reflections

Old songs
by Carlo Oliva
photos by Roberto Gimmi

At the party for 40 years of "A" very serious fellow unable to hurt a fly sang incendiary songs, praising the dynamite and daggers. Why?

But they were shackled or handcuffed anarchists expelled through no fault from Lugano in 1895?
The two classes are both certified in oral and written tradition, and if the matter is, from a practical standpoint, it makes little difference - always instruments of restraint, after all, it is - in literary terms their meaning is quite different. The chains are placed in a rather dignified, in a vaguely romantic tradition and the medieval dark secret and fortified towers, the handcuffs more prosaically refer to the criminal record and the current practice of police headquarters. In fact, it is very likely that Pietro Gori, who was an educated man and had mastered the language of poetry of his time (that, more or less traditional Carducci), wrote "chained" and that the form, so to speak, is modernized popular in practice than less educated him, have since voiced his song. "Handcuffed" would thus be a kind of lectio facilior. But the question remains open and may require a more severe philological analysis.
On the other hand, we know that popular songs are often home educated - or half educated - and their words have sometimes offered a problem of exegesis to the same recipients. It is not the case, of course, of "A Farewell to Lugano", whose verses owe their success just the passionate simplicity that distinguishes them, but even a standard "Stornelli of exile", are quite the most difficult to chew. What exactly were "the multitudes of the poor" could also ignore someone well aware of the reality of the exploited masses. And to shake the "face of Rights", of course, requires a lexical competence a bit 'higher than average.

Milano, Circolo ARCI "The Scighera, February 24, 2011 In celebration of the conclusion of the 40th anniversary of "A", Voices of Middle and most of these sing anarchists, antiwar, anti-clerical songs.

The dark end of the dying century

These and similar reflections I mix for the head last week, while attending at a club in Milan, to the festivities in honor of the forty years of life of a famous anarchist magazine. As often happens in such occasions, he was singing during the evening had several turns at the microphone employees, more or less to respond in kind to the questions that were put to them, then there was the performance from the stage two talented musicians, and then inevitably someone had challenged a guitar, and invited those present to sing in chorus. And since, of course, by "Stornelli of exile", notes and words of so many old and loved songs, farewell beautiful Lugano, of course, and the last hours of Sante Caserio, the dark until the dying century, the ferocious monarchist Bava the anthem of rebellion, the anthem individualism and many others had invaded the room. We were all, more, some less, a little drunk - except for Felix Accame, from whose lips, in fact, it was impossible to tear a note - and we give in with great enthusiasm, giving those verses a bit 'dusty that sort facies of the second youth language would, in theory, should have barred. Wondrous effects of political passion and, of course, wine.
Strange, though. I knew most of these (almost all, in fact) and people know them as essentially peaceful, mild in nature at all, unable, even in the name of the most cogent ideological reasons, to do harm to the classic fly and now that there were no just tender, about the fate of knights-errant dragged north by the Swiss police, but celebrates the rising hope in his name, real bloodshed. They sang the praises of the oil is certainly not ready for that one that fills the coffers of the emir of Bahrain, and enthusiasm for the redemptive roar of dynamite. Those of them that stood out for the religious feelings, were, strange to say, the first to jump in the wildest anti-clerical aspirations, hoping that priests and monks were made promptly to pieces, together with the most senior members of the clergy. And everyone, including myself, seemed strangely excited to compensate the barricades to lead and lead fall as a logical consequence, in a blaze of glory, which, although it would open a novel path to the future, however, seemed more a manifestation of the heroic spirit, an expression of the death instinct that accompanies us from birth.

Carlo Oliva

Grim intentions

Just kidding, of course. If there was contradiction in quell'abbandonarsi the myths and images of a century now preterite, was a contradiction at all venial. And then the same archaic style and vocabulary of the verses to help ensure a use, as it were, in context, made it clear to everyone that no one wanted to own those cruel intentions, but we just remember with some affection the tradition of the movement. It was also likely that older people celebrate at the same time, even the memory of their youth barricadiera, when the revolution seemed a less mediated view of how we can conceive today, but who could blame them for that? The old songs do not hurt anyone, but rather can serve, beyond the specific content to reaffirm an identity. Thing, in truth, they feel the need, rather, because a little 'libertarian spirit of the practice and analysis of the left would not be superfluous if we are scum of the Savoy, hopefully, be released once and for all, armed cain there are always several around, even if no one would ever think to call them and the exploitation of multitudes of the poor remains, alas, on the agenda.
Identity, however, it can also remain prisoners. In which case the problem may be to not take itself too seriously. But this, of course, is another matter entirely. Greetings to all, for now, and I'll see you at the next party.