Italian Rant reel

This tune is best known as La Mantovana, notated in (among other sources) Il Solaro by Gasparo Zanetti (fl. 1620s - 1645). John Playford included it in several publications, including later editions of The English Dancing-Master. The first section is also related to the principal theme from Smetana’s ‘The Moldau’ and the Israeli National Anthem ‘Hatikvah’.

Why is it here?

Presumably for 8 reasons

The tune is shown here as in A minor (no sharps or flats and I stand ready to be corrected) but I think it is more commonly played in G minor. We try to play this in our Four Marks Folk Band Sessions. I am told there is a C part to the tune.

I’ve learnt it in G Minor too, from the Steward Hardy CD Hawthorn’s Sweeter Shade.

Just edited the second setting as I realised it’s not quite what is being played
P

It would be a strange Irish Trad Session indeed that played the Israeli National Anthem!!!

https://youtu.be/KK1Im3cvpz8

play video

Does anyone know the C part?

I have so much to say about this tune, but I don’t think saying it in English will convey the true meaning of my words, so I shall speak Italian:
👍👏👏🤌👋🙏🖖👋

Just in different keys!
And Annonymous_Piper… 🤌 yes indeed, that sums it all up

Some variations on Gian’s setting 🙂

It’s a little rude and more than a little intolerant posting rhetorical questions like “why is it here” in response to non-Celtic music, when a contributor has spent time and effort transcribing, researching and posting an interesting tune. This challenging behaviour often pops up here in response to Southern European tunes, which many Subscribers find stimulating and those accompanying international dancers find useful, given the dearth of transcriptions elsewhere. Bravo Alancorsini for starting this post, and the many who added to our understanding of this fascinating tune

It’s a fair question, which twelve years later still hasn’t had an answer.

Maybe Camael’s answer is to be found in his leaving us 12 years ago

“It’s a little rude and more than a little intolerant posting rhetorical questions like “why is it here” in response to non-Celtic music, when a contributor has spent time and effort transcribing, researching and posting an interesting tune.”
I cannot agree! ‘Interesting’ does not qualify it as an Irish session tune, and that’s what this site is all about. The question is reasonable.

A lovely tune. Great to find it here, along with several other Playford tunes and loadza Scottish. What a useful resource The Session is. Thank you, Jeremy.