An arrangement, by Doug McPherson, of the song “Bella Ciao“, an Italian partisan song which originated during the Italian civil war, in which the Italian Resistance and the Italian Co-Belligerent Army fought together and defeated the forces of the Fascist Italian Social Republic. It is used worldwide as a hymn of freedom and resistance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bella_ciao
Scroll Down for Practice Tracks
Herman Saftleven via WikiMedia Commons
The first arrangement, 1.v, is with an introduction, (a march), and then the 6 verses, without any solos. The last line of the last verse is repeated.
Click here for the sheet music.
Click here for the sheet music in Em.
(Guitarists can use a capo on the 3rd fret.)
Click here for the Italian lyrics, large font!
Practice tracks
On PC right click on title to download.
Practice your own part, and then practice singing along with the all parts track.
Arrangement 1.2: Verse Only.
Click Here for the Sheet Music (Verse Only, pdf)
Practice Tracks: Verse Only
Click on title to download.
Practice your own part, and then practice singing along with the all parts track.
Alto
Click here for the Italian lyrics, in word format.
Click here for Italian lyrics with an English translation.
Click here for a MIDI file of the arrangement.
Lyrics
- Una mattina, mi son svegliato,
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao,
Una mattina, mi son svegliato, Eo ho trovato l’invasor! - O partigiano, porta mi via,
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao,
O partigiano, porta mi via, Che mi sento di morir! - E se io muoio, da partigiano,
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao,
E se io muoio, da partigiano, Tu mi devi seppellir! - Mi seppellire, lassù in montagna,
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao,
Mi seppellire lassù in montagna,
Sotto l’ombra di un bel fiore! - E le genti che passeranno,
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao,
E le genti che passeranno, Mi diranno: “Che bel fior”! - È questo il fiore, del partigiano,
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao,
È questo il fiore, del partigiano, Morto per la libertà!
Here are a couple of performances to listen to. My arrangement uses the Goran Bregovic performance as a starting point. (Scroll down for an arrangement incorporating the Bregovic introduction and bridge).
https://youtu.be/aGh8f3iQ1pE
But the Red Army Choir is always worth a listen:
And here is a kind of punk folk version, from an Italian group incorporating Celtic themes.
Click here for a midi file of the arrangement with introduction and bridge/solo.
Practice Track with introduction and solo, (all parts).