Overview
The prologue song, “Calitri Skies” or “I Cieli Calitrani,” celebrates the lovely Italian village of Calitri, Italy and its people. The song pays homage to the many Calitrani people represented in this Ancestry story and many other families with ancestry roots from Calitri. This homage is equally offered to those Calitrani who immigrated to the United States and those who were born and remained in Calitri over many generations.
The epilogue song, “Pavarotti Sings Forever,” celebrates Italy and its history and its culture and all things Italian or “Tutte Cose Italiane.” The Calitrani, whether they lived their lives in Calitri or other parts of Italy; or immigrated to the United States and other places; are part of the Italian tradition and history and the many things Italian.
Simply click on the link below to go to YouTube to hear the song and see the lyrics. You can go directly to YouTube at any time when not on this website, and do your own search by entering the name of the song, “Calitrani Skies” in the YouTube search engine.
For both songs the music and the lyrics were written by Richard Nannariello, the first generation American son of Canio Nannariello. The vocals are performed by Anna Maria Soprano, also known as, Anna Maria Cavicchia. Anna Maria is a marvelously talented Italian soprano born and raised in Udine Italy, not far from Venezia. Anna Maria has performed for more than three decades in Italy and the Dominican Republic and the United States. Anna Maria and her family live in Ormond Beach, Florida. She has many songs on YouTube that can be accessed by entering “Anna Maria Soprano.” There are more than fifty songs written by Richard Nannariello with vocals by Anna Maria Soprano.
Prologue Song: Calitrani Skies
“Calitrani Skies” honors all those born in Calitri, Italy, in the region of Compania, the province of Avellino. It also honors their successors in Calitri and the United States and so many places around the world, who continue to celebrate their Calitrani origins and traditions and legacy.
One of those many Calitrani who started their life’s journey in Calitri was Canio Nannariello (1901-1988). His legacy initially inspired the idea of writing this Ancestry of Calitri that included his life and the lives of so many other Nannariello’s and other families.
The song arrangement is by Matt McKeown of Sound Mind Studios, Holly Hills, Florida. View the video below to hear the song and see the lyrics. The lyrics also follow.
Lyrics
Chorus
Where their dreams have all begun
Born under Calitrani skies
The hills where first they saw the sun
Shining in their Calitrani eyes
Where their hearts shall ever live
Each Calitrani heart still lies
On the shining hills of old Calitri
Beneath the Calitrani skies
Beneath the Calitrani skies
Verse
For many countless centuries
This mountain has been their home
Underneath Italian skies
Blessed by the Almighty and ruled by Rome
Calitri lived before da Vinci
With its sunlit mountain view
Generations lived loved and laughed
Living dreams both old and new
Shepherds led sheep to pastures
They made the pecorino cheese
They walked the sunlit vineyards
Drank summer wine beneath the trees
On many lovely summer nights
Families walked their passegiata
Mandolins so gently playing
Moonlight shined on the piazza
Moonlight shined on the piazza
Chorus
Where their dreams have all begun
Born under Calitrani skies
The hills where first they saw the sun
Shining in their Calitrani eyes
Where their hearts shall ever live
Each Calitrani heart still lies
On shining hills of Calitri
Beneath the Calitrani skies
Beneath the Calitrani skies
Verse
Whitewashed homes painted by the sun
The pastures green and filled with sheep
Where Calitrani dreams begun
Now many generations sleep
Many ventured across the seas
Too many never to return
America offered a dream
In their hearts that dream did burn
All Calitrani should return
To see the Calitrani skies
Returning to old Calitri
For hearts and minds would be wise
Italia sweet Italia
Many left you to seek their fate
America sweet America
Keep our Calitrani warm and safe
Keep our Calitrani warm and safe
Chorus
Where their dreams have all begun
Born under Calitrani skies
The hills where first they saw the sun
Shining in their Calitrani eyes
Where their hearts shall ever live
Each Calitrani heart still lies
On the shining hills of old Calitri
Beneath the Calitrani skies
Beneath the Calitrani skies
Release
Molti erano nati
(Many were born)
Sotto i cieli Calitrani
(Under Calitrani skies)
Tutti coloro nati
(All of those born)
In Calitri sono paisani
(in Calitri are paisans)
Calitri vive in ogni cuore
(Calitri lives in every heart)
Sempre sempre sempre sempre
(Always, always, always, always)
Rimarremo tutti Calitrani
(We shall remain Calitrani)
Chorus
Where their dreams have all begun
Born under Calitrani skies
The hills where first they saw the sun
Shining in their Calitrani eyes
Where their hearts shall ever live
Each Calitrani heart still lies
On the shining hills of old Calitri
Beneath the Calitrani skies
Beneath the Calitrani skies
Beneath the Calitrani skies
Epilogue Song: Pavarotti Sings Forever
The song, “ Pavarotti Sings Forever ” was written several years ago and was inspired by the great Italian tenor, Luciano Pavarotti. The music and lyrics are by Richard Nannariello; the vocal is by Anna Maria Soprano, also known as Anna Maria Cavicchia; and the arrangement is by Massimo Passon, a wonderful and creative arranger from Udine, Italy.
The song is a celebration of Luciano Pavarotti and his career and his marvelous rendition of one of the most famous of all opera arias, namely “Vincero” or “Let No One Sleep.” The “Vincero” aria is from the final act of Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Turandot.”
This Ancestry website attempts to tell the story of people and their lives, families, significant events, dates, accomplishments, lineage, etc. However, the Ancestry takes place in “times” and in “places.” A significant part of those times and places are in Italy and among many Italian history and cultures. For millenniums Italy has influenced World and Western and European history and culture. The influence has been dictated by any number of circumstances such as the fact Italy is a peninsula; it’s geographical location in Europe; its location in the Mediterranean; the vast number of countries and cultures that been imported into what is now Italy; the dominance of the Roman Empire for so many centuries; and the list could go on.
This song and the music are used as a canvas and backdrop for presenting literally hundreds of Italian topics that have become part of Italian history and culture.
Please enjoy the music and the vocal lyrics and the video that prompts us to consider so much of Italian history and culture. Enjoy!