cantastorie

Cantastorie is the Italian term for itinerant singers and storytellers who perform narrative songs, drawing on folklore, legends, and historical episodes. The word combines cantare (to sing) and storie (stories), reflecting a tradition of telling stories through song.

The cantastorie tradition has medieval and early modern roots in Italy, with performers traveling from town to town to entertain and instruct audiences in marketplaces, squares, and taverns. They typically presented a tale in song, often accompanied by a small instrument such as a guitar or mandolin, and frequently used visual aids like painted boards or puppets to illustrate the story.

Their repertoire covered folk tales, legends, and current events, blending entertainment with moral or educational content. In some regions, cantastorie performances included puppetry or shadow plays and could be part of festival or carnival activities. In the 18th and 19th centuries, some cantastorie also used their platform to comment on social issues or political matters.

In modern times, the term is used to describe performers who maintain the tradition of storytelling through song, sometimes in concert or street-performance contexts. Contemporary cantastorie may work to preserve regional storytelling forms, educate audiences about history, or engage communities through interactive performances.

See also: Italian folk music; storytelling; street theatre.