During his long career, Rota was an extraordinarily prolific composer, especially of music for the cinema. He wrote more than 150 scores for Italian and international productions from the 1930s until his death in 1979—an average of three scores each year over a 46-year period, and in his most productive period from the late 1940s to the mid-1950s he wrote as many as ten scores every year, and sometimes more, with a remarkable thirteen film scores to his credit in 1954. Alongside this great body of film work, he composed ten operas, five ballets and dozens of other orchestral, choral and chamber works, the best known being his string concerto. He also composed the music for many theatre productions by Visconti, Zeffirelli and Eduardo De Filippo as well as maintaining a long teaching career at the Liceo Musicale in Bari, Italy, where he was the director for almost 30 years.
Rota was born Giovanni Rota Rinaldi on 3 December 1911, into a musical family in Milan. Rota was a renowned child prodigy—his first oratorio, L'infanzia di San Giovanni Battista, was written at age 11 and performed in Milan and Paris as early as 1923; his three-act lyrical comedy after Hans Christian Andersen, Il Principe Porcaro, was composed when he was just 13 and published in 1926. He studied at the Milan conservatory there under Giacomo Orefice and then undertook serious study of composition under Ildebrando Pizzetti and Alfredo Casella at the Santa Cecilia Academy in Rome, graduating in 1930.
Encouraged by Arturo Toscanini, Rota moved to the United States where he lived from 1930 to 1932. He won a scholarship to the Curtis Institute of Philadelphia, where he was taught conducting by Fritz Reiner and had Rosario Scalero as an instructor in composition. Returning to Milan, he wrote a thesis on the Renaissance composer Gioseffo Zarlino. Rota earned a degree in literature from the University of Milan, graduating in 1937, and began a teaching career that led to the directorship of the Liceo Musicale in Bari, a title he held from 1950 until 1978.
Rota had one daughter, Nina Rota, from a relationship with pianist Magda Longari. He died, age 67, from a coronary thrombosis in Rome.
The Godfather: The Godfather Waltz
Nino Rota Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Il nostro amore lo viviamo io e te
Nessuno sa la verità
Neppure il cielo che ci guarda da lassù
Insieme a te io resterò
Amore mio, sempre così
Parla più piano e vieni più vicino a me
Voglio sentire gli occhi miei dentro di teNessuno sa la verità
È un grande amore e mai più grande esisterà
These lyrics from "The Godfather" theme song beautifully illustrate the depth and intensity of a clandestine love affair, taking place against a backdrop of secrecy and forbidden romance. The opening lines, "Parla più piano e nessuno sentirà," meaning "Speak more softly and no one will hear," set a tone of discretion and intimacy. The lovers share their connection away from prying eyes, with only them aware of the truth of their love. It speaks to the idea of a hidden, yet powerful relationship that defies societal expectations and norms.
The lyrics further emphasize the exclusivity and intensity of this love, as the couple declares that no one, not even the heavens above, truly knows the depth of their feelings for each other. The reference to the sky watching over them adds a sense of cosmic significance to their union, as if their love is meant to be beyond earthly understanding. This notion of a love that transcends the ordinary is a central theme in many classic romances, and the song captures this sentiment with elegance and poignancy.
The singer vows to remain by their lover's side, declaring, "Insieme a te io resterò, Amore mio, sempre così," which translates to "I will stay with you, my love, always this way." This unwavering devotion and commitment in the face of uncertainty and obstacles speaks to the enduring nature of their love, despite the challenges they may face. It conveys a sense of loyalty and dedication that is unshakable, mirroring the timeless quality of love portrayed in the film.
The final lines of the lyrics exalt the magnitude of their love, proclaiming it as a "grand amore" that will never be surpassed. This statement cements the idea that their love is unparalleled and unmatched in its intensity and significance. It encapsulates the passion and intensity of their relationship, portraying it as a once-in-a-lifetime connection that is destined to endure. Overall, these lyrics capture the essence of a forbidden yet all-encompassing love, set against a backdrop of secrecy and passion, making it a timeless and resonant theme in the world of cinema and music.
Line by Line Meaning
Parla più piano e nessuno sentirà
Speak more softly and no one will hear
Il nostro amore lo viviamo io e te
Our love, you and I, we live it
Nessuno sa la verità
No one knows the truth
Neppure il cielo che ci guarda da lassù
Not even the sky watching over us from above
Insieme a te io resterò
Together with you, I will stay
Amore mio, sempre così
My love, always like this
Parla più piano e vieni più vicino a me
Speak more softly and come closer to me
Voglio sentire gli occhi miei dentro di te
I want to feel my eyes inside of you
È un grande amore e mai più grande esisterà
It is a great love and never a greater one will exist
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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