Whenever I watch some kind of international event, like the World Cup, for example, one of the interesting things has been to listen to the various national anthems.

I’ve always disliked our own anthem, which is insipid and uninspiring - perhaps one reason why it’s sung by a few, and then with little patriotic fervour.

Contrast this with the splendid Italian one, clearly in the Verdi mode, and with a typical second section as a Trio, in the sub-dominant key.

For detailed information on the anthem - or the lyrics, if you want to sing-a-long - please follow the link: Inno di Mamelli