PFM introduced new sounds, such as the synthesizer, to the Italian musical world. They were also among the first to combine symphonic classical and traditional Italian musical influences in a rock music context. Such innovations and their longevity have made them among the most important bands in the international Progressive rock genre.
The original core members of PFM (Franco Mussida, Franz Di Cioccio, Flavio Premoli, and Giorgio Piazza) came together in the mid 1960's while playing together as backup musicians for many different Italian pop, rock and folk singers such as Lucio Battisti, Mina, Adriano Celentano and Fabrizio De André. They appeared on many recordings for other artists during this period and quickly established themselves as top players on the Italian rock and pop scene. Mussida, Premoli, Piazza and Di Cioccio then formed the group "I quelli" (English translation "Them", or "Those Guys") in 1968. I quelli released one album and some successful Italian singles.
Premiata Forneria Marconi was officially formed in Milan, Italy in 1970 when the members of I quelli met Mauro Pagani from the group Dalton. Pagani helped the group expand their sound to include violin and flute. By this time they were already highly experienced musicians and easily able to play the kind of complex progressive heavy rock played by the leading English and American groups. Their early live performances included covers by groups such as King Crimson and Jethro Tull. Other early influences included Chicago, Ekseption, and The Flock.
They had a long name, as Italian progressive bands tended to have back then, and so were usually referred to as "La Premiata", and later "PFM". After rejecting Isotta-Fraschini (an Italian car maker) the group finally settled on Pagani's suggestion, "Forneria Marconi" (meaning "Marconi Bakery"), borrowed from the sign of a shop in the small town of Chiari, near Brescia. However, record producer and friend Alessandro Colombini suggested the name was not strong enough, so the title "Premiata" (award-winning) was added. Some objected that "Premiata Forneria Marconi" was too long a name, but the group's philosophy stated that the more difficult to remember a band's name, the more difficult to forget it.
The most recent line-up of PFM follows:
- Franco Mussida: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12 string guitar, mandolin, vocals (1970–present)
- Franz Di Cioccio: drums, percussion, lead and backing vocals (1970–present)
- Patrick Djivas: bass, programming (1974–present)
- Lucio Fabbri: violin, keyboards (1979–1987, 2000–present )
- Gianluca Tagliavini: piano, Hammond, Minimoog, other keyboards (2005–present)
- Piero Monterisi: additional drums (2006–present)
Former members of PFM follows:
- Flavio Premoli: piano, keyboards, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer, lead vocals (1970–1980, 1997–2005)
- Giorgio Piazza: bass (1970–1974)
- Mauro Pagani: flute, piccolo, violin, vocals (1970–1976)
- Bernardo Lanzetti: lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1975–1977)
- Gregory Bloch: violin (1976–1977)
- Walter Calloni: additional drums (1982–1987)
- Roberto Gualdi: additional drums (1997–2005)
La Carrozza Di Hans
Premiata Forneria Marconi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
corri lontano,
vola…
Hans il mercante
aspetta lontano,
vola…
Piccolo uomo
vai…
La carrozza attende già
no ti fermare,
a cassette sali e va
non ti voltare,
suona un corno da cocchiere,
lustra l'abito de Re;
è la carrozza di Hans.
Strade e strade correrai,
senza contare,
cieli e cieli finirai,
tu sai volare,
suona un corno da cocchiere,
lustra l'abito de Re;
è la carrozza di Hans.
Cieli infiniti, vento in faccia
voglia di correre e non fermarsi mai
scrivere suonare e bailare
e non fermarsi mai
bruciare il proprio teatro
vestira il proprio teatro
ascoltara, lavorare a dormire
e nor fermarsi mai;
guardarsi in giro
sentirsi il mondo negli occhi
sentirsi piccino e adorare
e non fermarsi mai.
…i silenzi,
e foglie cadute e cadute
a nubi bige a rimpiattino...
The lyrics of Premiata Forneria Marconi's song "La carrozza di Hans" talk about a person named Hans the merchant waiting far away for someone to come to him. The lyrics urge the singer, described as a "little man" and yet "lord of the world" to keep running, flying and moving forward, without looking back. The singer is asked to get on Hans’ carriage without any delay, to blow the horn and polish the King's dress. Hans’ carriage is akin to a means of escaping from the mundane world, and therefore the lyrics paint it in a very alluring light. Hans’ carriage is described as a vehicle through which the singer will be transported to various different worlds, where he will run through streets and count skies.
The song seems to be about adventure-seeking, and the yearning for a unique and exciting existence. The lyrics of the song paint a vivid picture of freedom, novelty, and mystery, and subtly hint at the draw of leaving behind the rigmarole of everyday life for more exotic and exciting times. The song seems to be encouraging the listener to take the leap, to embrace the thrill of uncertainty, and to never stop seeking new pastures. The final lines of the song speak of silence, falling leaves and shades of gray - which can be interpreted as both a reminder of the beauty and pain of life, and yet also a call to keep moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Guarda, cerca
Look, search
corri lontano, vola…
Run far, fly...
Hans il mercante aspetta lontano, vola…
Hans the merchant waits far away, fly...
Piccolo uomo signore del mondo vai…
Small man, lord of the world, go...
La carrozza attende già, non ti fermare, a cassette sali e va non ti voltare, suona un corno da cocchiere, lustra l'abito de Re; è la carrozza di Hans.
The carriage is already waiting, don't stop, get in and go without looking back, the coachman blows the horn, shining the king's attire; it's Hans' carriage.
Strade e strade correrai, senza contare, cieli e cieli finirai, tu sai volare, suona un corno da cocchiere, lustra l'abito de Re; è la carrozza di Hans.
You'll run through countless streets, and end up in endless skies, because you know how to fly, the coachman blows the horn, shining the king's attire; it's Hans' carriage.
Cieli infiniti, vento in faccia voglia di correre e non fermarsi mai scrivere suonare e bailare e non fermarsi mai bruciare il proprio teatro vestira il proprio teatro ascoltara, lavorare a dormire e nor fermarsi mai; guardarsi in giro sentirs
Endless skies, wind in the face, desire to run and never stop, write, play and dance without stopping, burn your own theater, dress your own theater, listen, work, sleep and never stop; look around, feel the world in your eyes, feel small and adore, and never stop.
...i silenzi, e foglie cadute e cadute a nubi bige a rimpiattino...
...the silences, and fallen leaves and fallen to wispy clouds in hide-and-seek...
Contributed by Leo G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Adrian Paco
Amo el rock progresivo de Italia. Saludos desde Mexico hermanos italianos!
pIP JIJHT
Asi es.. es lo mejor ...los vi hace como 15 años en el Baja Prog..Tocan super chingon
Vito Iacovelli
Una delle vette del prog italiano. Per noi che li amiamo da sempre siamo saliti su quella carrozza e non siamo più scesi da 50 anni!
axoram
quanto hai ragione amico !
Geoffrey dowen
listening to these since 1970's now as 63 love the mix flute violin true masterpiece of prog rock. viva Italia from the UK xx
jaime alvarez
Maravilloso....
Tuve la suerte de verlos en mi pais Chile
El 2018, Teatro Oriente , Providencia, interpretando este tema...
Un abrazo desde Chile.
Daniel Granconato
PFM uma das melhores bandas de Progressivo! Saudações do Brasil!
mejsjalv
Nice time to be alive! Now I can check all the TV recordings and see a lot of live stuff from this masters.
I only listened to their music for a couple of decades, never saw them on video. Now, this thing live sounds great. And their vibe on stage is so nice.
And this is perhaps my favorite PFM song of all time.
Forneria
Al minuto 1 e 23", Di Cioccio perde la bacchetta sinistra, ma in una frazione di secondo ne estrae un'altra (tra quelle che, come d'abitudine, porta infilate nella cintura dietro la schiena), senza praticamente smettere di rullare ... GRANDISSIMO !!!!!
loutiscrive
gli capitava spessissimo :-D