I 've just been offered some CDs and I thought you'd like to know about them because music threads keep popping up regularly and more particularly this one abt Nino Rota .

1) They're called La Musica della Mafia-Il canto di Malavita and La Musica delle Mafia-Omertà, Onuri e Sangu . That's to say traditional Mafia music, more precisely music of the 'Ndrangheta, the Calabrian Mafia (hence it is sung or spoken in the Calabrian dialect-which is close to the Sicilian one as far as I know). The thick inner booklets tell the story and the history of those songs + reveal the lyrics (translated into 4 languages).

Here's a short extract :
"(This CD) is the continuation of a musical journey through a chapter of Southern Italian cultural history that is as dark as it is fascinating. [...] Musical melodiousness starkly contrasts with the utter clarity of the inherited song lyrics. If the listener is first shocked by the initial bloodthirstiness, he won't be able to deny the fascinating poetry of the words that have been taken from the code of honour of the old 'Ndrangheta."

The tunes clearly remind you of the GF music and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Nino Rota knew them !

Some self-explanatory titles : There Is No Forgiveness, Ballad for a Dead Man, Sing For My Destiny, When a Young Man Wants To Become a Criminal, Dialogue between Criminals, Blood Cries For Blood, The Traitors, The Law of Silence, Who Fails Pays, Belonging to the Society, Law of Honour, Farewell 'Ndrangheta.

I highly recommend these CDs to those of you who dream of joining the Mafia, it's the perfect How-To guide ! Or you can simply relax and enjoy the beauty of the music.

Check for yourself on the website for the full story, some of the lyrics, press articles + 3 downloadable songs.

2) Another CD entitled "O Sole Mio : Italian arias, songs and mandolins" contains a traditional song that reminds me of the GF theme like none other. It's called "Dicintancello vuje" and is sung by Beniamino Gigli (an opera singer). I'd swear Rota knew it, several phrases are really too similar to be only coincidental !

I also discovered that the oboe sequence in Verdi's "Quando le sere al placido" from the opera "Luisa Miller" sounds exactly like the one in GF...

Oh well , all musicians steal from one another, it's always been that way and will always be, for the joy of music lovers.

Little old news , check this topic Old News from a year ago. No hard feelings because that cd rules.

It's the music of my country

scusi Don_Michel ma , you haven't read my post entirely.

OK, I admit that I missed this old post you mentioned BUT I said that vol.II of the malavita songs has just been published in 2002, so it IS new, right ?

And you haven't read my 2nd point...
No hard feelings.

Almammater

I kinda got confused there...
what are the names of the cd called again? and there are 2 volumes out?

tae soo

I put the titles in italics in my first post :
vol. I is called La Musica della Mafia-Il canto di Malavita
and vol. II : La Musica delle Mafia-Omertà, Onuri e Sangu

The record co has a web page as well but I don't know if they sell overseas.

Alma

BlahHh.. so they won't be selling it in the US?!
GrrRr... this is fustrating only if I had a couple French connections in my state I could get anything I want from France.. including cheese and some nice bread...

tae soo

I didn't say they wouldn't be selling overseas, I said I didn't know. You'll have to check yourself.

As for French food : some French companies sell their products to America but I guess it's very expensive because of the shipping.

It's like I can't buy in America from France 'cuz the shipping costs as much if not more than the items themselves !

I've just sent you a PM in reply to your previous mail.

Almammater

It's going to be hard.. guess I'll check Best Buy.. they have a large selection of music. If they don't have it I don't know where else they would...