The crafts of the past
Il magnano e l’arrotino
In this vein of Italian Folk music the figures of the Tinsmith Magnano and the Knife Grinder are also told. Two professional figures practically disappeared.
The Magnano (the tinsmith):
The tinsmith was a widespread profession in the late 1800s and early 1900s throughout Italy. Magnano is a dialect expression which means tinsmith. Specifically, he was the one who repaired the pots which in those days were mainly made of copper and tin.
The song that tells it is a popular song in Milanese dialect with a comic content, that clean, healthy comedy, full of double meanings, which I often like to call “our grandparents’ cabaret”.
The comedy of this song makes it always alive and loved, we have also tried to enhance its cheerful aspects.
Video – L’arrotino + el muleta
Un abbraccio/ a big Hug
Marcus Dardi
