Il Canto Imperiale

Il Canto Imperiale (Luthorian: Imperial Song) is an ode written and set in music by Luciano Galimberti in 4671 who won a public competion organized by the Istalian Imperial House in occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Istalian Empire to commemorate the event. The Song was performed for the first time the 1th September at the presence of the Emperor Alessandro II during the concerts held in Palace Square, in front of Quattroregni Palace, as part of the great celebrations.

The Song is a Ode in four stanzas of eight verses set in music on a [melody inspired by a dundorfian patriotic hymn] which some istalian music expertises and historicians said to have been written by a pupil of Giorgio Federico Andali, the well-known Istalian composer who became a master of baroque music at the court of the dundorfian Kaisers influencing the artanian and world music. The dundorfian composer wrote the hymn starting from a composition by his master which was found inside a music research on the most ancient artanian musical tradition which Andali pursued in his last years: the popular ballad which inspired Andali and in turn his pupil belonged to a remote pre-migration deltarian community in ancient Ikradon, some of the last in Artania, with great similarity with similar ballad found in Deltaria, although influenced by the majatran continent.

"First Stanza: Fate keep the fatherland's soil, And keep our emperor! In the law that is his support May he rule us with wise love. Let's stand up as a shield, the ancestral crown Defend us against every aggressor,

Two times: May the throne of Istalia always be united with the fate of Appiano.

Second Stanza: Pious and honest, true and open, Of right and duty; And let run, if need To sustain the battle! Remembering the wounds That covered us with laurels;

Two times: We will give body and soul To country, to our fate.

Third Stanza: To the beautiful treasures of industry May the good warrior be guardian; May skills and learning Have bloodless and gentle triumphs! May Heaven bless and make Glorious our country's ground,

Two times: And may the sun always shine peacefully Over Istalia!

Fourth Stanza: Let us be in agreement; in united strength Is the core of power; Old undertakings will be completed If there is concord among us. Let us be brothers, and may one thought And one heart join us; Ne congiunga e un sol cor;

Two times: May this Empire last eternally, May the Fate save the Emperor!"

Use
The Imperial Song, as stated by the Imperial Household, must be played on the most important occasions concerning the Emperor and the Imperial Family. If both the Canto and the National Anthem are to be performed, the Canto must always follow the National Anthem. During such events, usually only the 1st and 4th stanzas are sung while the complete version is performed during concerts or other music-focused events.

Finally, during most formal occasions when in presence of His Majesty the Emperor, the Song must be introduced and opened by a brief fanfare trumpets' piece composed for the occasion.