard the living heritage in the concreteness of its exercise. The current situation has aroused in people a mixture of feelings in which regret and even pain for the cancellation (or uncertain postponement) of the various events and rituals has to deal with the concern for health, own and of loved ones, with the fear of contravening the rules imposed, with a widespread sense of abandonment and with anxiety for the future.
At the same time, it must also be said that, despite the disorientation, mistrust and renunciation do not always prevail. This can be seen from a series of behaviors that we have been able to be observed both directly and through the stories and the images that we can read and see on the web and the new and old media.
In general terms, and albeit the necessary differences between different expressions, living heritage continues to be lived in someway. We have all had the opportunity to verify it on the occasion of Easter, never as this year deprived of its charge of collective rituality.
This is thanks above all to the new means of communication that, albeit remotely, in a virtual way, have made people feel less alone and in a position to supply, through telematic connections and the networking of videos and recordings relating to previous years, the lack of collective moments. We think of the celebrations of Palm Sunday, the masses, the processions accompanied by the ritual songs of the Passion and all the other events connected to Easter.
Even the preparing and eating the typical foods of the feast has been practiced and shared often by networking with distant relatives and friends.
In this regard, the pandemic is making us rediscover the taste of preparing not only traditional dishes but also some foods whose preparation has long since disappeared from domestic practice (primarily, for example, bread). A new form of sociality has manifested itself with the songs and music from the balconies and windows of the houses, especially in the urban area, bringing out a significant role of music and particular songs as an expression of a common cultural heritage or in any case shared, from which to draw energy to face the difficult moment of crisis.
With particular reference to our organization and our specific field of interest (the art of building and playing the bagpipe together with the events and rituals of which this musical instrument is the protagonist) we note that apart from the closure to the public of its Museum “Permanent Exhibition of Italian and foreign bagpipes” and of its Documentation Center (CIZ), the “Circolo della Zampogna” is continuing its safeguarding activity working in” smart working “, in particular in the drafting of the magazine “Utriculus” and in maintaining contacts and exchange with similar bodies, scholars, researchers and simple enthusiasts in Italy and abroad.
In particular we take care of and maintain contacts with the holders of the artisanal and musical knowledge of the bagpipes: the builders and players of the instrument who are the subjects highly penalized by the pandemic as the occasions in which their role and participation are required have already partially disappeared (and others will certainly be canceled or postponed to dates to be determined), also with negative economic reflections that cannot and should not be underestimated.
In particular the zampogna makers, while continuing to make instruments in their laboratories, are rather worried both for the immediate as well as for a future affected by uncertain forecasts.
Among the opportunities that makers and players have already lost and that will lose in the immediate future there are the various propitiatory Spring rites spread in Southern Italy as well as musical events and fairs usually scheduled in spring and summer seasons. It has been canceled also our “Spring Bagpipe Meeting”.

Related links:

Circolo della Zampogna: www.zampogna.org
The elderly builder and the young bagpipe player, in Scapoli (Molise region) where the tradition of the musical instrument with the bag lives and is renewed: https://www.facebook.com/TgrRaiOfficial/videos/445005432861841/
The “Pagliara” of Fossalto (Molise region): an ancient propitiatory and fertility rite still alive: https://youtu.be/gxJ4qr6zzdo
The Good Friday procession in Campobasso (Molise region) and the imposing choir of the faithful who perform the song of the Passion “I would like with you”: https://youtu.be/mq41a4f9vzk

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