To be in the perfect mood to read this post, may I suggest you open a new window to hear this YouTube extract while you continue reading?
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Apart from the obvious reasons (blood and identity), my love for Italy is also based on its history, especially "il risorgimento" and the unification, both in the 1800s.
The national anthem (chosen when the monarchy fell after WWII in 1946), was composed at that time (1847) and is also a favorite of mine.
Can't you just love an anthem where Verdi's influence is so obvious?
The lyrics are something too.
Not only do they praise patriotism and unity (the basics for a national anthem, I suppose), they are also a great testimony of what the Roman Empire is reminiscent of in this country. Long lost times when Italy was the most powerful country in the western world.
YouTube extract with the lyrics here.
The genesis of the piece, now called Inno di Mameli is also an emblem in itself.
Goffredo Mameli, who wrote the lyrics in 1847, was a 20-year old music student from Genova, one of those patriots that would soon follow Garibaldi (picture above). He died two years later in the siege of newly-conquered Rome (victory over the Austrian Empire) which was lost to the French troops.
The music was composed by Michele Novaro, also from Genova, who was the chorus master at both Teatro Regio and Teatro Carignano in Torino, as well as their second tenor.
Inno di Mameli
Goffredo Mameli (lyrics)
Michele Novaro (music)
Fratelli d'Italia,
l'Italia s'è desta,
dell'elmo di Scipio
s'è cinta la testa.
Dov'è la vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
che schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.
Stringiamoci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
l'Italia chiamò.
Stringiamoci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
l'Italia chiamò, sì!
Noi fummo da secoli
calpesti, derisi,
perché non siam popoli,
perché siam divisi.
Raccolgaci un'unica
bandiera, una speme:
di fonderci insieme
già l'ora suonò.
Uniamoci, uniamoci,
l'unione e l'amore
rivelano ai popoli
le vie del Signore.
Giuriamo far libero
il suolo natio:
uniti, per Dio,
chi vincer ci può?
Other YouTube extracts:
.jpg)
Apart from the obvious reasons (blood and identity), my love for Italy is also based on its history, especially "il risorgimento" and the unification, both in the 1800s.The national anthem (chosen when the monarchy fell after WWII in 1946), was composed at that time (1847) and is also a favorite of mine.
Can't you just love an anthem where Verdi's influence is so obvious?
The lyrics are something too.
Not only do they praise patriotism and unity (the basics for a national anthem, I suppose), they are also a great testimony of what the Roman Empire is reminiscent of in this country. Long lost times when Italy was the most powerful country in the western world.
YouTube extract with the lyrics here.
The genesis of the piece, now called Inno di Mameli is also an emblem in itself.
Goffredo Mameli, who wrote the lyrics in 1847, was a 20-year old music student from Genova, one of those patriots that would soon follow Garibaldi (picture above). He died two years later in the siege of newly-conquered Rome (victory over the Austrian Empire) which was lost to the French troops.
The music was composed by Michele Novaro, also from Genova, who was the chorus master at both Teatro Regio and Teatro Carignano in Torino, as well as their second tenor.
Inno di Mameli
Goffredo Mameli (lyrics)
Michele Novaro (music)
Fratelli d'Italia,
l'Italia s'è desta,
dell'elmo di Scipio
s'è cinta la testa.
Dov'è la vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
che schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.
Stringiamoci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
l'Italia chiamò.
Stringiamoci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
l'Italia chiamò, sì!
Noi fummo da secoli
calpesti, derisi,
perché non siam popoli,
perché siam divisi.
Raccolgaci un'unica
bandiera, una speme:
di fonderci insieme
già l'ora suonò.
Uniamoci, uniamoci,
l'unione e l'amore
rivelano ai popoli
le vie del Signore.
Giuriamo far libero
il suolo natio:
uniti, per Dio,
chi vincer ci può?
Other YouTube extracts:
- Version for two pianos and chorus, live from the Italian Senate, Dec.2006
- Short extract, Banda dei Carabinieri di Roma
- Karaoke extract (from the 200 Winter Olympics in Torino)
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2 comments:
I am not really so proud of this anthem, honestly!
Can I ask why?
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