The Elegies
Inno di Garibaldi, PP.138.13
Ponchielli's setting of Alessio Olivieri's Inno di Garibaldi seems drawn from the Piacenza band repertoire. Its appearance in the Cremona collection indicates (perhaps) that Piacenza had washed its hands of the band business after Ponchielli's departure. There is no complete history of the creation of the words or the music except that it was first performed on December 31, 1848. Its original title included "Inno di guerra dei Cacciatori delle Alpi" or "War Anthem of the Alpine Scouts." One should assume that Luigi Mercantini's stirring poetry occurred prior to Olivieri's musical setting. In a nineteenth century piano/vocal setting, Olivieri is identified as the bandmaster of the King's Second Regimental Brigade.
As he had done on numerous occasions, Ponchielli "improved" Olivieri's original setting. The opening fanfare begins without pickups, and the refrain is set in common time, a fine point that a sophisticated musician like Ponchielli would realize. This version is important for those who also wish to perform the Sulla Tomba di Garibaldi as this is the actual source for Ponchielli's realization of the melody. Ponchielli's score is merely a sketch with repeated phrases omitted and the brief interlude substantially rewritten.
Please note, the score includes the settings for all four verses of the anthem. The actual Fine occurs at the end of the refrain, so if one desires to play the anthem with the interlude, minimally two verses are to be performed. The present texts represent the 1870 version of verses three and four. Eventually, all five verses will be available for those who wish an "original" version of the text.
Olivieri died of pneumonia in Cremona, forgotten until 1902 when the plaque below was installed in the wall of the courtyard of Cremona's city hall. There is no sign that Ponchielli was even aware of his existence.
The plaque reads:
Among the great beams of lights
thrust into the centuries from the époque of Garibaldi
we must not extinguish the name of a humble soldier
ALESSIO OLIVIERI
Bandmaster of the 2nd Regiment of the Savoyard Brigade
who from the stirring words of Luigi Mercantini
drew the fateful anthem
that resounded from San Fermo to Mentana
the aroused heroism of that solemn hour
for the people's liberty
"Open the graves, Raise the Dead"
Born in Genoa February 15, 1830 Died in Cremona March 13, 1867
Dedicated by the City July 6, 1902
Date on score: None Given
Performances: None can be ascertained