L’uva Fogarina [Teresina imbriagona] (Settentrione) – Italian Folk Ensemble

Theresine piss-pot (Northern)
From the concert “Il Calendario dell’altra Italia” (The calendar of the other Italy) by the Italian Folk Ensemble – Adelaide, Australia November 2015. Performance of traditional and popular songs of the Italian people.
This is a medley of four songs. The first, belongs to the harvest repertoire; hence, the reference to the varietal wine made from the ‘Fogarina’ grapes, common in Emilia – and Theresine likes this wine very much! The second song, comes from the Veneto area; it is a parody on maidens who find farm work ‘such a bore!’ The third, belongs to the Tosco-Apennine tradition; it be cries the fact that these maidens, are inept even in basic household chores! The last song from the Maremma, is a retort by wives: the husbands squander their time away at the local inn, while they struggle at home.
Seguono quattro canti. Il primo, appartiene al repertorio della vendemmia; quindi, il riferimento al vino fatto con l’uva ‘Fogarina’, comune nell’Emilia – a Teresina piace molto questo vino! Il secondo canto, viene dal Veneto; è una parodia sulle ragazze che trovano il lavoro dei campi ‘una tale noia!’ Il terzo, fa parte della tradizione Tosco-Appenninica, e deplora che queste ragazze non sono neanche capaci di fare le più elementari faccende domestiche! L’ultimo canto viene dalla Maremma, ed è un ritorto da parte delle mogli: i mariti sprecano il loro tempo nell’osteria, mentre le mogli tribolano a casa.
E com’è bella l’uva fogarina
e com’è bello saperla vendemmiar
a far l’amor con la miai bella
a far l’amore in mezzo al pra’
Drindindin drindindin
Drindindin din din din din
Drindindin drindindin
Drindindin din din din din
E com’è bella l’uva fogarina
e com’è bello saperla vendemmiar
a far l’amor con la miai bella
a far l’amore in mezzo al pra’
Filar la ‘n vol filar
cusir la non sa far
al sol della campagna
al sol della campagna
Filar la ‘n vol filar
cusir la non sa far
al sol della campagna
la dis ch’al ghe fa mal.
Teresina imbriaguna
poca voia ad lavurar
la s’è tolta una vestaglia
la gh’ l’ha ‘ncura da pagar
Cüsir non sa cüsir
ricamar non sa come far
le donne sono diavoli
le donne sono diavoli
Cüsir non sa cüsir
ricamar non sa come far
le donne sono diavoli
di prima qualità
Drindindin drindindin
Drindindin din din din din
Drindindin drindindin
Drindindin din din din din
Dirindina la malcontenta
Babbo gode e mamma stenta
Babbo va all’osteria
Mamma tribola tutta via
Drindindin drindindin
Drindindin din din din din
Drindindin drindindin
Drindindin din din din din
Teresina imbriaguna
poca voia ad lavurar
la s’è tolta una vestaglia
la gh’ l’ha ‘ncura da pagar!
And how beautiful the Fogarina grapes are
and it’s great to know how to pick them
to make love with my beauty
to make love in the middle of the meadow
Drindindin drindindin
…
And how beautiful the Fogarina grapes are
and it’s great to know how to pick them
to make love with my beauty
To make love in the middle of the field
She does not want to spin [at the wheel]
she can’t sew
the sun of the fields
the sun of the fields
She does not want to spin
she can’t sew
the sun of the fields
she says it’s bad for her
Drunken Teresina
is not keen on work
she purchased a robe in instalments
has yet to pay it off
She does not know how to sew
nor how to embroider
women are devils
of the first-class
She does not know how to sew
…
Drindindin drindindin
…

Dirindina the disgruntled
dad has a good t ime at the pub and mum has to struggle
dad goes to the inn
mum is always in misery
Drindindin drindindin …

Drunken Teresina
is not keen on work
she has purchased a robe in instalments
has yet to pay it off!
The Italian Folk Ensemble (Adelaide) has been for over 40 years, studying and performing traditional and popular songs and dances of the Italian people, fully respecting their individual musical style and their cultural context. These songs cover a wide spectrum of emotions and experiences of the people of Italy through the ages, and as such, they are a unique medium to learn Italian culture and history.
Graphic: Harvest time – Daniel Ridgway Knight (1839-1924)
Woman spinning wheel – Irish photographer Timothy O’Sullivan.