Italian National Anthem, national anthem of italy, Il Canto degli Italiani, Fratelli d'Italia, song of the italians, brothers of italy
Goffredo Maleli, Michele Novaro, sheet music, audio recording italy national anthem

The Italian national anthem is a lively and rousing hymn called 'Il Canto degli Italiani' (The Song of the Italians). It is also called 'Fratelli d'Italia' (Brothers of Italy), taken from the first line of the lyrics.

The words were written by a young Genoese student called Goffredo Maleli in 1847 and set to music a few months later by a fellow Genoese, Michele Novaro. The hymn became very popular during the turbulent period of the Risorgimento, leading to Unification in 1861.

The Marcia Reale (The Royal March) composed for the Royal House of Savoia, became the official national anthem of Italy after unification and remained so until the formation of the Italian Republic in 1946. 'Il Canto degli Italiani' was then chosen as the national anthem of the new Republic.

It is interesting to note that in his composition, Inno delle Nazioni (Hymn of the Nations), composed for the London International Exhibition of 1862, Guiseppe Verdi reflected public opinion by choosing to include 'Il Canto degli Italiani', rather than the official Italian national anthem, alongside the British and French national anthems.

Italian lyrics 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! Noi fummo da secoli calpesti, derisi, perché non siam popolo, perché siam divisi. Raccolgaci un'unica bandiera, una speme: di fonderci insieme già l'ora suonò. CORO Uniamoci, amiamoci, 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? CORO Dall'Alpi a Sicilia dovunque è Legnano, ogn'uom di Ferruccio ha il core, ha la mano, i bimbi d'Italia si chiaman Balilla, il suon d'ogni squilla i Vespri suonò. CORO Son giunchi che piegano le spade vendute: già l'Aquila d'Austria le penne ha perdute. Il sangue d'Italia, il sangue Polacco, bevé, col cosacco, ma il cor le bruciò. CORO

English translation 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! We were for centuries downtrodden, derided, because we are not one people, because we are divided. Let one flag, one hope gather us all. The hour has struck for us to unite. CHORUS Let us unite, let us love one another, For union and love Reveal to the people The ways of the Lord. Let us swear to set free The land of our birth: United, for God, Who can overcome us? CHORUS From the Alps to Sicily, Legnano is everywhere; Every man has the heart and hand of Ferruccio The children of Italy Are all called Balilla; Every trumpet blast sounds the Vespers. CHORUS Mercenary swords, they're feeble reeds. The Austrian eagle Has already lost its plumes. The blood of Italy and the Polish blood It drank, along with the Cossack, But it burned its heart. CHORUS

Download sheet music 'Il Canto degli Italiani'