Bella Ciao: The misappropriation of an old Italian folk song used as a song of liberation.

 

Economics Without The B.S.**: 

[**  Double entendre intended.]

National Public Radio/NPR's 'Sunday Morning Weekend Edition' had a piece today on the use of the old Italian folk song that is often associated with protest and liberaion.

How the Italian anthem 'Bella Ciao' is connected to Charlie Kirk's killing

BELLA CIAO

by

Victor Volpe

Popular Italian poetry, that is poetry of the people, has always made its way into the musica popolare, that is folk music.  Bella Ciao is an excellent example of this.  It comes from a genre of poetry called fior di tomba, or grave flower.

Fior di tomba poetry usually depicts unrequited love, alla Romeo and Juliet; and, the flower on the grave comes to symbolize the love lost.  Sometimes different flowers are used to portray the type of relationship; e.g., the sweet scent and pretty bloom of a rose plant is contrasted with the thorns.  This duality is a common analogy used to represent conflicts inherent in life itself, as depicted in another folk song, Barbara Allen, also having many versions.

Fior di tomba poetry was popular all over Italy; but, the Veneto region has long been a very rich source for many of these poems.  The poems, with their analogy, are also depicted in the folk song.  Bella Ciao has evolved from this rich heritage.

Bella Ciao comes from the Po River delta in the Veneto region; but, it is a protest song.   How did this poem with a fior di tomba theme get transformed into protest?  During the Risorgimento (the Italian  independence movement of the 1800's) the theme transforms from a flower representing a  personal love lost to the fower representing a greater cause, e.g., land reform, protest working conditions,  the struggle of the people, etc.  The popularity of the catchy verse and the ease of changing the words to fit the cause to be protested have given the tune a life into this century.  With many things to protest in Italy during the early part of this century, many versions of the tune sprung up.

It was during World War II that one version of Bella Ciao shifted the theme from political protest to a fight for liberty.  The version came out of the resistance of the Italian under-ground, which was over 100,000 strong, and so is often called the partigiano version.   Since many in the resistance were members of the Italian Communist Political Party, the song is identified by some as being a communist song.  Since folk music serves very handedly to portray popular protest, the Communists used folk music for their own political ambitions during the post-war years and especially during the 1960's and 1970's.

We Americans can see the strength of the partigiano version as portraying the fight for freedom and we remove the political baggage which has accompanied the song.  The popularity of Bella Ciao in Italy has found its way in many other countries for the same reasons.  There are American variants of the song (in English) which are used to express protest  -  for Women's rights, justice for workers, etc.

The song was recorded at the Spoleto Festival in 1964, during a presentation of folk music produced by Roberto Leydi and Filippo Crivelli.  The record album has been available since under several foreign labels and for the past ten years has been available under Harmonia Mundi

(CD number HMA 195734, Bella

Ciao: Chansons du people en Italie).  It's a wonderful recording with many old tunes.

I hope you enjoy the tune.  If you are in a performing group, try the tune out.  It goes over very well for sing-a-long, for all ages, especially for young children.  The "O Bella Ciao" chant in each verse (accompanied with hand clapping on the ciao) is quite easy to pick up regardless of your ability in Italian or musical talents.

BELLA CIAO [GOODBYE BEAUTIFUL]

(FIOR DI TOMBA) 

[GRAVE FLOWER]

Una mattina, mi son svegliato.

0 bella ciao, bella ciao,

bella ciao, ciao, ciao.

Una mattina, mi son svegliato,

E ho trovato 1'invasor.

0 partigiano, portami via.

0 bella ciao, bella ciao,

bella ciao, ciao, ciao.

0 partigiano, portami via.

Che mi sento di morir.

E se muoio da partigiano.

0 bella ciao, bella ciao,

bella ciao, ciao, ciao.

E se muoio da partigiano.

Tu mi devi seppellir.

Mi seppellirai lassu in montagna.

0 bella ciao, bella ciao,

bella ciao, ciao, ciao.

Mi seppellirai lassu in montagna.

Sotto 1'ombra di un bel fior.

E Ie genti che passeranno,

0 bella ciao, bella ciao,

bella ciao, ciao, ciao.

E Ie genti che passeranno,

Mi diranno che bel fior.

E questo e il fiore del partigiano,

0 bella ciao, bella ciao,

bella ciao, ciao, ciao.

E questo e il fiore del partigiano,

Morto per la liberta.

One morning I woke up.

A beautiful awakening, a beautiful awakening,

a beautiful awakening, hello, hello, hello.

One morning I woke up,

And I found the invader,

Oh partisan, take me away.

A beautiful awakening, etc.

Oh partisan, take me away.

I feel that I am dying.

And if I die as a partisan.

Then goodbye beautiful, etc.

And if I die as a partisan.

You must bury me.

Bury me high, up on the mountain.

Goodbye beautiful, etc.

Bury me high, up on the mountain.

Beneath the shade of a pretty flower.

And the people that pass by,

Goodbye beautiful, etc.

And the people that pass by,

They will say to me, "What a lovely flower;"

"And, this is the flower of the partisan,"

A beautiful awakening, etc.

"And, this is the flower of the partisan,"

"That gave their life for liberty.

 

Bella Ciao - Chansons du Peuple en Italie 

(Italian folk songs). "Padano di Piadena"

Another example of a fior di tomba, or grave flower, folk tune; 'Barbara Allen', which can be traced back to the British Isles, maybe Scotland, in the 17th century.

'Barbara Allen', sung by Joan Baez

And a more modern fior di tomba, or grave flower, folk tune, from the 1970s, written by Jim Ringer and Barbara Keith, 'The Bramble And The Rose'.

'The Bramble And The Rose' by Jim Ringer and Mary McCaslin

On this day, the 4th of July

A 4th of July Tale of American Citizenship

Mrs. Gianelli, who has been in America for 40 years and has raised a very big family, has been constantly urged by her children to apply for American citizenship. Finally, in her 60s, she applies and is ready to take the test. She appears in court. The judge sits high up in the bench overlooking the proceedings. The clerk of the court stands to the side and is ready to administer the questions to Mrs. Gianelli.

Question Number 1: "Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and was the 3rd President of the United States?" Mrs. Gianelli speaks right up, "Thata woulda be Mista Tomas Jeffersoon."

2nd Question: "Who was the President during our great Civil War and kept the nation together?" Mrs. Gianelli responds, "President Abee Lincoon."

The clerk looking sternly at her asks Mrs. Gianelli, "And who was the first President and is called The Father of His Country?" Mrs. Gianelli starts, "Georga Washinton...Your honor, my English notta very good butta I wanna tell you datta I want very much to be American citizen anda I love thisa.. " The judge interupts her, leans over the bench and says, "Dont'ta youa a worry. Youa a doin justa fine!"

For the holidays: Recipe for Cuccidati -- Italian (Sicilian) Fig Newtons

[Pronounced KOO-chee-daa-tee]

DOUGH

1/3 cup  sugar
½ cup  butter, softened
1 large egg
¼ tsp each  vanilla extract and anise extract
1/3 cup  cream
½ tsp  salt
1-1/2 tsp  baking powder
2-1/4 cups  flour, plus additional flour for board

FILLING

1 cup  dried figs (remove stems)
1/3 cup each  dried apricots, dates
1/3 cup each  walnuts, pecans, and toasted almonds
¼ cup  honey
½ cup  lemon juice (or orange juice)
½ tsp each  vanilla extract and anise extract
1 tsp  ground cinnamon
½ tbsp  amaretto liqueur, or brandy, or cognac [OPTIONAL]
1 small orange, peeled, cut into wedges [OPTIONAL]
Grated rind of lemon, enough for zest

ICING  [Optional]

½ cup  powdered sugar
¼ cup  lemon juice

1.  Make pastry dough.

In a large bowl place flour, sugar, butter cut up in small cubes, and the other dry ingredients.  Add the cream and a beaten egg, along with vanilla extract and anise extract.  Blend to a soft  dough.  Small butter lumps are OK.

Divide dough into three balls.  Roll each portion into an approximate 5- by 15-inch rectangle – about medium thickness, not too thick or thin.

Place each rolled section on wax paper or parchment paper and place each layer on top of the other and lay them on a pan/baking dish/or platter.  Refrigerate for approximately 8 hours or overnight.

2.  Make filling.

Put the figs, apricots, dates , and orange wedges in a mixer/blender and mix them up.  Add the nuts to the blender and continue mixing, adding the juice, extracts, honey, and liqueur.  Work up to a good, smooth texture.  Add the grated rind of a lemon as the final step.

Place in a bowl and refrigerate for approximately 8 hours or overnight.

3.  Spread.

Remove from refrigerator.  Divide the filling into thirds.  Leaving the dough on the parchment paper lay flat on table and take one portion of the filling and spread it down the middle of the dough lengthwise.  Using the parchment paper, fold the dough over half covering the spread.  Now fold the other half of the dough using the parchment paper to cover the spread.  Pinch the dough to seal the entire length.  Turn the packet over so the seal is down and remove from the parchment paper and place on a baking sheet.

Do the same with the other two portions of the filling.  Place them on the same baking sheet leaving a little room between each length.

4.  Bake.

Place in pre-heated oven, 350OF for approximately 15 to 25 minutes, until slightly browned.  Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.

5.  Icing.

Icing is optional.  Stir powdered sugar with lemon juice in a bowl to a thick consistency until smooth.  Spread on the cookies when they are cooled to the thickness you desire.  You can add muti-colored sprinkles if you want.

Recipe for Italian Meat Balls

Recipe for Italian Meat Balls

Make meat balls like nobody else.

Ingredients

3-lbs of meat (I use one pound each of ground extra lean beef, veal, and pork)

            NOTE:  You can use only two of these if you want; but, you have to include the ground beef – that’s what gives it flavor.  Veal has no flavor – it tastes like whatever it is mixed with.  And to taste the pork, you will have to have pretty sharp taste buds.  Believe me, make sure you use beef with something else.

Onion???  NO ONIONS!!!  We are not making hamburgers.  We are making Italian meat balls.

Seasoning – basil and oregano (liberal amounts, to your taste)  Some Italians use nutmeg – depends on what region of Italy they came from – I do not.

Salt and pepper???  Same amount as onions.  We are not making hamburgers.  We are making Italian meat balls.

garlic – chopped.  I use three good sized cloves of garlic for each pound of meat.  [I like GARLIC!]  So that would be nine cloves of garlic for this recipe.

celery – [Very important for texture and taste.  Not everybody does this.]  Chop in small pieces two to four stalks of celery.

parsley (chopped) – if you want (but don’t skip the celery)
Basil and oregano to your taste.

A binder – I do not use eggs (but you can).  I wet the bread crumbs – see below.

[for binder]  bread crumbs – liberal amount  Soak in heavy cream.  If that is too rich for you try milk or water.  It is important to wet the bread crumbs, for a light texture.  After soaking, drain by squeezing out the wetness.

[for binder] imported cheese (grated) – use same amount as bread crumbs – even more if you want (needed for flavoring).  I use Locatelli romano (very expensive but worth it).  Locatelli is a brand name.  Its romano is pecorino, a sheep’s cheese.  It has a strong flavor – salty to some.  It is expensive.  My grandmother passed instructions down to everybody in the family, and anybody who married into the family – you better use Locatelli romano.  My grandparents were poor immigrants.  My grandmother used Locatelli romano right through the Great Depression. (I don’t think it ever ended in her small village.)  I’ve been out of work for four years now and I still use Locatelli romano.  You think I’mma gonna messa with Nonna? You, on the other hand, can substitute reggiano parmigiano – the best and very, very expensive.

Extra virgin olive oil for frying (I am not going to say Italian because not all Italian olive oils have olives that come from Italy.  Greek extra virgin olive oil is great.  And there are very good California products also.)  [Nonna saida noting bout olive oil excepta usea extra virgin.]

Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix very well.

Makes approximately 15 meat balls.

Fry in a cast iron skillet in the olive oil.  Brown and turn on all sides.  Drain on paper towels.

Add to tomato sauce.  (I’m not giving recipe for tomato sauce.  Mine is my own and not that Italian.  You can do at least as well as me.)

Served with spaghetti.  To borrow a saying from the Chinese:  Long noodles, Long life.

What?  You were expecting a picture of a Meat Ball?