Signore delle cime
| "Signore delle cime" | |
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 View of Schiara Group from Mount Serva | |
| Song | |
| English title | Lord of the Mountain Tops |
| Written | 1958 |
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| Music of Italy | ||||||||
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| Gregorian chant | ||||||||
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| Nationalistic and patriotic songs | ||||||||
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| Regional music | ||||||||
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Signore delle cime ("Lord of the Mountain Tops") is a popular Italian song of prayer. It was written by Bepi De Marzi in 1958,[1] when he was 23 years old: he dedicated the song to his friend Bepi Bertagnoli who died in 1951[2] while climbing Mount Piatta in the upper Valle del Chiampo.[3]
History
The song became very popular and was translated into many languages. Traditionally, only the first two verses are sung. The song is performed every year at the festival of the Raduno Nazionale degli Alpini, which since 1920 has usually been celebrated annually in mid-May.
The simplicity of the song and its great emotional impact have ensured its inclusion in the repertoire of many polyphonic choirs, such as I Crodaioli of Arzignano, founded by de Marzi. The simple melody is accompanied by traditional harmonies and combined with a text that represents feeling, popular piety and Christian devotion.[4]
Text
The song is composed in 3 strophes or verses:
- in the first, de Marzi and the choir pray God to let Bepi Bertagnoli enter Heaven, but before then to allow him to climb the mountains.
- in the second, they also pray the Virgin Mary to cover him with her cloak the color of snow before taking him to Heaven.
- the third verse is not usually sung: in it, de Marzi wrote that he wants God to let an edelweiss fall from the sky to remind everybody of the sad death of his friend.