Anvil Chorus

Template:Short description {{#invoke:Listen|main}} The {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Italian for "Gypsy chorus"),<ref>The Ricordi score uses the title "Coro di Zingari", not "degli Zingari", on p. 100 of its score.</ref> known in English as the "Anvil Chorus", is 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, "{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}".

Italian libretto and poetic English adaptation

<poem>Zingari e zingare: Template:0Vedi! le fosche notturne spoglie Template:0De' cieli sveste l'immensa vôlta; Template:0Sembra una vedova che alfin si toglie Template:0i bruni panni ond'era involta. Template:0All'opra! all'opra! Template:0Dàgli! Martella! Template:0Chi del gitano i giorni abbella? Template:0La zingarella! Uomini: Template:0Versami un tratto; lena e coraggio Template:0Il corpo e l'anima traggon dal bere. Tutti: Template:0Oh guarda, guarda! del sole un raggio Template:0Brilla più vivido nel mio [tuo] bicchiere! Template:0All'opra, all'opra! Template:0Chi del gitano i giorni abbella? Template:0La zingarella!<ref>Italian and English text</ref></poem>

<poem>Gypsy men and women: Template:0See how the clouds melt away Template:0from the face of the sky when the sun shines, its brightness beaming; Template:0just as a widow, discarding her black robes, Template:0shows all her beauty in brilliance gleaming. Template:0So, to work now! Template:0Lift up your hammers! Template:0Who turns the Gypsy's day from gloom to brightest sunshine? Template:0His lovely Gypsy maid! Men: Template:0Fill up the goblets! New strength and courage Template:0flow from lusty wine to soul and body. All: Template:0See how the rays of the sun play and sparkle Template:0and give to our wine gay new splendor. Template:0So, to work now! Template:0Who turns the Gypsy's day from gloom to brightest sunshine? Template:0His lovely Gypsy maid!</poem>

Other uses

Template:External media Thomas Baker wrote Il Trovatore Quadrille (1855) for piano, which includes a movement based on this chorus.<ref>Template:IMSLP</ref> Similarly, pianist/composer Charles Grobe wrote variations on the Anvil Chorus for piano in 1857.<ref>Template:IMSLP</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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. <ref> "Rockin the Anvil" as described on the album Squeeze Play (DLP-3024) in 1956 performed by John Serry on Archive.org</ref><ref>Squeeze Play Featuring the Dynamic Accordion of John Serry album listing includes the song Rockin the Anvil on discogs.com</ref>

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.<ref name="Taruskin2006">Template:Cite book</ref>