View source for Il Canto degli Italiani

{{short description|National anthem of Italy}}
{{redirect|Fratelli d'Italia|the political party|Brothers of Italy|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox anthem
| title          = {{lang|it|italic=no|Il Canto degli Italiani}}
| english_title  = "The Song of the Italians"
| alt_title      = {{lang|it|italic=no|Inno di Mameli}}
| en_alt_title   = "Mameli's Hymn"
| alt_title_2    = {{lang|it|italic=no|Fratelli d'Italia}}
| en_alt_title_2 = "Brothers of Italy"
| image          = Image-Inno di Mameli 2.jpg{{!}}border
| image_size     = 
| caption        = [[Holograph]]ic copy of 1847 of "{{lang|it|Il Canto degli Italiani|italic=no}}"
| prefix         = National
| country        = Italy
| author         = [[Goffredo Mameli]]
| lyrics_date    = 1847
| composer       = [[Michele Novaro]]
| music_date     = 1847
| adopted        = 12 October 1946 (''de facto'')<br/>1950 (by [[Trust Territory of Somaliland]])<br/>4 December 2017 (''[[de jure]]'')
| until          = 1960 (by Trust Territory of Somaliland)
| predecessor    = "[[Marcia Reale]]" (1861–1946)
| sound          = Inno di Mameli instrumental.ogg
| sound_title    = [[Italian Navy|Italian Navy Band]] instrumental version (one verse and chorus; 2006)
}}

"'''{{lang|it|italic=no|Il Canto degli Italiani}}'''" ({{IPA|it|il ˈkanto deʎʎ(i) itaˈljaːni|lang}};{{#tag:ref|{{DOP|id=1041932|lemma=degli}}}} {{translation|"The Song of the Italians"}}) is a patriotic song written by [[Goffredo Mameli]] and set to music by [[Michele Novaro]] in 1847,<ref>{{cite web |title=Italy – Il Canto degli Italiani/Fratelli d'Italia |url=http://nationalanthems.me/italy-il-canto-degli-italiani/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519111307/http://www.nationalanthems.me/italy-il-canto-degli-italiani/ |archive-date=19 May 2018 |access-date=24 November 2011 |website=NationalAnthems.me}}</ref> currently used as the [[national anthem]] of Italy. It is best known among Italians as the "'''{{lang|it|italic=no|Inno di Mameli}}'''" ({{IPA|it|ˈinno di maˈmɛːli|lang}}; {{translation|"Mameli's Anthem"}}), after the author of the lyrics, or "'''{{lang|it|italic=no|Fratelli d'Italia}}'''" ({{IPA|it|fraˈtɛlli diˈtaːlja|lang}}; {{translation|"Brothers of Italy"}}), from its [[Incipit|opening line]]. The piece, in [[Bar (music)|{{music|time|4|4}}]] time signature and [[B-flat major]] key, has six [[strophe]]s, and a [[refrain]] sung after each. The sixth group of verses, almost never performed, recalls the first strophe's text.

The song was very popular during [[unification of Italy|Italian unification]] and the following decades. However, after the [[Proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy|1861 proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy]], the [[Republicanism|republican]] and [[Jacobin (politics)|Jacobin]] connotations of "Fratelli d'Italia" were difficult to reconcile with the new state's monarchic constitution. The kingdom chose instead "[[Marcia Reale]]" (Royal March), the [[House of Savoy]]'s official anthem, composed by order of King [[Charles Albert of Sardinia]] in 1831.

After the [[Second World War]], Italy [[1946 Italian institutional referendum|became a republic]]. On 12 October 1946, it chose "Il Canto degli Italiani" as a provisional national anthem. The song would retain this role as ''de facto'' anthem of the Italian Republic, and after several unsuccessful attempts, gained ''[[de jure]]'' status on 4 December 2017.

==History==

===Origins===
{{multiple image
| align             = left
| image1            = Induno Domenico Goffredo Mameli.jpg
| width1            = 170
| alt1              = Goffredo Mameli
| image2            = Michele novaro.jpg
| width2            = 152
| alt2              = Michele Novaro
| caption1          = [[Goffredo Mameli]] (1827–1849), lyricist
| caption2          = [[Michele Novaro]] (1818–1885), musical composer
}}
[[File:Prima strofa autografa G Mameli.JPG|thumb|[[Holograph]]ic draft of 1847 by Goffredo Mameli of the first strophe and the refrain of "Il Canto degli Italiani"]]

The text of "Il Canto degli Italiani" was written by the young [[Genoa|Genoese]] student [[Goffredo Mameli]], a fervent patriot inspired by the [[mass mobilization]]s that would lead to the [[revolutions of 1848]] and the [[First Italian War of Independence]] (1848–1849).<ref name="quirinale">{{cite web |title=L'Inno nazionale |trans-title=The National Hymn |url=http://www.quirinale.it/qrnw/statico/simboli/inno/inno.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519095549/https://www.quirinale.it/qrnw/statico/simboli/inno/inno.htm |archive-date=2016-05-19 |access-date=17 November 2013 |website=Presidenza Della Republica [Presidency of the Republic] |publisher=Government of Italy}}</ref> Sources differ on the precise date of the text's drafting: according to some scholars, Mameli wrote the hymn on 10 September 1847,{{sfn|Caddeo|1915|p=37}} while others date the composition's birth to two days before, 8 September.<ref>''Associazione Nazionale Volontari di Guerra "Canti della Patria"'' ["Patrimonial songs" of the National Association of Veteran Volunteers] in ''Il Decennale – X anniversario della Vittoria, Anno VII dell'era fascista'' [The Decennial: The 10th anniversary of victory, Year 7 of the [[fascist era]]], Vallecchi Editore, [[Firenze]], 1928, p.&nbsp;236.</ref> After discarding all extant music,{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=18}} on 10 November 1847{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=17}} Mameli sent the text to [[Turin]] and the Genoese composer [[Michele Novaro]], who lived at the time with the activist [[Lorenzo Valerio]].{{sfn|Caddeo|1915|p=37}}{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=18}}{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=126}}

The poem captured Novaro<ref name="Treccani">{{treccani|michele-novaro_(Dizionario-Biografico)|Novaro, Michele|Iovino, Roberto|78: Biographic Dictionary of Italians|2013}}</ref> and he decided to set it to music on 24 November 1847.{{sfn|Caddeo|1915|p=37}} Thirty years later, the patriot and poet [[Anton Giulio Barrili]] recalled Novaro's description of the event thus:<ref name="quirinale" /> 
{{Text and translation|<p>Mi posi al cembalo, coi versi di Goffredo sul leggio, e strimpellavo, assassinavo colle dita convulse quel povero strumento, sempre cogli occhi all'inno, mettendo giù frasi melodiche, l'un sull'altra, ma lungi le mille miglia dall'idea che potessero adattarsi a quelle parole. Mi alzai scontento di me; mi trattenni ancora un po' in casa Valerio, ma sempre con quei versi davanti agli occhi della mente. Vidi che non-c'era rimedio, presi congedo e corsi a casa. Là, senza neppure levarmi il cappello, mi buttai al pianoforte.</p>
<p>Mi tornò alla memoria il motivo strimpellato in casa Valerio: lo scrissi su d'un foglio di carta, il primo che mi venne alle mani: nella mia agitazione rovesciai la lucerna sul cembalo e, per conseguenza, anche sul povero foglio; fu questo l'originale dell'inno Fratelli d'Italia.</p>|<p>I placed myself at the [[harpsichord]], with Goffredo's verses on the lectern, and strummed away, murdering the poor instrument with my shaking hands. I kept my eyes on the hymn as I set down melodic phrases, one after the other, but felt a thousand miles distant from the idea I could adapt the words. I stood up disgruntled with myself; I stayed a little longer in the Valerio house, but always those verses hung in my mind's eye. I saw that there was no remedy, took leave, and ran home. There, without even taking off my hat, I threw myself at the piano.</p>
<p>The motif strummed in the Valerio house came back to me: I wrote it on a sheet of paper, the first that came to my hands: in my agitation I upset the lamp on the harpsichord and, consequently, also on the poor sheet; this was the origin of the Fratelli d'Italia</p>}}[[File:Fratelli d'Italia elmo di scipio 1915.pdf|thumb|Cover of a 1915 album of patriotic music: the [[Italia turrita|personification of Italy]], wearing [[Scipio Africanus|Scipio]]'s helmet and waving the [[flag of Italy|Italian flag]], leads the ''[[Bersaglieri]]'']]Mameli held [[Republicanism|Republican]] and [[Jacobin (politics)|Jacobin]] sympathies{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=50}}{{sfn|Ridolfi|2003|p=149}} and supported the [[French Revolution]] credo ''[[liberté, égalité, fraternité]]''.{{sfn|Bassi|2011|p=143}} The text of "Il Canto degli Italiani" drew inspiration from the French national anthem, "[[La Marseillaise]]".{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=119}} For example, "{{lang|it|italic=no|Stringiamci a coorte}}" recalls the "La Marseillaise" verse, "{{lang|fr|Formez vos bataillons}}" ("Form your battalions").{{sfn|Ridolfi|2003|p=149}}

In the original version of the hymn, the first line of the first verse read "Hurray Italy", but Mameli changed it to "Fratelli d'Italia" almost certainly at Novaro's suggestion.{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=121}} The latter, when he received the manuscript, also added a rebellious "Si!" ("Yes!") at the end of the final refrain.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|pp=20–21}}{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=127}}

Another verse in the first draft was dedicated to Italian women,<ref name="marconi2">{{cite web |title=Mameli, l'inno e il tricolore |url=http://www.radiomarconi.com/marconi/depliant/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501143425/http://www.radiomarconi.com/marconi/depliant/ |archive-date=1 May 2015 |access-date=24 November 2014 |language=it}}</ref> but eliminated by Mameli before the official debut. It read:<ref name="marconi2" />{{sfn|Stramacci|1991|p=57}} "Tessete o fanciulle / bandiere e coccarde / fan l'alme gagliarde / l'invito d'amor. ({{IPA|it|tesˈseːte o fanˈtʃulle], [banˈdjɛːr(e) e kkokˈkarde], [fan ˈlalme ɡaʎˈʎarde], [liɱˈviːto daˈmor}}. English: Weave maidens / [[Flag of Italy|flags]] and [[Cockade of Italy|cockades]]{{refn|group=N|This alludes to the [[flag of Italy]] and to the [[cockade of Italy]], both symbols of the battle for the [[unification of Italy]].}} / they make souls gallant / the invitation of love.)"

===Debut===
[[File:Inno museo di genova.jpg|thumb|The first printed copy of the hymn, by the Delle Piane printers of Genoa, on looseleaf, was distributed on 10 December 1847 to demonstrators in Oregina. Mameli then added in pen the fifth strophe of the hymn, censored by the Savoy government as too anti-Austrian.]]
[[File:Genova Oregina Santuario.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Santuario della Nostra Signora di Loreto'', before which the "Il Canto degli Italiani" made its public debut]]
On 10 December 1847,<ref name="marconi2" /> a demonstration before the {{lang|it|{{ill|Santuario della Nostra Signora di Loreto|it|Santuario di Nostra Signora di Loreto (Genova)}}}} in {{ill|Oregina|it}}, Genoa, was officially dedicated to the 101st anniversary of the Portoria quarter's popular rebellion during the [[War of the Austrian Succession]], which had expulsed the [[Austrians]] from the city. In fact, it was an excuse to protest against foreign occupations in Italy and induce [[Charles Albert of Sardinia]] to embrace the Italian cause of liberty and of unity.

On this occasion, the [[flag of Italy]] was shown and Filarmonica Sestrese, the municipal band of [[Sestri Ponente]], played Mameli's anthem for 30,000 patriots who had come to Genoa from all over Italy for the event.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=18}} This event is generally believed to be the song's first public performance, but there may have been a previous public rendition on 9 November 1847 in Genoa, of which the original documentation was lost.{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=120}}

That performance would have been by the Filarmonica [[Voltri|Voltrese]]{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=120}} founded by Goffredo's brother {{ill|Nicola Mameli|it}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pjmagazine.net/mameli-accadde-oggi-10-dicembre/|title=Accadde Oggi: 10 dicembre|access-date=30 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511132851/http://www.pjmagazine.net/mameli-accadde-oggi-10-dicembre/|archive-date=11 May 2016|language=it}}</ref> and used a first draft of "Il Canto degli Italiani" that differs from the final version (see above).{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=120}} As its author was infamously [[Giuseppe Mazzini|Mazzinian]], the piece was forbidden by the [[Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861)|Piedmontese police]] until March 1848: its execution was also forbidden by the Austrian police, which also pursued its singing interpretation&nbsp;— considered a [[political crime]]&nbsp;— until their empire's [[Dissolution of Austria-Hungary|dissolution]].{{sfn|Caddeo|1915|pp=37–38}} On 18 December 1847, the Pisan newspaper ''L'Italia'' wrote how the song evoked public spirits:{{sfn|Ridolfi|2002|p=235}} {{blockquote|... For many evenings numerous youths have come together in the ''Accademia filodrammatici'' to sing a hymn of Mameli, set to music by the maestro Novaro. Poetry ... is full of fire, music fully corresponds to it ... | author=|source=Newspaper ''L'Italia'', 18 December 1847}}

Two of Mameli's [[autograph]]ed manuscripts have survived to the 21st century: the first draft, with Mameli's hand annotations, at the {{ill|Mazzinian Institute|lt=Mazzinian Institute of Genoa|it|Museo del Risorgimento e istituto mazziniano}},{{sfn|Bassi|2011|p=50}} and the letter, from Mameli on 10 November 1847 to Novaro, at the [[Museum of the Risorgimento (Turin)|Museo del Risorgimento in Turin]].{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=17}}

Novaro's autographed manuscript to the publisher {{ill|Francesco Lucca|it}} is located in the Ricordi Historical Archive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2014/10/12/la-decisione-di-de-gasperi-fratelli-ditalia-e-inno-nazionaleRoma17.html|title=La decisione di De Gasperi "Fratelli d'Italia è inno nazionale"|date=12 October 2014 |language=it|access-date=30 November 2014}}</ref> The later Istituto Mazziniano sheet lacks the final strophe ("Son giunchi che piegano...") for fear of censorship. These leaflets were to be distributed at the 10 December demonstration in [[Genoa]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Inno di Mameli – Il canto degli Italiani: testo, analisi e storia |url=http://www.labandadeisei.it/costituzioneitaliana/innodimameli.htm |publisher=labandadeisei.it |access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> The hymn was also printed on leaflets in Genoa, by the printer [[Casamara]].

===The following decades===
[[File:Sei strofe.JPG|thumb|Edition of 1860, printed by Tito I Ricordi]]
"Il Canto degli Italiani" debuted with only a few months left to the [[revolutions of 1848]]. Shortly before the promulgation of the ''[[Statuto Albertino]]'', the constitution that [[Charles Albert of Sardinia]] conceded to the [[Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861)|Kingdom of Sardinia in Italy]] on 4 March 1848, political gatherings of more than ten people had become legal,{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=18}} and catchy songs like "Il Canto degli Italiani" could spread by [[word of mouth]].{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=18}} Patriots from the 10 December demonstration spread the hymn all over the [[Italian peninsula]].{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=18}} The hymn was very popular among the [[Italian people]] and the ranks of the Republican volunteers.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=15}} It was commonly sung in most parts of Italy during demonstrations, protests and revolts as a symbol of the [[Italian unification]].{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=42}}

The Savoyard authorities censored the fifth strophe<ref name=quirinale/> to preserve [[diplomatic relations]] with the [[Austrians]]; but after the declaration of war against the [[Austrian Empire]] and the beginning of the [[First Italian War of Independence]] (1848–1849),{{sfn|Ridolfi|2003|p=147}} the soldiers and the Savoy military bands performed it so frequently that King Charles Albert was forced to withdraw all censorship.<ref name=lastampa>{{cite web|url=http://www.lastampa.it/2009/08/17/italia/cronache/come-nacque-linno-di-mameli-HUyiPKRNqytB60uIEisFnL/pagina.html|title=Come nacque l'inno di Mameli?|date=17 August 2009|access-date=30 November 2014|language=it}}</ref> The rebels sang "Il Canto degli Italiani" during the [[Five Days of Milan]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiomarconi.com/marconi/divisi/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040923015642/http://www.radiomarconi.com/marconi/divisi/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=23 September 2004 |title=IL CANTO DEGLI ITALIANI: il significato |publisher=Radiomarconi.com |access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> and at Charles Albert of Piedmont-Sardinia's promulgation of the ''Statuto Albertino'' (also in 1848).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museotorino.it/view/s/b1f940d89239411db6495a43f124c8ef|title=Concessione e promulgazione dello Statuto Albertino|access-date=30 November 2014|language=it}}</ref> Volunteers for the brief [[Roman Republic (19th century)|Roman Republic]] (1849) sang it,{{sfn|Caddeo|1915|p=38}}<ref>{{cite web |date=14 February 2011 |title=L'inno della Repubblica Romana |trans-title=The Hymn of the Roman Republic |url=http://www.gruppolaico.it/2011/02/14/linno-della-repubblica-romana/ |access-date=30 November 2014 |website=Gruppo Laico di Ricerca: Associazione Culturale |language=it}}</ref> and [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]] hummed and whistled it during the defense of [[Rome]] and the flight to [[Venice]].{{sfn|Caddeo|1915|p=37}}

===From the unification of Italy to the First World War===
[[File:Inno mameli prima guerra mondiale.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|Propaganda poster from the 1910s with the "Il Canto degli Italiani" score]]
In the 1860, the corps of volunteers led by Giuseppe Garibaldi used to sing the hymn in the battles against the [[Bourbons]] in Sicily and [[Southern Italy]] during the [[Expedition of the Thousand]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Class 3 |date=2010–2011 |title=Il canto degli italiani |trans-title=The song of the Italians |url=http://progettocentocin.altervista.org/il-canto-degli-italiani.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104230449/http://progettocentocin.altervista.org/il-canto-degli-italiani.html |archive-date=4 November 2013 |access-date=17 November 2013 |website=Cento50 Anni di...: Dalla realizzione dell'Unitá d'Italia ad oggi [50 Years After...: From the realization of Italian unity to today] |publisher=Instituto Comprensivo "G. Ferrari" |location=Momo}}</ref> [[Giuseppe Verdi]], in his ''[[Inno delle nazioni]]'' ("Hymn of the nations"), composed for the [[International Exhibition (1862)|London International Exhibition of 1862]], chose "Il Canto degli Italiani" to represent Italy, putting it beside "[[God Save the Queen]]" and "[[La Marseillaise]]".

After the [[proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy]] (1861), the "[[Marcia Reale]]" ("Royal March"),{{sfn|Bassi|2011|p=46}} composed in 1831, was chosen as the [[national anthem]] of [[Italian unification|unified Italy]]. "Il Canto degli Italiani" had too [[Political radical|radical]] content, with its strong [[Republicanism|republican]] and [[Jacobin (politics)|Jacobin]] connotations,{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=50}}{{sfn|Ridolfi|2003|p=149}} and did not combine well with the [[Monarchism|monarchical]] conclusion to the [[unification of Italy]].{{sfn|Ridolfi|2003|p=147}} Mameli's republican&nbsp;— in fact [[Giuseppe Mazzini|Mazzinian]]&nbsp;— creed, was, however, more historical than political,{{sfn|Ridolfi|2003|p=149}} and [[socialist]] and anarchist circles also disliked "Il Canto degli Italiani" as too conservative.{{sfn|Ridolfi|2003|p=148}}

[[File:Camera-deputati 21Maggio 1915 inno mameli.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Front page of the ''[[Corriere della Sera]]'' of 21 May 1915: parliamentary deputies acclaimed the government's assumption of war powers with the Mameli-Novaro anthem.]]

The song was one of the most common songs during the [[Third Italian War of Independence]] (1866).{{sfn|Ridolfi|2003|p=147}} At the [[Capture of Rome]] on 20 September 1870, the last step in Italian unification, choirs sang it together with "[[:it:La bella Gigogin|La bella Gigogin]]" and the "Marcia Reale";{{sfn|Bassi|2011|p=46}}{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=52}} and "Il Canto degli Italiani" received [[bersaglieri]] fanfare.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.150anni-lanostrastoria.it/index.php/presa-di-roma |title=La breccia di Porta Pia |publisher=150anni-lanostrastoria.it |access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref>

After the end of the Italian unification, "Il Canto degli Italiani" was taught in schools, and remained very popular among Italians.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=55}} However, other musical pieces connected to the political and social situation of the time, such as the "{{ill|Inno dei lavoratori|it}}" ("Hymn of the Workers") or "[[Goodbye to Lugano]]",{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|pp=56–57}} addressed everyday problems. These partly obscured the popularity of reunification hymns.<ref name="raistoria">{{cite web |last=Tiriticc |first=Pierluigi |year=2014 |title=Inno di Mameli |trans-title=Mameli's hymn |url=http://www.raistoria.rai.it/articoli/inno-di-mameli/30037/default.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403193237/http://www.raistoria.rai.it/articoli-programma-puntate/inno-di-mameli/30037/default.aspx |archive-date=3 April 2019 |access-date=7 May 2015 |website=RAIStoria |publisher=RAI |language=it |location=Rome}}</ref>

"Fratelli d'Italia", thanks to references to patriotism and armed struggle,<ref name="raistoria" /> returned to success during the [[Italo-Turkish War]] (1911–1912), where it joined "A Tripoli";{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=58}} and in the trenches of the [[First World War]] (1915–1918).<ref name="raistoria" /> That time's [[Italian irredentism]] found a symbol in "Il Canto degli Italiani", although in the years following, in the patriotic ambit, musical pieces of greater military style such as "[[La Leggenda del Piave]]", the "{{ill|Canzone del Grappa|it}}" or "{{ill|La campana di San Giusto|it|La campana di San Giusto (brano musicale)}}"{{sfn|Ridolfi|2003|p=148}} would have been preferred over it. Shortly after Italy entered the First World War, on 25 July 1915, [[Arturo Toscanini]] performed "Il Canto degli Italiani" at an [[Interventionism (politics)|interventionist]] demonstration.{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=114}}{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|pp=59–60}}

===During fascism===
[[File:Fratelli d italia 1944 RSI.jpg|thumb|"Il Canto degli Italiani" remembered together with the [[unification of Italy]] on a propaganda poster of [[Benito Mussolini]]'s [[Italian Social Republic]]|338x338px]]
[[Fascist]] chants, such as "[[Giovinezza]]" (or "Inno Trionfale del Partito Nazionale Fascista") took on great importance, after the 1922 [[March on Rome]].{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=111}} Although not official anthems, they were widely disseminated, publicized, and taught in schools.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=63}} Non-fascist melodies, including "Il Canto degli Italiani," were discouraged.<ref name=raistoria/>

In 1932, the [[National Fascist Party]] secretary [[Achille Starace]] decided to prohibit musical pieces that did not sing to [[Benito Mussolini]] and, more generally, did not link to fascism.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=131}} "Subversive" songs, i.e. those of anarchist or socialist type, such as the anthem of the workers or "[[The Internationale]]", and non-sympathetic foreign nations' official anthems, such as "[[La Marseillaise]]", were banned.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=64}} Sympathetic regimes' anthems, such as the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] hymn "[[Horst-Wessel-Lied]]" and the [[Francoist Spain|Francoist]] song "[[Cara al Sol]]", were contrariwise encouraged.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=64}} After the 1929 [[Lateran Treaty]] with the [[Holy See]], [[anti-clerical]] passages were also banned.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=64}}

In the spirit of this directive, some songs were resized, such as "[[La Leggenda del Piave]]", sung almost exclusively during the [[National Unity and Armed Forces Day]] every 4 November.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=65}} The chants used during the [[Italian unification]] were however tolerated:{{sfn|Ridolfi|2003|p=148}}{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=64}} "Il Canto degli Italiani", which was forbidden in official ceremonies, received a certain condescension on particular occasions.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=64}}

During the [[Second World War]], regime musicians released fascist pieces via radio, but very few songs spontaneously arose among the population.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=68}} Songs like "[[A primavera viene il bello]]", "[[Battaglioni M (song)|Battaglioni M]]", "[[Vincere!]]" and "[[Camerata Richard]]" were common. The most famous spontaneous song was "{{ill|Sul ponte di Perati|it}}".{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|pp=68–69}}

After the [[Armistice of Cassibile|8 September 1943 armistice]], the Italian government provisionally adopted as a national anthem "La Leggenda del Piave", replacing the "Marcia Reale".{{sfn|Ridolfi|2003|p=148}}<ref>{{cite news |date=22 July 2008 |title=E il ministro lodò il campano Giovanni Gaeta |language=it |trans-title=And the minister praised the Campanian Giovanni Gaeta |page=9 |work=La Corriera della Sera |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2008/luglio/22/ministro_lodo_campano_Giovanni_Gaeta_co_8_080722021.shtml |access-date=1 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823232916/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2008/luglio/22/ministro_lodo_campano_Giovanni_Gaeta_co_8_080722021.shtml |archive-date=23 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=8 December 2006 |title=La leggenda del Piave inno d'Italia dal 1943 al 1946 |language=it |trans-title="The Legend of Piave," Italian anthem 1943–1946 |work=Il Piave |url=http://www.ilpiave.it/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3156 |access-date=30 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109003812/http://www.ilpiave.it/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3156 |archive-date=9 November 2014}}</ref> Cooperation with the fascist dictatorship was now egg on the monarchy's face;{{sfn|Ridolfi|2003|p=148}} a song that recalled the [[Bollettino della Vittoria|Italian victory]] in [[World War I]] could infuse courage and hope to the [[Royal Italian Army]] troops who now fought against Mussolini's [[Italian Social Republic|Social Republic]] and [[Nazi Germany]].{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=70}}

"Fratelli d'Italia" resounded in [[Southern Italy]] (freed by the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]]) and in partisan-controlled areas to the north.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=69}} "Il Canto degli Italiani", in particular, had a good success in [[anti-fascist]] circles,{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=65}} where it joined partisan songs "[[Fischia il vento]]" and "[[Bella ciao]]".{{sfn|Ridolfi|2003|p=148}}{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=69}} Some scholars believe that the success of the piece in anti-fascist circles then was decisive for its choice as provisional anthem of the Italian Republic.{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=114}}

Often, "Il Canto degli Italiani" is wrongly referred to as the [[national anthem]] of the [[Italian Social Republic]]. However, Mussolini's Republic had no official anthem, playing "Il Canto degli Italiani" and "Giovinezza"<ref name="CantiRev">[http://www.archiviostorico.info/Rubriche/Librieriviste/recensioni4/IcantidiSalo.htm Review] of ''I canti di Salò'' (De Marzi) (in Italian). Accessed 17 November 2014.</ref> equally often at the ceremonies. "Il Canto degli Italiani" retained value to the fascists only for propaganda.<ref>{{cite web |year=2009 |editor-last=Misuraca |editor-first=Fara |editor2-last=Grasso |editor2-first=Alfonso |title=Fratelli d'Italia |trans-title=Brothers of Italy |url=http://www.ilportaledelsud.org/inno_mameli.htm#_ftn16 |access-date=29 March 2015 |website=Brigantino – il Portale del Sud [Brigantino: Gateway to the South] |publisher=Centro Culturale e di Studi Storici "Brigantino – il Portale del Sud" |language=it |location=Naples}}</ref>

Thus, curiously, Mameli's hymn was sung by both [[Italian partisans|partisans]] and fascists.<ref name="CantiRev" />

===From provisional to official anthem===
[[File:Cipriano Facchinetti.jpg|thumb|Cipriano Facchinetti]]
In 1945, at the end of the war, [[Arturo Toscanini]] directed a performance of [[Giuseppe Verdi]]'s 1862 ''[[Inno delle nazioni]]'' in London, including "Il Canto degli Italiani".<ref name=quirinale/>{{sfn|Bassi|2011|p=146}} However, even after the [[1946 Italian institutional referendum|birth of the Italian Republic]], "[[La Leggenda del Piave]]" remained the temporary national anthem.{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=112}}

For the new anthem, a debate arose. Possible options included "[[Va, pensiero]]" from Verdi's ''[[Nabucco]]''; a completely new piece; "Il Canto degli Italiani"; the "Inno di Garibaldi"; and confirmation of "La Leggenda del Piave".{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=112}}{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=72}} The government then approved [[Italian Republican Party|Republican]] War Minister [[Cipriano Facchinetti]]'s proposal to adopt "Il Canto degli Italiani" as provisional anthem.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=72}}

"La Leggenda del Piave" thus served as national anthem until the [[Council of Ministers (Italy)|Council of Ministers]] meeting on 12 October 1946, when Facchinetti officially announced the provisional anthem for the 4 November [[National Unity and Armed Forces Day]] celebrations.{{sfn|Bassi|2011|p=47}}{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=110}} The press release stated:<ref name="governo">{{cite web|url=https://presidenza.governo.it/ufficio_cerimoniale/cerimoniale/inno.html|title=Ufficio del Cerimoniale di Stato|access-date=13 January 2024|language=it}}</ref>

{{blockquote|... On the proposal of the Minister of War it was established that the oath of the Armed Forces to the Republic and to its Chief would be carried out on November 4th p.v. and that, temporarily, the anthem of Mameli is adopted as the national anthem ...|author=Cipriano Facchinetti}}

Facchinetti also declared that a draft decree would be proposed to confirm "Il Canto degli Italiani" as the provisional national anthem of the newly formed Republic, but did not follow up on this promise.{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=110}}<ref name="marconi">{{cite web |year=2012 |title=L'inno di Mameli: Un po' di storia |trans-title=Mameli's Hymn: A little history |url=http://www.radiomarconi.com/Marconi/mameli.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404142539/http://www.radiomarconi.com/marconi/mameli.html |archive-date=4 April 2019 |access-date=9 November 2014 |website=Radio Marconi |url-status=usurped |language=it}}</ref> Instead, he proposed to formalize "Il Canto degli Italiani" in the [[Constitution of Italy]], then being drafted.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=72}}

The Constitution, finished in 1948, determined the [[flag of Italy|national flag]]<!-- article 12 -->, but did not establish a national anthem or emblem; [[National symbols of Italy|the latter]] was adopted by legislative decree on 5 May.<ref name="emblema">{{cite web |title=I simboli della Repubblica – L'emblema |trans-title=The symbols of the republic: the emblem |url=http://www.quirinale.it/qrnw/statico/simboli/emblema/emblema.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504050926/https://www.quirinale.it/qrnw/statico/simboli/emblema/emblema.htm |archive-date=4 May 2016 |access-date=2 December 2014 |website=Presidenza della Repubblica |publisher=Government of Italy |language=it}}</ref> A draft constitutional law prepared immediately afterwards sought to insert, after discussion of the national flag, the sentence "The Anthem of the Republic is the 'Il Canto degli Italiani'". This law, too, stalled.{{sfn|Ridolfi|2002|p=34}}

"Il Canto degli Italiani" nonetheless had great success among [[Italian diaspora|Italian emigrants]]:{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=125}} "Fratelli d'Italia" [[Sheet music|scores]] are sold in [[Little Italy|Little Italies]] across the [[Anglosphere]], and "Il Canto degli Italiani" is often played on more or less official occasions in [[North America|North]] and South America.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=125}} In particular, it was the "soundtrack" of post-WWII fundraisers in the Americas for the Italian population left devastated by the conflict.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=126}}

President of the Republic [[Carlo Azeglio Ciampi]], began, from 1999 to 2006, to revive "Il Canto degli Italiani" as a [[National symbols of Italy|national symbol of Italy]].{{sfn|Ridolfi|2002|p=153}}{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=12}} Ciampi declared that:{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=12}}  {{blockquote|... It is a hymn that, when you listen to it, makes you vibrate inside; it is a song of freedom of a people that, united, rises again after centuries of divisions, of humiliations ...|author=Carlo Azeglio Ciampi}}

In August 2016, a bill was submitted to the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the [[Chamber of Deputies (Italy)|Chamber of Deputies]] to make "Il Canto degli Italiani" Italy's national anthem,<ref>{{Cite news |last=<!--No byline--> |date=3 August 2016 |title=L'Inno di Mameli è ancora provvisorio. Proposta di legge per renderlo ufficiale |language=it |trans-title=Mameli's anthem is provisional still. A bill proposed to render it official |work=RAI |department=Politica |location=Rome |url=https://www.rainews.it/archivio-rainews/articoli/Inno-di-Mameli-ancora-provvisorio-Proposta-di-legge-per-renderlo-ufficiale-eebb0911-6737-49dc-a97f-fbc8ae39e825.html?refresh_ce |access-date=10 December 2023}}</ref> and passed out of committee in July 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |last=<!--Staff byline--> |date=24 July 2017 |title=Saranno ufficiali tutte e sei le strofe dell'Inno di Mameli e non solo le prime due |language=it |trans-title=All six strophes of Mameli's hymn will be official and not just the first two |work=Cronaca |publisher=ANSA.it |url=http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2017/07/23/mameliprimo-si-a-inno-ufficiale-no-dal-cattolico-gigli-_5fb1cde0-f628-4c27-8474-93c651e1c5c2.html |access-date=10 December 2023}}</ref> On 15 December 2017, on ''[[Gazzetta Ufficiale]]'' law nº 181 of 4 December 2017, was published after passing both houses of Parliament, and the law came into force on 30 December 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaDettaglioAtto/originario?atto.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2017-12-15&atto.codiceRedazionale=17G00195&elenco30giorni=false|title=LEGGE 4 dicembre 2017, n. 181 – ''Gazzetta Ufficiale''|date=15 December 2017|language=it}}</ref>

==Lyrics==
{{multiple image
| width1            = 257
| width2            = 246
| image1            = Alps 2007-03-13 10.10UTC 1px-250m.jpg
| caption1          = The [[Alps]]
| image2            = Satellite image Sicily.jpg
| caption2          = [[Sicily]]
}}

[[File:Canto degli Italiani (1961 recording).ogg|thumb|Version sung by [[Mario Del Monaco]] in 1961]]
[[File:Canto degli Italiani (esecuzione integrale).ogg|thumb|Full sung version]]
[[File:National anthem of Italy - U.S. Navy Band (long version).ogg|thumb|[[United States Navy Band|U.S. Navy Band]] instrumental version (one verse and chorus)]]
This is the complete Italian anthem text, as commonly performed on official occasions. Goffredo Mameli's original poem includes neither repetitions nor the loud "{{lang|it|Sì!}}" ('Yes!') at the end of the chorus.

The first strophe presents a personification of Italy who is ready to war to become free, and shall be victorious as [[Roman Empire|Rome]] was in ancient times, "wearing" the helmet of [[Scipio Africanus]] who defeated [[Hannibal]] at the [[Battle of Zama|final battle]] of the [[Second Punic War]]. It also alludes to the ancient [[Roman Empire|Roman]] custom that slaves cut their hair short as a sign of servitude: hence the [[Victoria (mythology)|Goddess of Victory]] must cut her hair and enslave herself to [[Rome]] (to make Italy victorious).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scudit.net/mdmameliinno.htm |title=Il testo dell'Inno di Mameli. Materiali didattici di Scuola d'Italiano Roma a cura di Roberto Tartaglione |language=it |publisher=Scudit.net |access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref>

In the second strophe the author complains that Italy has been a divided nation for a long time, and calls for unity. In this strophe [[Goffredo Mameli|Mameli]] uses three poetic and archaic words: {{lang|it|calpesti}} (modern Italian: {{lang|it|calpestati}}), {{lang|it|speme}} (modern {{lang|it|speranza}}), {{lang|it|raccolgaci}} (modern {{lang|it|ci raccolga}}).

The third strophe is an invocation to God to protect the loving union of the Italians struggling to unify their nation once and for all. The fourth strophe recalls popular heroic figures and moments of the Italian fight for independence: the [[battle of Legnano]], the defence of [[Florence]] led by [[Francesco Ferruccio|Ferruccio]] during the [[Italian Wars]], the riot started in [[Genoa]] by [[Balilla]], and the [[Sicilian Vespers]]. The fifth strophe unequivocally marks Habsburg Austria as the Italian cause's primary enemy. It also links the [[History of Poland (1795–1918)|Polish quest for independence]] to the Italian one.<ref name="quirinale" />

The sixth and final verse, almost never performed,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Il Canto degli Italiani|url=http://www.storico.org/risorgimento_italiano/canto_italiani.html|access-date=2021-12-08|website=www.storico.org}}</ref> is missing in Mameli's original draft but appears in his second manuscript. However, it was omitted in the first printed editions of the text on the leaflet.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Benedetti|first=Maurizio|date=2019|title=Il Canto degli Italiani: poesia di Goffredo Mameli, musica di Michele Novaro per canto e pianoforte|trans-title=Il Canto degli Italiani: poetry by Goffredo Mameli, music by Michele Novaro for voice and piano|url=https://www.conservatoriotorino.gov.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2019_10_14_Benedetti_Il_Canto_degli_Italiani_stampabile.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111181321/https://www.conservatoriotorino.gov.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2019_10_14_Benedetti_Il_Canto_degli_Italiani_stampabile.pdf|archive-date=2020-11-11|publisher=Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory (Turin)|language=it}}</ref> The verse joyfully announces the unity of Italy and goes on to close the song with the same six lines that conclude the initial verse, thus giving the poem a circular structure.

{| class="wikitable"
!Italian lyrics<ref name=":0" />
!IPA transcription as sung{{efn|See [[Help:IPA/Italian]] and [[Italian phonology]].}}
!English translation
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
|<poem>'''I'''
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.

{{small|'''Coro:'''}}
𝄆 Stringiamci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
l'Italia chiamò. 𝄇
Sì!

'''II'''
Noi fummo da secoli{{refn|group=N|A different [[Grammatical tense|tense]] may be found: {{lang|it|Noi siamo da secoli}} ('We have been for centuries').}}
calpesti, derisi,
perché non siam popolo,
perché siam divisi.
Raccolgaci un'unica
bandiera, una speme:
di fonderci insieme
già l'ora suonò.

{{small|'''''Coro'''''}}

'''III'''
Uniamoci, amiamoci,{{refn|group=N|Occasionally written {{lang|it|Uniamoci, uniamoci}}, especially in older publications.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Arrivabene |first=conte Carlo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=khRcAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA426 |title=I poeti italiani. Selections from the Italian poets, with biogr. notices by C. Arrivabene |date=1855 |page=426 |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cwdXAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA21 |title=Raccolta di poesie nazionali, dedicate agli Italiani del secolo XIX. [Edited by D. Oulif.] |date=1848 |page=21 |language=it}}</ref>}}
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?

{{small|'''''Coro'''''}}

'''IV'''
Dall'Alpi a Sicilia
dovunque è Legnano,
ogn'uom di Ferruccio
ha il core, ha la mano,{{refn|group=N|Often written {{lang|It|ha il core e la mano}},<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inno nazionale |url=https://presidenza.governo.it/ufficio_cerimoniale/cerimoniale/inno.html |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Governo Italiano – Dipartimento per il Cerimoniale dello Stato}}</ref> especially in older publications.<ref name=":0" />{{rp|18}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Castagna |first=Niccola |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gl-atuSTTxkC&pg=PA42 |title=Proverbi italiani raccolti e illustrati da Niccola Castagna |date=1866 |publisher=Metitiero |page=42 |language=it}}</ref>}}
i bimbi d'Italia
si chiaman Balilla,
il suon d'ogni squilla
i Vespri suonò.

{{small|'''''Coro'''''}}

'''V'''
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.{{refn|group=N|Occasionally written {{lang|it|ma il sen le bruciò}} ('but it burnt its breast'), especially in older publications.<ref>{{Cite book|last=VV|first=AA|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=juiB9TlXksMC&pg=PT23|title=Gioventù ribelle: L'Italia del Risorgimento|date=2011-11-10|publisher=Gangemi Editore spa|isbn=978-88-492-7002-0|language=it|page=23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Mameli|first=Goffredo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dybmY18nJ8wC&pg=PA55|title=goffredo mameli|date=1927|publisher=Edizioni Mediterranee|language=it|page=55}}</ref>}}

{{small|'''''Coro'''''}}

'''VI'''
Evviva l'Italia,
dal sonno 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.

{{small|'''''Coro'''''}}</poem>
|<poem>{{IPA|wrap=none|'''I'''
[fraˈtɛl.li diˈtaː.lja {{!}}]
[liˈtaː.lja ˌsɛ‿dˈde.sta {{!}}]
[delˈlel.mo di‿ʃˈʃiː.pjo]
[ˌsɛ‿tˈt͡ʃin.ta la ˈtɛ.sta ǁ]
[doˈvɛ‿l.la vitˈtɔː.rja {{!}}]
[le ˈpɔr.ɡa la ˈkjɔː.ma {{!}}]
[ke ˈskjaː.va di ˈroː.ma]
[idˈdiː.o la kreˈɔ ǁ]

{{small|'''[ˈkɔro]:'''}}
𝄆 [strinˈd͡ʒan.t͡ʃ‿a‿k.koˈor.te {{!}}]
[ˌsjam‿ˈpron.ti̯‿al.la ˈmɔr.te ǁ]
[ˌsjam‿ˈpron.ti̯‿al.la ˈmɔr.te {{!}}]
[liˈtaː.lja kjaˈmɔ ǁ] 𝄇
[ˈsi]

'''II'''
[ˌnoi̯‿ˈfum.mo da(‿s.)ˈsɛː.ko.li]
[kalˈpe.sti {{!}} deˈriː.zi {{!}}]
[perˈke‿n.non ˌsjam‿ˈpɔː.po.lo {{!}}]
[perˈke‿sˌsjan‿diˈviː.zi ǁ]
[rakˈkɔl.ɡa.t͡ʃ‿uˈnuː.ni.ka]
[banˈdjɛ.ra(‿)u.na ˈspɛː.me {{!}}]
[di ˈfon.der.t͡ʃ(i)‿inˈsjɛː.me]
[ˌd͡ʒa‿lˈloː.ra swoˈnɔ ǁ]

{{small|'''''[ˈkɔro]'''''}}

'''III'''
[uˈnjaː.mo.t͡ʃi {{!}} aˈmjaː.mo.t͡ʃi {{!}}]
[luˈnjoːn‿e‿l.laˈmoː.re]
[riˈveː.la.no ai̯ ˈpɔː.po.li]
[le ˈviː.e del siɲˈɲoː.re ǁ]
[d͡ʒuˈrjaː.mo ˌfar‿ˈliː.be.ro]
[il ˈswɔː.lo naˈtiː.o {{!}}]
[uˈniː.ti {{!}} per ˈdiː.o {{!}}]
[ki‿vˈvin.t͡ʃer t͡ʃi ˈpwɔ ǁ]

{{small|'''''[ˈkɔro]'''''}}

'''IV'''
[dalˈlal.pi̯‿a‿s.siˈt͡ʃiː.lja]
[doˈvuŋ.kw(e)‿ˌɛ‿l.leɲˈɲaː.no {{!}}]
[oɲˈɲwɔn‿di ferˈrut.t͡ʃo]
[ˌa‿i̯l ˈkɔː.re {{!}} ˌa‿l.la ˈmaː.no {{!}}]
[i ˈbim.bi diˈtaː.lja]
[si ˈkjaː.mam baˈlil.la {{!}}]
[il ˈswɔn ˌdoɲ.ɲi‿ˈskwil.la]
[i ˈvɛ.spri swoˈnɔ ǁ]

{{small|'''''[ˈkɔro]'''''}}

'''V'''
[ˌson‿ˈd͡ʒuŋ.ki ke‿pˈpjɛː.ɡa.no]
[le ˈspaː.de venˈduː.te {{!}}]
[ˌd͡ʒa‿lˈlaː.kwi.la ˈdau̯.strja]
[le ˈpen.ne ˌa‿p.perˈduː.te ǁ]
[il ˈsaŋ.ɡwe diˈtaː.lja {{!}}]
[il ˈsaŋ.ɡwe poˈlak.ko {{!}}]
[beˈve {{!}} kol koˈzak.ko {{!}}]
[ma‿i̯l ˈkɔr le bruˈt͡ʃɔ ǁ]

{{small|'''''[ˈkɔro]'''''}}

'''VI'''
[evˈviː.va liˈtaː.lja {{!}}]
[dal ˈsɔn.no ˌsɛ‿dˈde.sta {{!}}]
[delˈlel.mo di‿ʃˈʃiː.pjo]
[ˌsɛ‿tˈt͡ʃin.ta la ˈtɛ.sta ǁ]
[doˈvɛ‿l.la vitˈtɔː.rja {{!}}]
[le ˈpɔr.ɡa la ˈkjɔː.ma {{!}}]
[ke ˈskjaː.va di ˈroː.ma]
[idˈdiː.o la kreˈɔ ǁ]

{{small|'''''[ˈkɔro]'''''}}}}</poem>
|<poem>'''I'''
Brothers of Italy,{{refn|group=N|The Italians belong to a single people and are therefore "brothers".<ref name=marconi/>}}
Italy has risen,{{refn|group=N|"Italy has woken up"; that is, it is ready to fight.<ref name="quirinale"/>}}
bound [[Scipio Africanus|Scipio]]'s helmet{{refn|group=N|name=Scipio|[[Scipio Africanus]], winner of [[Battle of Zama]], exemplifies the [[Roman Republic]]'s recovery from defeats to valiantly and victoriously fight the enemy.<ref name="quirinale"/>}}
Upon her head.{{refn|group=N|name=head|Scipio's helmet, which Italy has now worn, is a symbol of the impending struggle against the [[Austrian Empire]] oppressor.<ref name=quirinale/>}}
Where is [[Victoria (mythology)|Victory]]?{{refn|group=N|name=Victoria|The [[Victoria (mythology)|goddess Victoria]]. For a long time, the goddess Vittoria was closely linked to [[ancient Rome]], but now she is ready to dedicate herself to the new Italy for the series of wars that are necessary to drive the foreigners out of the national soil and unify the country.<ref name=quirinale/>}}
Let her bow down,{{refn|group=N|name=hair|Literally "tender her hair". Ancient Rome cut slaves' hair to distinguish them from free women, so Victoria must consign her hair to Italy and become a "slave" of it.<ref name=quirinale/>}}
Because as a slave of [[Roman Empire|Rome]]{{refn|group=N|name=slave|Ancient Rome made, with its conquests, the goddess Victoria "its slave".<ref name=quirinale/>}}
God did create her.{{refn|group=N|name=God|Ancient Rome was great by God's design.<ref name=quirinale/>}}

{{small|'''Chorus:'''}}
𝄆 Let us join in a [[Cohort (military unit)|cohort]],{{refn|group=N|Literally, "Let us tighten in a cohort," alluding to the combat unit of the [[ancient Roman army]]. This very strong military reference, reinforced by the appeal to the glory and military power of ancient Rome, once again calls all men to arms against the oppressor.<ref name=quirinale/>}}
we are ready for death.
We are ready for death,
Italy has called! 𝄇{{refn|group=N|This alludes to the call to arms of the Italian people with the aim of driving out the foreign ruler from national soil and [[Unification of Italy|unifying Italy]], still divided into pre-unification states.<ref name=quirinale/>}}
Yes!{{refn|group=N|Not included in the original text, but always used at official occasions.<ref name="raistoria" />}}

'''II'''
We were for centuries
downtrodden, derided,
because we are not one people,
because we are divided.{{refn|group=N|Mameli underlines the fact that Italy, understood as the [[Italian peninsula|Italian region]], was not united. At the time (1847), in fact, it was still divided into nine states. For this reason, Italy had for centuries been often treated as a land of conquest.<ref name=quirinale/>}}
Let one [[Flag of Italy|flag]], one hope
gather us all.{{refn|group=N|Italy, still divided among the pre-unification states, will finally gather under a single [[Flag of Italy|flag]], merging into one country.<ref name=quirinale/>}}
The hour has struck
for us to unite.

{{small|'''''Chorus'''''}}

'''III'''
Let us unite, let us love one another,
Union and love
Reveal to the peoples
The ways of the Lord.
Let us swear to set free
The land of our birth:
United, by God,
Who can overcome us?{{refn|group=N|The third verse, which is dedicated to the political thought of [[Giuseppe Mazzini]], founder of [[Young Italy (historical)|Young Italy]] and [[Young Europe]], incites the search for national unity through the help of [[divine providence]] and thanks to the participation of the entire Italian people finally united in a common intent.<ref name=quirinale/>}}

{{small|'''''Chorus'''''}}

'''IV'''
From the Alps to Sicily,
[[Battle of Legnano|Legnano is everywhere]];{{refn|group=N|In the [[Battle of Legnano]] of 29 May 1176, the [[Lombard League]] defeated [[Frederick Barbarossa]]; here, the event symbolizes the fight against foreign (Austrian) oppression. [[Legnano]] is the only city besides [[Rome]] mentioned in the anthem.<ref name=quirinale/>}}
Every man hath the heart
and hand of [[Francesco Ferruccio|Ferruccio]]{{refn|group=N|[[Francesco Ferruccio]], defender of the [[Republic of Florence|Florentine Republic]]  during the [[Siege of Florence (1529–30)|1530 siege]] against the troops of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]], who sought to restore the [[House of Medici|Medici]] lordship. In this circumstance, the dying Ferruccio was cowardly finished with a stab by [[Fabrizio Maramaldo]], a captain of fortune in the service of Carlo V. "Vile, you kill a dead man", were the famous words of infamy that the hero addressed to his killer.<ref name=quirinale/>}}
The children of Italy
Are all called [[Giovan Battista Perasso|Balilla]];{{refn|group=N|Nickname of [[Balilla|Giovan Battista Perasso]], on 5 December 1746, began, after throwing a stone at an officer, the Genoese revolt that expulsed the occupying [[Archduchy of Austria]] from the city.<ref name=quirinale/>}}
Every trumpet blast
soundeth the [[Sicilian Vespers|Vespers]].{{refn|group=N|The [[Sicilian Vespers]], an uprising against the French beginning on [[Easter Monday]] 1282, began with the signal of the city bells of [[Palermo]].<ref name=quirinale/>}}

{{small|'''''Chorus'''''}}

'''V'''
The mercenary swords
Are feeble reeds.{{refn|group=N|[[Mercenary|Mercenaries]], whose use is [[Anachronism|anachronistically]] attributed to the [[Austrian Empire]], are not valiant like the patriotic heroes but weak like rushes.<ref name=quirinale/>}}
Already the Eagle of [[Austrian Empire|Austria]]
Hath lost its plumes.{{refn|group=N|The [[Austrian Empire]] is in decline.{{sfn|Piazza|2010|p=22}}}}
The blood of Italy,
The blood of [[History of Poland (1795-1918)|Poland]]
It with Cossacks did drink,{{refn|group=N|[[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth|Poland]] had [[Partitions of Poland|had been dismembered]] by the [[Austrian Empire]] and its [[Russian Empire|Russian]] and [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussian]] allies in living memory.<ref name="quirinale"/>}} 
But will burn its heart.{{refn|group=N|A wish and an omen: the blood of oppressed peoples, who will rise up against the Austrian Empire, will mark the end.<ref name="quirinale"/>}}

{{small|'''''Chorus'''''}}

'''VI'''
Long live Italy,
She has awoken from slumber,
bound Scipio's helmet{{refn|group=N|name=Scipio}}
Upon her head.{{refn|group=N|name=head}}
Where is Victory?{{refn|group=N|name=Victoria}}
Let her bow down,{{refn|group=N|name=hair}}
Because as a slave of Rome{{refn|group=N|name=slave}}
God did create her.{{refn|group=N|name=God}}

{{small|'''''Chorus'''''}}</poem>
|}

== Music ==
[[File:Flickr - tpower1978 - 'Espoirs' of Toulon (3).jpg|thumb|left|The [[Italy national football team]] during the playing of "Il Canto degli Italiani" before a match]]

Novaro's musical composition is written in a typical [[March (music)|marching]] time ([[Metre (music)|{{music|time|4|4}}]]){{sfn|Vulpone|2002|p=40}} and the key of [[B-flat major]].{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=20}} It has a catchy character and an easy [[Melody|melodic line]] that simplifies memory and execution.{{sfn|Vulpone|2002|p=40}} On the [[Harmony|harmonic]] and [[rhythm]]ic level, the composition presents greater complexity.

From a musical point of view, the piece is divided into three parts: the introduction, the [[strophe]]s and the [[refrain]].

The twelve-[[Bar (music)|bar]] introduction is an [[instrumental]] at ''[[Allegro (music)|allegro]] martial'' pace,{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=129}} with a [[Dactyl (poetry)|dactyl]] rhythm that alternates one-[[eighth note|eighth-note]] two-[[sixteenth note|sixteenth-notes]]. The introduction divides into three four-bar segments, each alternating between a [[tonic chord]] and its [[Dominant (music)|dominant]]. The first four bars are in B♭ major; the second in [[G minor]]; and the last four bars return to B♭ to introduce the verses.

The strophes, therefore, attack in [[B♭ (musical note)|B♭]]. They repeat the same melodic unit, in various [[Degree (music)|degrees]] and at different [[Pitch (music)|pitches]]. Each melodic unit corresponds to a fragment of the Mamelian [[hexasyllable]], in accordance with the classical bipartite scheme ("Fratelli / d'Italia / ' Italia / s'è desta").{{sfn|Jacoviello|2012|pp=117–119}} However, the usual leap of a diatonic [[Interval (music)|interval]] does not match the [[Anacrusis|anacrusic]] rhythm: on the contrary, the verses «Fratelli / d'Italia» and «dell'elmo / di Scipio» each [[Repercussion (singing)|begin with identical notes]] (respectively [[F (musical note)|F]] or [[D (musical note)|D]]). This weakens the syllable accentuation, and produces an audibly [[Syncopation|syncopated]] effect, contrasting the natural short-long succession of the [[paroxytone]] verse.{{sfn|Jacoviello|2012|pp=117–119}}

As written, the basic melodic unit combines a [[Dotted note|dotted]] eighth note and a [[sixteenth note]]: <score sound=1>\relative f' { \clef treble \time 4/4 \key bes \major r2 r4 f4 f8. g16 f4 r4 d'4 d8. ees16 d4 r4 d4 f8. ees16 d4 r4 c4 d8. c16 bes4 r4 } \addlyrics { Fra – tel – li d'I – ta – lia, l'I – ta – lia s'è de – sta }</score>

Some performances soften this rhythmic scan by equalizing the note durations (as an [[eighth note]]), for ease of singing and listening:{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=129}}
<score sound=1>\relative f' { \clef treble \time 4/4 \key bes \major r2 r4 f4 f8 g8 f4 r4 d'4 d8 ees8 d4 r4 d4 f8 ees8 d4 r4 c4 d8 c8 bes4 r4 } \addlyrics { Fra – tel – li d'I – ta – lia, l'I – ta – lia s'è de – sta }</score>

At bar 31, the song undergoes an unusual shift for the refrain<ref name="Treccani" /> recognizable in the most accredited recordings of the [[autograph]] score.{{#tag:ref|{{cite web |title=Varie registrazioni del Canto degli Italiani |url=http://www.quirinale.it/qrnw/statico/simboli/inno/ascoltainno.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515080027/http://www.quirinale.it:80/qrnw/statico/simboli/inno/ascoltainno.htm |archive-date=15 May 2016 |access-date=12 March 2015 |website=Presidenza della Republicca |publisher=Government of Italy |language=it}} See in particular the version{{Dead link|date=December 2023|fix-attempted=yes}} of the Ensemble Coro di Torino directed by Maurizio Benedetti.}} It accelerates to an ''allegro mosso'',{{sfn|Vulpone|2002|p=40}} and permanently modulates to E♭ major,{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|pp=129–130}} yielding only to the [[Relative key|relative minor]] ([[C minor]]) during the tercet "Stringiamci a coorte / siam pronti alla morte / L'Italia chiamò".<ref name="Treccani"/> Also, the refrain is characterized by a repeated melodic unit; in the last five bars, it [[Crescendo|grows in intensity]], passing from ''[[pianissimo]]'' to ''[[Forte (music)|forte]]'' to ''[[fortissimo]]'' with the indication ''[[crescendo]] e accelerando sino alla fine'' ("growing and accelerating to the end").{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|p=130}}

==Recordings==
{{multiple image
 | image1 = Fratelli d'Italia part1.jpg
 | width1 = 180
 | caption1 = Score of "Il Canto degli Italiani"
 | image2 = Fratelli d'Italia.jpg
 | width2 = 180
 | caption2 = 
 }}
The two authors have been dead for more than 70 years, and the [[Copyright law of Italy|copyrights]] have lapsed; the work is [[public domain]]. Novaro disclaimed compensation for printing music, ascribing his work to the patriotic cause. Giuseppe Magrini, who made the first print of "Il Canto degli Italiani", asked only for a certain number of printed copies for personal use. At Tito Ricordi's 1859 request to reprint the text of the song with his publishing house, Novaro ordered that the money be directly paid in favour of a subscription for [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]].{{sfn|Calabrese|2011|pp=127–128}}

Nevertheless, the publisher [[Casa Sonzogno|Sonzogno]] has attempted to collect royalties for use of the "Il Canto degli Italiani" [[Sheet music|score]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Merla |first=Flaminia |date=5 July 2010 |title=Siae e Inno di Mameli |trans-title=SIAE and Mameli's hymn |url=http://www.lawyersonweb.it/content/siae-e-inno-di-mameli |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205041710/http://www.lawyersonweb.it/content/siae-e-inno-di-mameli |archive-date=5 December 2014 |access-date=30 November 2014 |website=Lawyers on Web |language=it}}</ref> It also has the possibility of making the official prints of the piece.{{sfn|Bassi|2011|p=50}}

The oldest known sound recording of "Il Canto degli Italiani" (disc at [[Phonograph record|78 rpm]] for [[Phonograph|gramophone]], 17&nbsp;cm in diameter) is a 1901 recording of the [[Municipal Band of Milan]] under the direction of {{ill|Pio Nevi|it}}.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 November 2010 |title=Su RAI International la collezione di Domenico Pantaleone |language=it |trans-title=Domenico Pantaleone's collection on RAI International |work=Piazza Rosetti |department=Vastese |url=http://www.piazzarossetti.it/it-it/notizie/5156b8c0d19970900500818c/su-rai-international-la-collezione-di-domenico-pantaleone |url-status=live |access-date=30 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105174731/http://www.piazzarossetti.it/it-it/notizie/5156b8c0d19970900500818c/su-rai-international-la-collezione-di-domenico-pantaleone |archive-date=5 November 2023}}</ref>

One of the first recordings of "Fratelli d'Italia" was that of 9 June 1915, which was performed by the [[Canzone Napoletana|Neapolitan opera and music]] singer {{ill|Giuseppe Godono|it}}.<ref>{{cite web|title="Il canto degli Italiani" di Goffredo Mameli e Michele Novaro |trans-title="Il canto degli Italiani" by Goffredo Mameli and Michele Novaro|url=http://www.muspe.unibo.it/attivita/incon/mameli.htm |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126115059/http://www.muspe.unibo.it/attivita/incon/mameli.htm|archive-date=26 November 2010 |access-date=13 September 2009 |publisher=University of Bologna|language=it}}</ref> The song was recorded for the {{ill|Phonotype|it}} label of Naples.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 July 2017 |title=L'inno di Mameli: Documenti e protagonisti |language=it |trans-title=Mameli's hymn: Documents and protagonists |work=La Republicca |publisher=GEDI News Network |url=https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2017/07/01/foto/mameli-169697382/ |access-date=18 January 2019 |issn=2499-0817}}</ref>

Another ancient recording received is that of the Gramophone Band, recorded in London for [[His Master's Voice (British record label)|His Master's Voice]] on 23 January 1918.<ref>{{cite web |title='Il Canto degli Italiani' di Goffredo Mameli e Michele Novaro |trans-title="The Italians' song" by Goffredo Mameli and Michele Novaro |url=http://www.muspe.unibo.it/attivita/incon/mameli.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126115059/http://www.muspe.unibo.it/attivita/incon/mameli.htm |archive-date=26 November 2010 |access-date=30 November 2014 |publisher=[[University of Bologna]] |language=it}}</ref>

==During events==
Over the years a public ritual has been established for the anthem's performance, still in force.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=73}} According to the custom, whenever the anthem is played, if in an outdoor military ceremony personnel in formation present arms while personnel not in formation stand at attention (unless when saluting during the raising and lowering of the national flag, as well as the trooping of the national flag for service or unit decorations). If indoors (including military band concerts), all personnel stand at attention.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=73}} Civilians, if they wish, can also put themselves to attention.<ref>Bill&nbsp;#[https://documenti.camera.it/_dati/leg16/lavori/schedela/apriTelecomando_wai.asp?codice=16PDL0048870 4331] of the 16th&nbsp;legislature (in Italian), proposal by Franceschini De&nbsp;Pasquale.  Retrieved 15&nbsp;Oct&nbsp;2015.</ref> On the occasion of official events, only the first two stanzas should be performed without the introduction.<ref name="governo" />{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=73}} If the event is institutional, and a foreign hymn must also be performed, this is played first as an act of courtesy.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=73}}

In 1970, the obligation, however, to perform the "[[Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)|Ode to Joy]]" of [[Ludwig van Beethoven]], that is the official [[anthem of Europe]], whenever "Il Canto degli Italiani" is played, remained almost always unfulfilled.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=73}}
{{clear}}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}
{{reflist|group=N}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

=== Works cited ===
* {{cite book|last=Bassi|first=Adriano|title=Fratelli d'Italia: I grandi personaggi del Risorgimento, la musica e l'unità|year=2011|publisher=Paoline|language=it|isbn=978-88-315-3994-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Caddeo|first=Rinaldo |title=Inni di Guerra e Canti patriottici del Popolo Italiano|year=1915|publisher=Casa Editrice Risorgimento|language=it|isbn=1-178-22330-2}}
* {{cite journal |last1= Calabrese|first1=Michele|date=2011|title=Il Canto degli Italiani: genesi e peripezie di un inno |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=zCIR55SYDpgC&pg=PA119 |journal=Quaderni del Bobbio |volume=3 |language=it}}
* {{cite book|last=Jacoviello|first=Stefano|title=Passioni collettive. Cultura, politica e società|year=2012|publisher=Nuova Cultura|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=bBgaprAGtvkC&pg=PA120|language=it|isbn=978-88-6134-862-2}}
* {{cite book|last1=Maiorino |first1=Tarquinio|last2=Marchetti Tricamo|first2=Giuseppe |last3=Zagami |first3=Andrea |title=Il tricolore degli italiani. Storia avventurosa della nostra bandiera|year=2002 |publisher=Arnoldo Mondadori Editore|language=it|isbn=978-88-04-50946-2|ref={{sfnref|Maiorino|2002}}}}
* {{cite book|title=Fratelli d'Italia. L'inno nazionale illustrato|first=Serena|last= Piazza|year=2010|publisher=Rizzoli|isbn=978-88-17-04408-0|language=it|ref={{sfnref|Piazza|2010}}}}
* {{cite book|last=Ridolfi|first=Pierluigi |title=Canti e poesie per un'Italia unita dal 1821 al 1861|year=2002 |publisher=Associazione Amici dell'Accademia dei Lincei|language=it}}
* {{cite book|last=Ridolfi|first=Maurizio|title=Almanacco della Repubblica: storia d'Italia attraverso le tradizioni, le istituzioni e le simbologie repubblicane|year=2003|publisher=Bruno Mondadori|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MuTF4BEaChYC&pg=PA148 |language=it|isbn=978-88-424-9499-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Stramacci|first=Mauro|title=Goffredo Mameli|year=1991|publisher=Edizioni Mediterranee|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=dybmY18nJ8wC|language=it|isbn=88-272-0932-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Vulpone|first=Pasquale|title=Il Canto degli Italiani. Inno d'Italia|year=2002|publisher=Pellegrini|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=HmofAk4OsAAC&pg=PA40|language=it|isbn=88-8101-140-9}}

==External links==
{{wikisource lang|it|Canto nazionale}}
{{wikisource}}
*[http://www.quirinale.it/page/inno_en Page on the official site of the Quirinale, residence of the Head of State]<br/>(in Italian with several recorded performances – click on ''ascolta l'Inno'' and choose a file to listen)
*{{Cantorion|music/3172/Il_Canto_degli_Italiani_Sheet_music|''Il Canto degli Italiani''}}
*[http://nationalanthems.me/italy-il-canto-degli-italiani/ Streaming audio, lyrics and information about the Italian national anthem]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111229031650/http://www.difesa.it/Approfondimenti/inno-nazionale/Pagine/Ascolta_Inno.aspx Listen to the Italian national anthem]
*{{IMSLP2|work=Fratelli d'Italia (Dall'Albero, Claudio)|cname=Fratelli d'Italia}} (Version for chorus and piano by Claudio Dall'Albero on a musical proposal of [[Luciano Berio]])

{{National symbols of Italy}}
{{Italy topics}}
{{Anthems of Europe}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Canto degli Italiani, Il}}
[[Category:1847 songs]]
[[Category:European anthems]]
[[Category:Culture of Italy]]
[[Category:National symbols of Italy]]
[[Category:Italian patriotic songs]]
[[Category:Italy–Poland relations]]
[[Category:Italian anthems]]
[[Category:National anthems]]
[[Category:Compositions in B-flat major]]
[[Category:Songs based on poems]]