Alpini songs

The traditional hat of the Alpini with the black feather

The Alpini are a highly decorated and elite mountain corps of the Italian Army. However they are also famous for their songs and their choirs in Italy.

The first Alpini units were formed in 1872 recruiting it soldiers among the inhabitants of the valleys of Italy’s northern mountain regions. During World War I the Alpinis saw heavy combat all over the alpine arch. The war has become known as the "War in snow and ice", as most of the 600 km frontline ran through the highest mountains and glaciers of the Alps and every position was occupied around the whole year. It was during these years that the Alpini, their spirit and their mules became legend, although at the cost of over 120,000 death out of a total of 400,000 mobilized Alpinis.

During this time many songs originated within the Alpini corps that tell of the hardships and brutality of this conflict. After WWI former members (called: "Veci") founded choirs in their hometowns and offered thus the Italian people a glimpse into the hardships of the "War in Snow and Ice".

Some of the most famous and well known Alpini songs are:

• Aprite le Porte

An upbeat choral calling on people to open their doors and have look at a column of advancing Alpinis.

• Bersagliere Ha Cento Penne

This song is based on the rivalry between the two most distinguished infantry corps of the Italian Army: the Alpinis and Bersaglieris.

• Cosa Fai, Mio Bel Gin Gin

This song tells of a wife, who awaits the return of her husbands, but is told by retreating Alpinis, that her wait is in vain.

• Di qua, di là del Piave

A song about an easy girl.

• E Cadorna Manda A Dire

General Cadorna calls on the Alpinis to advance and guard the frontier, alas they know they are on their way to guard the frontier for eternity.

• Era Una Notte Che Pioveva

A single soldier stands guard in the middle of a snowstorm on a mountain summit, dreaming of his beloved at home.

• Il Testamento Del Capitano

The Captain of a Company is deadly wounded and wishes to see the rest of his Alpinis a last time. Even though they have no shoes left the Alpinis journey to their Captain, who asks them to carve his heart out and divide it in five pieces: one for Italy, one for the battalion, one for his mother, one for his love and one to be buried in the mountains to be surrounded by roses and flowers.

• La Montanara

A song about the beauty of the Alps.

• La Si Taglia I Biondi Capelli

A young girl cut off her blonde hair to enlist in the army and thus able to follow her first love to the front on the Piave river.

• La Tradotta

“The railway that begins in Turin, doesn’t stop in Milan anymore, but goes directly to the Piave- cemetery of youth.

In 29 we left home, only in 7 we returned, the other 22 all died in San Dona.

Dear nun, I’m wounded, tomorrow I won’t see, my mother will not come; put a flower on my grave.

A cross is in Nervesa, my brother is buried there, I wrote Ninetto on it, and so mother might find him.”

• La Valsugana

The dream of returning home.

• Lassù in montagna

A inspirational song about that even when alone in the mountains all of Italy stands besides the Alpini.

• Monte Canino

The Alpini arrive on the front after days of transport in railways wagons.

• Monte Cauriol

The wind brings the news to a family that their son has died on Mountain “Cauriol”.

• Monte Nero

The 3rd Alpini regiment is on its way to conquer Mount “Nero”, but the attacks ends in such a massacre, that the regiments Colonel sits amid his dead soldiers and weeps.

• Monte Pasubio

A long column of Alpini is on the way to Mount “Pasubio”, a column of those that will never return, that go to die on Mount “Pasubio”. But the Alpinis are not afraid; they will not return/ turn around. (In Italian the used verb has this double meaning)

• Quel Mazzolin Di Fiori

A young man collects flowers he will bring to his love.

Bridge of the Alpini

• Signore Delle Cime

A prayer song, asking for protection in the mountains.

• Sul Cappello Che Noi Portiamo

A hymn on the black feather that the Alpini carry on their hat.

• Sul Ponte Di Bassano

On the famous "Bridge of the Alpini" in Bassano the Alpini say goodbye to their loved ones, before departing to the nearby front.

• Sul Ponte Di Perati

On the bridge of Perati a black flag of grief flies for the Alpinis of the Julia Alpini brigade, who goes to war, goes under the earth.

• Ta- Pum!

After 20 days on Mount Ortigara, the battalion descends and has no soldiers left; they are all in the cemetery by the river, where the battalions remaining soldiers will soon stop by too.

External Links

a Alpini choir (in Italian)
lyrics (in Italian)