The "Anvil Chorus" is the English name for the [1] (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, "".
Le fosche notturne spoglieDe' cieli sveste l'immensa volta;Sembra una vedova che alfin si togliei 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 coraggioIl corpo e l'anima traggon dal bere. Tutti:Oh guarda, guarda | del sole un raggioBrilla più vivido nel mio [tuo] bicchiere!All'opra, all'opra | Chi del gitano i giorni abbella?La zingarella![2] | 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 courageflow from lusty wine to soul and body. All:See how the rays of the sun play and sparkleand give to our wine gay new splendor.So, to work now | Who turns the Gypsy's day from gloom to brightest sunshine?His lovely Gypsy maid! |
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Thomas Baker wrote Il Trovatore Quadrille (1855) for piano, which includes a movement based on this chorus. Similarly, pianist/composer Charles Grobe wrote variations on the Anvil Chorus for piano in 1857.
A swing jazz arrangement by Jerry Gray for the Glenn Miller Orchestra released on RCA Bluebird in 1941 reached #3 on the U.S. Billboard charts.[3] [4]
The melodic theme also served as the inspiration for "Rockin' the Anvil" for swing jazz ensemble and accordion on John Serry Sr.'s 1956 album Squeeze Play. [5] [6]
The tune of the chorus was closely parodied in "The Burglar's Chorus" ("With cat-like tread") in Gilbert and Sullivan's 1879 comic opera The Pirates of Penzance, and soon after became a popular song with the lyrics Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here.[7]