Anvil Chorus

	Coro di zingari (3:06) Courtesy of Musopen
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The Anvil Chorus is the English name for the Coro di zingari (Italian for "Gypsy chorus"), a chorus from act 2, scene 1 of Giuseppe Verdi's 1853 opera Il trovatore. It depicts Spanish Gypsies striking their anvils at dawn – hence its English name – and singing the praises of hard work, good wine, and Gypsy women. The piece is also commonly known by its opening words, "Vedi! Le fosche".

Thomas Baker wrote Il Trovatore Quadrille (1855) for piano, which includes a movement based on this chorus.^[1] Similarly, pianist/composer Charles Grobe wrote variations on the Anvil Chorus for piano in 1857.^[2] A swing jazz arrangement by Jerry Gray for the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1941 reached #3 on the U.S. Billboard charts.^[3]

Italian libretto and poetic English adaptation

Zingari e zingare: —Vedi! Le fosche notturne spoglie —De' cieli sveste l'immensa volta; —Sembra una vedova che alfin si toglie —i bruni panni ond'era involta. —All'opra! all'opra! —Dàgli, martella. —Chi del gitano i giorni abbella? —La zingarella! Uomini: —Versami un tratto; lena e coraggio —Il corpo e l'anima traggon dal bere. Tutti: —Oh guarda, guarda! del sole un raggio —Brilla più vivido nel mio [tuo] bicchiere! —All'opra, all'opra! —Dàgli, martella. —Chi del gitano i giorni abbella? —La zingarella![1] ^ Italian and English text

Gypsy men and women: —See how the clouds melt away —from the face of the sky when the sun shines, its brightness beaming; —just as a widow, discarding her black robes, —shows all her beauty in brilliance gleaming. —So, to work now! —Lift up your hammers! —Who turns the Gypsy's day from gloom to brightest sunshine? —His lovely Gypsy maid! Men: —Fill up the goblets! New strength and courage —flow from lusty wine to soul and body. All: —See how the rays of the sun play and sparkle —and give to our wine gay new splendor. —So, to work now! —Lift up your hammers! —Who turns the Gypsy's day from gloom to brightest sunshine? —His lovely Gypsy maid!

References

1. Il Trovatore Quadrille by Thomas Baker: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
2. Anvil Chorus, Op. 910, by Charles Grobe: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
3. "Billboard Magazine (USA) Weekly Single Charts For 1941". Hits of All Decades. Retrieved September 14, 2016.