With an administrative act approved on 4 April 2025, the Puglia Region formally initiated the creation of the Regional Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, a tool designed to censor and protect practices, knowledge and traditions considered part of the cultural identity of the territory. A section of this inventory was dedicated to bands and bands of the Apulian musical tradition, in which the historic Premiato Gran Concerto Bandistico “Città di Bisceglie” was recognized as an immaterial asset of the Apulian cultural heritage.
Recognition is part of the regional policy for the protection of music, which in recent years has seen the approval of a specific law in support of these formations, overcoming the idea that it is only local or recreational activities. The legislation provides for instruments of economic support, encourages the formation of young musicians and aims to preserve repertoires, archives and executive practices. The Bisceglie gang is one of the longest-lived realities of the Middle Ages: founded in the 19th century, in 2025 it reached the 194th concert season.
In addition to the symphonic marches and the funerary marches performed during the Easter period, historically central elements in the Apulian tradition, are the traditional operatic sweats, a form that in the twentieth century contributed to the popular diffusion of the work also outside the theatre. In recent decades the repertoire has expanded including light music and soundtracks, Italian and international, which have favoured a dialogue with more varied audiences.
The band is composed in large part by professional musicians under 35 and, over time, has also reached some record results, such as the recordings collected in the project “On travel with the band”, transmitted by Rai Radio3, and to the participation in several events such as the Festival “Maestri” of Conversano, in the presence of Riccardo Muti, on the occasion of the entry into force of the regional norm on the bands.
The reorganization of the band in a contemporary way dates back to 2003, when the Association “I Fiati” relaunched its activity. Under the chairmanship of Nicola Parisi and the artistic direction of Benedetto Grillo, in office since 2018 as the 43rd director in the history of the complex, the band has won numerous awards.
Among the most recent results is the “Festival of Easter”, dedicated to the popular and original music of Apulian authors during Holy Week, recognized by the Ministry of Culture as a special project of national relevance. In 2025 the band also took part in international initiatives, performing in the United States as the only Italian musical training for Columbus Day celebrations.
In detail, the Gran Concerto Bandistico “Città di Bisceglie” performed in New York on October 10 in the Cathedral of San Patrick for a concert dedicated to the 70th anniversary of NATO, and on October 12 during the inaugural ceremony of Columbus Day at the Columbus Circle, followed by a parade in Times Square.
Article The band of Bisceglie has been recognized as intangible asset of the Puglia Region proviene da IlNewyorkese.
