Lyr Add: Bella Ciao (Italian folk song)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bella Ciao (Italian folk song)
From: GUEST,Marymac90
Date: 28 Jul 08 - 11:21 AM

The crowd of non-violent activists that I hung with in the
70's and 80's used to sing this tune in English as a "zipper"
song--add your own verse that fits the format.

We are women, and we are marching
Bella ciaou, bella ciaou, bella ciaou ciaou ciaou
We are marching for liberation
We want a revolution now!

We are women, and we are working
Bella ciaou, bella ciaou, bella ciaou ciaou ciaou
We are working for liberation
We want a revolution now!

We are mothers, and we are caring,
Bella ciaou, bella ciaou, bella ciaou ciaou ciaou
We are caring for liberation
We want a revolution now!

For marching and working, you can substitute singing, crying,
or any other verb that conveys something you are doing to
help bring about a (non-violent) revolution. For women, you
can substitute daughters, families, workers, children,
whatever!

Peace,

Marymac

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bella Ciao (Italian folk song)
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 03:57 PM

I am looking for the lyrics to another alpine song   I remember
Passan le penne neri
son giorni di gran festa
e voi regazze perdete la testa
son?????????

son bianche e celestini e
e voi bambini butatele giu

o lioli o la
o lioli o la

passan le penne neri che festa si fa

a href="mailto:[e-mail]">[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bella Ciao (Italian folk song)
From: Monique
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 06:23 PM

If some Italian wants to write down the lyrics to Passan le penne nere...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bella Ciao (Italian folk song)
From: Uke
Date: 10 Mar 12 - 06:40 PM

While looking for the tune for "E le stellette" (a.k.a. "Ed il capello"), I came across this webpage which has an image of the sheet music:

http://www.mobrici.it/CANZ_POP/canzmontagn1.htm


Thought it might be of help to others, too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bella Ciao (Italian folk song)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 09:19 AM

Italian priest leads singing of Bella Ciao

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bella Ciao (Italian folk song)
From: leeneia
Date: 02 Jan 19 - 10:44 PM

Thanks, Geoff.

I am finding the site which Uke linked in 2012 to be a good source of tunes for my accordion playing. I've written out two of them so far.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bella Ciao (Italian folk song)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 18 Feb 19 - 01:01 AM

There's a klezmer tune called Koilen ("Coal"), dating back to at least 1919, sounding amazingly close to Bella Ciao. How and when the tune got from klezmer to Northern Italy, or from Northern Italy to klezmer, is a mustery to me.

Here's a recording, with links to discussions of the two pieces. The recording is an instrumental, but there are also Yiddish lyrics going back to (at least) 1919, at https://www.loc.gov/resource/ihas.200182349.0/?sp=1

Probably worth reading the discussion here: http://riowang.blogspot.com/2008/12/bella-ciao.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bella Ciao (Italian folk song)
From: Monique
Date: 18 Feb 19 - 02:17 AM

The Italian ethnomusicologist Roberto Leydi wrote that the tune comes from the traditional children's song La mia nonna l'è vecchiarella from Northern Italy. You can put this Italian article into an online translator to read about it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bella Ciao (Italian folk song)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 18 Feb 19 - 06:58 AM

Thanks for the link, Monique. I was aware of La me nòna l'è vecchierèlla. Still not answered: how we got such similar music from Italian and from Yiddish sources.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bella Ciao (Italian folk song)
From: Monique
Date: 18 Feb 19 - 08:27 AM

Only the 2 ½ first bars sound alike, so can we consider that the tunes are really similar and can we deduce from the first notes that one tune derives from the other? Tough question!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bella Ciao (Italian folk song)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 May 20 - 06:10 PM

Somebody just sent me a Facebook message with all sorts of stuff to explore:
Joe, thnx for your interest in Bella Ciao ... Here's a bit of the backstory & how I try to bring it into voice ...

RAI3, 25 Aprile 2016
http://www.radio3.rai.it/dl/portaleRadio/media/ContentItem-87a17f81-0873-4ffb-9c4b-52faad935b70.html

I think he wants me to scroll down to this podcast: https://www.raiplayradio.it/playlist/2020/04/Belle-storie-Donne-e-uomini-nella-resistenza-03795403-e189-449d-bd31-5b4b397e37c5.html

ADD Editore, 25 Aprile 2016, Carlo Pestelli
http://www.left.it/2016/04/25/bella-ciao-piccola-storia-della-canzone-di-tutti/

Bella Ciao di Wiki.it
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bella_ciao

Mishka Ziganoff, 1889 - 1967
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mishka_Ziganoff

Vasco Scansani, Gualtieri, RE, 18 Aprile 2015
http://gazzettadireggio.gelocal.it/reggio/cronaca/2015/04/18/news/bella-ciao-1.11259485

Vasco Scansani e Giovanna Daffini, 1914 - 1969
http://video.repubblica.it/mondo/giovanna-marini-bella-ciao-il-canto-mondiale-delle-resistenze/189766/188712?ref=HREC1-1 Aa

Modena City Ramblers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modena_City_Ramblers

https://left.it/2016/04/25/bella-ciao-piccola-storia-della-canzone-di-tutti/

Subject: ADD Version: Bella Ciao (Italian folk song)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 May 20 - 06:34 PM

Oooh, there's more:

… traditional melody, possibly after Mishka Ziganoff; Italian lyrics, as yet still anonymous; English performance lyrics below, Barbara Dane & Larry Vellani.

From Mishka Ziganoff (1889 – 1967) to Giovanna Daffini (1914 – 1969) to the Modena City Ramblers (1991 to today)-- more about the origins of the melody …

Italian lyrics, as performed by Mebanesville (www.Mebanesville.com)
BELLA CIAO

‘Sta mattina mi sono alzato
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
Una mattina mi son svegliato
Io ho trovato l'invasor

O partigiano porta mi via
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
O partigiano porta mi via
Che mi sento di morir

E se io muoio da partigiano
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
E se io muoio da partigiano
Tu mi devi seppellir

Mi seppellire lassù la montagna
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
Mi seppellire lassù la montagna
Sotto l'ombra di un bel fiore

Tutti quelli che passeranno
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
E le genti che passeranno
Mi diranno: "Che bel fior"

È questo il fiore del partigiano
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
È questo il fiore del partigiano
Morto per la libertà

Adaptation for English-language performance
… Barbara Dane (b. 1927) & L. D. Vellani (b. 1951)

One morning early I heard the rifles
Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao, Ciao, Ciao
One morning early I heard the rifles
I knew the enemy was near

O partigiano, oh freedom fighter … Bella Ciao 3v …
O partigiano, oh freedom fighter we must resist or we will die

And leave my body upon the mountain … Bella Ciao 3v …
And leave my body upon the mountain, and when the people pass they’ll say

The brightest flower of all the mountains … Bella Ciao 3v …
Is the one who died to make us free

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bella Ciao (Italian folk song)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 05 May 20 - 04:00 AM

This thoroughly debunks the idea that Ziganoff was the composer. Some fascinating stories about where it really came from.

http://riowang.blogspot.com/2008/12/bella-ciao.html