In addition to autonomy, the Veneto wants its own anthem: "This time it will be done", promises the League

In addition to autonomy, the Veneto wants its own anthem: "This time it will be done", promises the League



Photo by Filippo Venezia, via Ansa

Between folklore and parochialism

Francesco Gottardi

FdI also agrees, the proposal towards white smoke in the Council. But separatism has nothing to do with it: Zaia's would be the sixth Italian region to have its own official song. And in Europe it is almost the rule

There is the euphoria of great occasions. “With the signature of the President of the Republic on the bill for differentiated autonomy”, the governor recently declared Luca Zaia, “the reform takes a decisive step forward”. In short, Veneto feels that it has never been so close to honoring the fateful 2017 referendum. And that it can truly bring home "the mother of all battles", as old-fashioned Northern League supporters call it. So much so that in the Regional Council one wonders: what if we didn't have music to celebrate right at the climax? The official one, at least. Because to date, the most federalist region in Italy does not have its own anthem. And on the crest of the wave, the administrators of the Carroccio also want to resolve this age-old symbolic question. That emancipating oneself from the capital by singing "slave of Rome" risks being a bit out of tune.

The proposal arrived in the classroom at the urging of Giuseppe Pan, group leader in the Council very close to the undersecretary of state Massimo Bitonci (and therefore to Salvini). This time, it is common belief, the anthem will take place. La Liga has tried several times for years, coming very close: in 2018 the initiative was wrecked by just one vote. Fault of the allies, between the strong opposition of Forza Italia and the abstention of FdI. But today things have changed. As the Gazzettino explains, while at the time a change to the regional statute was requested, now we are proceeding with an ordinary law proposal. Therefore, the simple majority is enough, no longer the qualified one.

And perhaps the risk would not even arise. Because in the meantime the Melonians have changed their minds: they let it be known "that citizens' priorities are different", but in the Sixth Commission they voted in favor of the Pan bill. “The Veneto, which boasts a continuous history as a unitary people lasting more than a millennium, cannot fail to have its own anthem”, he explains. “Especially today, when the Venetians have expressed themselves en masse to obtain greater autonomy from Rome”. Tanko tones on the bell tower, actually not. “We need a piece that represents our identity and our culture, perhaps in the Venetian language. But it shouldn't be exploited politically: once decided it will be integrated into the anthems of Italy and Europe”.

The argument of the Northern League is that having "a hymn recognized at a local and institutional level" would by no means be unique. Nor would it imply anything irredentist. In fact, in our country, five regions already have their very personal ceremonial songs: three with special status, such as Sicily ("Madreterra", by Vincenzo Spampinato, chosen in 2003), Valle d'Aosta ("Montagnes Valdôtaines", composed Alfred Roland in 1832, official since 2006) and Sardinia (“Su patriotu sardu a sos feudatarios”, written by Francesco Ignazio Mannu in 1794 and adopted in 2018). Then from 2014 there is also "Lombardia, Lombardia", signed by Mario Lavezzi-Giulio Rapetti Mogol. And even the unsuspected Marches, for over fifteen years, have been singing the untitled song by Giovanni Allevi and Giacomo Greganti.

Same music around Europe, there's not even need to bother the delicate British situation. The "Bayernhymne", which has been Germany's largest Länder since 1946, even enjoys legal protection. The states of Hamburg, Baden-Wüttemberg, Hesse and Saarland also sing their own song. Alsace, Brittany, Corsica and Provence do the same in France. All the Dutch provinces and all the Austrian federated states have their own anthem. And all the Spanish comunidades autónomas, regardless of the more or less tense pro-independence winds. In this sense, the Veneto pass would be much closer to folklore (or parochialism: you decide) than to very serene separatisms.

So, barring improbable palace reversals, one question remains: what will be sung from the Po to the Dolomites? In fact, Pan's proposal does not provide for a specific symphony. This will be decided at a later time, by a group appointed by the Councilor for Culture who in turn will present the candidate piece to the commission. The last step of the process provides for the definitive approval of the Zaia junta. But in the meantime the entire anthem has already started. Among the great favourites, thanks to the candidacy in 2018, there is "Na Bandiera, na léngoa, na storia": text in dialect, rearrangement by Luciano Brunelli, music taken from none other than the "Juditha triumphans" by Antonio Vivaldi, which composed on behalf of Doge Giovanni Corner in 1716. Also on the winged lion side there would already be a solemn "Hymn to San Marco", of uncertain attribution. Someone, half-jokingly, suggested the famous "Marieta rides a gondola".

And yet we remain in Venice, with the postcards. The pop novelty would instead be “Veneto alè alè”, created by two local influencers, Cristian Cisco and Andreas Ronco, and presented by Zaia herself in December 2021. It is a pressing, pan-regional tune: between self-irony – “Veneto is a people who drink and is vulgar” – and current affairs – Canova and Del Piero, Marco Polo and Bebe Vio are mentioned. In short, De gustibus, for those who prefer lightness to tradition. Last note, for the avoidance of doubt and to the displeasure of the fanatics: innoveneto.org exists but it is the site of a research center for technological innovation. But if in doubt, double check.



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