L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 18 L'Italo-Americano E very winter, town squares and nat- ural snow-cov- e r e d s t a g e s across northern I t a l y c o m e a l i v e w i t h t h e voices of male choirs wearing the distinctive feathered hats of the Alpini corps: these are the Cori Alpini, ensem- bles rooted in the traditions of Italy's mountain infantry and closely connected to the cultural fabric of the coun- try's Alpine regions. Their origins go back to the late 19th century, when the Ital- ian state founded the Alpini in 1872 to defend its moun- tainous northern borders. Recruited primarily from rural, often isolated valleys, t h e s e t r o o p s b e c a m e e m b l e m a t i c o f I t a l i a n resilience during the gruel- ing mountain campaigns of World War I. When the war ended and the soldiers returned home, many wanted to preserve the camaraderie and collective memory of their service, and choirs began to form sponta- neously, drawing from songs shared around bivouacs or during long marches. Over time, especially after the end of the Second World War, these choirs became more formalized, especially under the auspices of the Associ- azione Nazionale Alpini (ANA), which incorporated them into its postwar efforts to honor the legacy of the Alpini. The repertoire of a Coro Alpino is rich and layered: songs typically range from heroic anthems celebrating military courage to elegiac melodies mourning the dead. Perhaps the most iconic piece is Signore delle Cime, a spiritual ballad dedicated to fallen mountaineers, which remains a staple of perfor- mances. Others, like L'Ulti- ma Notte, recount historical moments such as the har- r o w i n g A l p i n e r e t r e a t f r o m R u s s i a i n 1 9 4 3 , evoking the human cost of war and the endurance of those who lived through it. Many choirs have become cultural institutions in their o w n r i g h t : T u r i n ' s C o r o E d e l w e i s s , f o u n d e d i n 1950, is associated with the Italian Alpine Club (Club Alpino Italiano, CAI) and has performed internationally, including at the opening cer- emony of the 2006 Winter Olympics. Similarly, Coro Monte Cauriol of Trentino has produced thousands of c o n c e r t s a n d r e c o r d i n g s s i n c e i t s f o u n d i n g i n t h e 1950s. While firmly rooted in m i l i t a r y t r a d i t i o n , t h e s e choirs often broaden their repertoire to include regional folk songs, religious hymns, and pieces connected with local customs and dialects. S o m e e n s e m b l e s a d d songs rooted in their very own geographic and cultural c o n t e x t s , l i k e t h e C o r o Soreghina of Genoa, which includes Ligurian dialect in its performances. In Abruz- zo, the Coro della Portella draws on the region's seismic history and resilient commu- nities, particularly in the wake of the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake. Newer groups, like the Coro Alpino Rive del Sangro in Pescasseroli, founded in 2014, show how the tradition continues to grow and adapt, integrating historical memory with con- temporary local identity. The choirs are still pre- dominantly male, and while not all members are former Alpini, they often perform in traditional uniforms, com- p l e t e w i t h t h e s i g n a t u r e feathered hat. Public perfor- mances are especially mov- ing during national Alpine g a t h e r i n g s , k n o w n a s Adunate – events that draw large audiences from all over Italy – where choirs from a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y c o m e together to celebrate shared heritage. D e s p i t e t h e i r m i l i t a r y associations, the songs of the C o r i A l p i n i o f t e n c a r r y deeply pacifist and reflective tones, as they rarely speak of conquest, but rather of loss, brotherhood, and the price of conflict. The raw emotion and authenticity of their per- formances have earned them a broad audience, and they remain popular across gener- ational and political divides. Many listeners, even those unfamiliar with the specifics of Alpine military history, are m o v e d b y t h e u n i v e r s a l themes of sacrifice, home, a n d r e s i l i e n c e t h a t e c h o through the music. Today, Cori Alpini per- f o r m i n a w i d e r a n g e o f venues, from local churches a n d m o u n t a i n r e f u g e s t o concert halls and interna- tional festivals, with pro- g r a m s m i x i n g e n s e m b l e pieces with solo segments. T h e i r c o n c e r t s a r e o f t e n characterized by the pres- ence of both narrative and song, to convey both histori- c a l m e m o r y a n d c u l t u r a l pride; some even incorporate sound effects, such as train whistles or clinking cups, to r e c r e a t e t h e s e t t i n g s a n d experiences sketched by the lyrics. Many groups continue to tour abroad, strengthening I t a l y ' s c u l t u r a l p r e s e n c e while forging bonds with Italian communities over- seas, but the choirs are also known to play a role in edu- cational and civic initiatives, preserving regional dialects and customs through music: some are organized as cultur- al associations or non-prof- i t s , a n d u s e t h e i r p e r f o r - mances to raise funds for local causes or to support veterans and disaster recov- ery efforts. Today, as younger genera- tions become involved, the tradition is evolving: modern e n s e m b l e s e x p l o r e n e w arrangements and composi- tions and sometimes collabo- rate with orchestras or incor- p o r a t e c o n t e m p o r a r y instrumentation. The Cori Alpini remain still today guardians of mem- ory, regional identity, and emotional truth; their music, grounded in a specific histor- ical and geographical con- text, has taken on a broader cultural significance, and speaks to the enduring bonds of brotherhood formed under hardship, to the importance of remembering those who c a m e b e f o r e , a n d t o t h e power of music to carry sto- ries across generations. In a world were the past is often forgotten or miscon- strued to fit partisan narra- tives, the voices of the Cori Alpini continue to rise from Italy's mountains, steady and clear, reminding listeners of the quiet heroism of those who came before, and still endures in music. A national memory made of music: how the Cori Alpini help preserving Italy's alpine identity CHIARA D'ALESSIO Alpini, with their well-known hat, singing together. The first cori formed as a way to stay together after the war (Image created with DALL-E 2) LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE

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