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The song “Bella ciao“ was sung by the anti-fascist resistance movement active in Italy between 1943 and 1945. The author of the lyrics is unknown; the music and spirit of the song is based on a folk song sung by rice-weeders on the River Po basin in the early part of the 20th century -- “Alla mattina appena alzata“. A version of this song was recorded for music researchers by Italian folk singer Giovanna Daffini in 1962.[1] Other similar versions of the antecedents of “Bella ciao“ appeared over the years, indicating that “Alla mattina appena alzata“ must have been composed in the latter half of the 19th century.[2] The earliest written version is dated 1906 and comes from near Vercelli, Piedmont.[3]Another interpretation of the melody has been given following the discovery in 2006 by Fausto Giovannardi of the CD “Klezmer -- Yiddish swing music“ including the melody “Dus Zekele Koilen“ played in 1919 by Mishka Ziganoff.
