Track 4 - La Montanara

The original field recording that inspired the arrangement:

This is quite simply a love song. It comes from a tradition of folk music that was born out of an era of folkloric nationalism and regionalism that was sweeping through Italy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Traditionally they were written in dialect and arranged for more formal choral groups. But often times they were absorbed into the folk tradition and would be sung with or without instruments, with a group or just sung solo.

The melody stuck out to me the first moment I heard it and I knew that I wanted to arrange it for the band. Fun fact, it’s the only arrangement I’ve ever written on the accordion. It was something that just flowed as I was getting to know this instrument. Amanda Powell’s performance on this track is one of my favorites. 

Lyrics / Parole:

A bella Terranera stamattine
na cunuscenz’ hai fatte supraffine
na cunuscenza ‘nghe na muntanare
che tiene ddu bbell’ucchie gne lu mare

te quest’Andunielle, quess’ucchie calestrine
m’ha fatte (4x) m’ha fatt’annamurà

Translation:
In beautiful Terranera this morning
I made a superlative acquaintance
acquaintance with a mountain girl
with eyes as blue as the sea

This Antonietta with celestial blue eyes
has made me (4x) has made me fall in love.