PROGETTO COMENIUS anno scolastico 2005/06 L’inno nazionale italiano “Fratelli d’Italia” Plesso Don Orione classi: II B-III A/B-IVB/C-VB/C

HISTORY OF THE HYMN One version of the anthem’s history was told by Carlo Albero Barrillo’ a patriot, a poet, a friend and biographer of Mameli. In Turin on a evening of September during a party given by Lorenzo Valerio, a nobleman writer and a benefactor in the realm of music and musicians, Ulisse Borzino, a painter, gave to Novaro some lines by Goffredo Mameli. The composer Novaro enthusiastically tried out a few notes on the piano and then went home to compose the rest. It was born ITALIAN BROTHERS MAMELI’S ANTHEM ITALIAN BROTHERS The anthem was composed by Michele Novaro, from Genova.The song of Italian people who fighted the war against the Austrians. On the 12th October of 1946 the song known as Mameli’ anthem become the official hymn when Italy was proclaimed a Republic. The immediacy of its verses and its compelling melody made it a favourite song for unification, not only during the Risorgimento but also for the decades to come. It is no accident that Giuseppe Verdi, in his 1862 “National Anthems” chose the song of the Italians to symbolise our homeland. On 12th October 1946 Mameli’s Anthem become the national anthem of the Italian republic.

GOFFREDO MAMELI Goffredo Mameli was born in Genoa in 1827 and died in Rome in He studied law and philosophy at university of Genoa,and he was a notable figure in the italian Risorgimento. Mameli wrote the anthem “ Brothers of Italy” and took the anthem to the musician Michele Novaro who composed the music. Mameli was deeply involved in nationalistic movements and during 1848 he become Mazzini’s friend. Then he reached Garibaldi in Rome and then helped Garibaldi to defend the Roman Republic. During the combat, in June 1849 Mameli was accidentally injured in left leg, an infection caught him and after a time the leg had to be amputated, Mameli could resist only a few after days the surgery and died on July MICHELE NOVARO Michele Novaro was born on the 23th October in 1818 in Genoa, where he studied composition and singing. THE LITERARY VIEW At the beginning of the 19th century the italian romantic poets pointed out the patriotic function of the literature about the unity of Italy. The words of the hymn were meant to call to mind past battles foe freedom waged by lombard towns together with the Florentine republic and the Genovese against Austrians. The focus of all these inspirations to freedom was Rome and hope for Italy become a unified nation. The verses outstanding characteristic is the spirit of 1848, that is of a revolution made by intellectuals nurtured on the past rather than present.

MAMELI’S NATIONAL ANTHEM The text is structured in lines of six syllables with a repeated rhyme. As you can see from the following analysis, the text expresses a deep sense. With the expression “Italian Brothers”, Mameli hopes that the Italians could become brothers of a same Country. He underlines that Italy was not united but, on the contrary, divided into seven States (1848). Mameli’ s culture was classic and inspired by a Roman spirit. Italy, before the war against Austria, “assumes on the head” the helmet of the heroic Roman general Scipio the African, victorious against Hannibal in the famous battle of Zama. With “Let her bow down”, the author thinks to the ancient use of cutting hair to slave women. Victory “let herbow down” so that Rome could win. “Let’s gather in the cohort” means that the Country calls her men. The cohorts were troops of the Roman Army. Saying “We are ready to die” the author incites to the war for patriotic aims, even at the cost of life.

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