DAYS AWAY FROM ITALY

Jul 15, 2021 | Letterario

CHE GIOIA!!

WHAT JOY the National Team of Italy gave us this past month during

the Euro 2020 championship!!

 

The team played with enthusiasm, confidence, style – and best of all, THEY WON!!

And you can believe, like Italians all over the world, Lorenzo and I watched and celebrated the final with our friends!    To give an idea of the jubilation…

But this post is not just about keeping the Euro 2020 victory alive (but partly that…).

What I really want to write about is the national anthem of Italy, Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy), also known as Inno di Mameli (Mameli’s Hymn), also known as Il Canto degli Italiani (Song of the Italians).

It’s always fun to watch the Italian team belt out the anthem, arm in arm, at the start of games.

I thought you might like to know what they’re singing about. And maybe even try to sing along one day…

The Italian National Anthem(s)

There’s an interesting history to the Italian national anthem Fratelli d’Italia, which was only officially designated as such in 2017.

The lyrics were written in 1847 by a 20 year old poet from Genoa, Goffredo Mameli, inspired by the French anthem La Marseillaise. A composer from Genoa, Michele Novaro, wrote the music.

The song was popular during the fight for unification of Italy in the 1860’s known as the Risorgimento (or Resurgence). But the monarchy established in 1861 under the Kingdom of Italy, the House of Savoy, chose instead a Royal March as the official anthem.

And so it went.

Mameli’s Hymn gained in popularity over the years, although at times has faced opposition by those who would prefer Verdi’s popular song Va, Pensiero from the opera Nabucco to be made the official anthem.

Giuseppe Verdi was an important patriotic figure during the Risorgimento. Va, Pensiero tells the story of exiled Hebrew slaves longing for their freedom and their homeland. The opera Nabucco and this song were surely written by Verdi as a proxy for the desire of Italians to be freed in the 1860’s from their Austrian occupiers, one that would pass by the Austrian censors.

In the end, Fratelli d’Italia prevailed.

Enough history, let’s get to the words. Or at least the opening verses heard at games.

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,
ché schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.

Coro:
Stringiamci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
l’Italia chiamò.
Stringiamci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
l’Italia chiamò, sì!

Brothers of Italy,
Italy has woken,
Bound Scipio’s helmet
Upon her head.
Where is Victory?
Let her bow down,
For God created her
Slave of Rome.

Chorus:
Let us join in a cohort,
We are ready to die.
We are ready to die,
Italy has called.
Let us join in a cohort,
We are ready to die.
We are ready to die,
Italy has called, yes!

What do you think? Quite a rallying cry, giusto?

I imagine you’re wondering who in the world is Scipio, and why are we singing about his helmet? You’ll find a link below to the official website of the President of Italy, which explains the meaning of the anthem (in English). Think ancient Rome…

An Important Clarification and Disclaimer

Unfortunately, right-wing politicians in Italy have attempted to hijack the patriotic symbol of the national anthem for their political ends. Hence, a right wing political group calls themselves Fratelli d’Italia, the same as the national anthem. Another populist political group, the Lega, has taken the idea of championing Verdi’s Va, Pensiero as part of their platform.

Let’s be very clear. In writing about the national anthem and my interest in all things Verdi, I am in no way supporting these groups, whose rhetoric and policies I find distasteful.

Ending on a High Note

As the President of Italy said to the Italian team at their celebratory gathering in Rome on Monday – the day after the victory – Italy won with two big handicaps.

One, they played in England at the home stadium of their opponents. And two, the opponents got an early goal, which would have demoralized most teams. But not this one.

I love this map of Europe, which was circulated widely before the final. It shows that except for one portion of one island, people were supporting Italy.

Such a fun thought.

Until next time, alla prossima volta,  A. S. Furbetta

For More Information

The complete lyrics of Fratelli d’Italia, with translation into English, can be found here. The official website of the President of Italy explains the history and meaning of the song.

The story and lyrics of Va, Pensiero by Giuseppe Verdi, with translation into English, can be found here.

The full program of celebration with the President of Italy at the Quirinale, the day following the Euro 2020 victory, is posted on Youtube. Even the Italian Post Office had some fun.

A huge thanks to our good friend Pietro for hosting the Euro 2020 finals party at his restaurant La Spiga. If you are in Seattle and looking for authentic and delicious Italian food, look no further than Osteria la Spiga. With Pietro managing the beautiful open space of the restaurant, and Sabrina in the kitchen working her magic, you’ll have a great experience. Look for Lorenzo and me, we’ll probably be there…

Postcard of Rome

The Euro 2020 Celebration

3 Comments

  1. Thanks for the background on the national anthem. Was a fun game to watch for sure!!

    Reply
  2. https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/sognoazzurro

    Worth watching, much better than any “leadership seminars” and other blabla of that kind. How to build a winning team without stress.

    Re. the anthem, it was written in the 19th century and back then that was the style, following la marseillaise. I like it, fwiw

    Reply
  3. I am not sure if Va Pensiero would be the proper national hymn for Italy, but I do think that “Ftratelli d;Italia” was a terrible choice. The music is atrocious, and the lyrics are ridiculous. Italy as a major military power? It never was, but, even if at some time some think it came close, that’s not what Italy should brag about. Of course, since it’s the “Northern League”, and its offsprings that pushed for the Verdi aria, that would be a toxic choice. Maybe we should dig into the pop music of post-WW2 for a proper hymn 🙂

    Reply

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