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Outside of France, the island of Corsica is perhaps best known musically for its polyphonic choral tradition. The rebirth of this genre was linked with the rise of Corsican nationalism in the 1970s.
Polyphonic song in Corsica is a cappella, and can be either spiritual or secular. Funereal songs (lamentu) are an example of the former, while nanna (lullabies) and the paghjella are examples of profane songs. Traditionally, polyphony was sung only by men, with the exception of the cuntrastu tradition and nanne. Brotherhoods of polyphonic singers (cunfraternita) remain, some dating back to the 12th century.
The anthem of Corsica is "Dio vi Salve Regina".
Traditional instruments
- Caramusa - a bagpipe made of wood, leather and reed
- Cetera (also cithern or cittern) - 16-stringed lute of Tuscan origin
- Cialamedda (also cialamella/cialambella) - formerly a reed instrument, more recently with a wooden box body
- Mandulina - a mandolin
- Pirula - a reed recorder
- Pifana (also pivana) - a fife generally made from a goat horn
- Riberbula - related to the Jew's harp
- Sunaglieri - mule bells
- Timpanu - a triangle
- Urganettu - a diatonic accordion
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