Sicilia. U cuntu dû fràutu. Fiaba con canto

Abstract

The text presents the Sicilian tale U cuntu dû fràutu, as told by Maria Costa in 2003 in Messina. ​ The folktale tells of a king with three sons, the youngest of whom is killed by his older brothers out of jealousy. His bones are turned into a flute by a farmer who, whilst playing it, discovers the truth about the murder through a mournful song. Maria Costa’s version stands out for its expressive intensity, focusing on the contrast between the goodness of the younger brother and the wicked nature of the other two.