The cowbells’ concert

It is worth noting that herd owners, by listening to bell sounds, are constantly informed on what their animals are doing. For example, with reference to cows, there are at least four sounds that correspond to four moments of the animal’s daily routine:1) when it grazes (stà a pasce), 2) when it walks (stà a cammenà passo passo’), 3) when it rests while chewing (rimasceca) thus producing a slight tinkle, and 4) when it runs for fear (va de curzo a tratturo).

Pastoralists claim that also livestock understands such sounds and act accordingly. For instance, a fast and sudden sound of bells, followed by a cow’s lowing, informs the members of the herd about an imminent danger. In this case, cows tend to come together surrounding the threatened calves and cornering the aggressor (e.g. wolves, dogs, etc.). Before transhumance begins —generally on the night before departure— large cow bells, characterized by strong notes, are placed around the neck of selected cows. It is believed that this sound transmits joy and excitement, not only to the herd owner but also to animals, making them aware of the imminent departure. Pastoralists claim that animals suddenly become awake (reveglia) when bells are placed on them: they know that their seasonal journey is beginning. Cowbells are passed on from parents to children, and those that have been inherited through generations, are regarded as the most precious. When the herd owner dies, the «bell concert comes to an end» («se sfascià gliù cunciérto de campane»); bells —in fact— are divided amongst children, along the male line. Receiving a bell through inheritance, serves as an encouragement for children to create a new concert that, in many cases, will resemble that of the dead father, although —obviously— it will differ from it. Perhaps, it is not an exaggeration to say that, when it comes to the sound of their bells, pastoralists live almost in a state of ‘dependency’. In fact, when a herd owner is forced to abandon his profession, due to elderliness or to other reasons, he will often describe this situation as going through a state of melancholy and nostalgia, due to the absence of bell sounds.