Totore Chessa

A master of the two-row melodeon, Totore Chessa remains committed to the musical traditions of the Italian island of Sardinia. Whether playing solo or accompanied by traditional instruments including launeddas, a pipe organ that creates a bagpipe-like drone, and the mouth harp-like trunfa, Chessa skillfully summons the flavors of the old world with his squeeze-box melodies. Chessa was named "master of folklore" by the organizing commission of the Regional Festival of Nuoro Folklore.