Milanki
Memories have become uncertain over time, emotions have faded, documents have been shoved in drawers, but the record of Paloma Blanka (the White Dove) still lives on today. If it's not true, at least it's not true…
In the autumn of 1845, on the island of Vela Palagruža in the central Adriatic, on its western part, on the highest peak, a tower with a lighthouse, 92 meters high, was built. That same year, the day before Christmas, a son, Kruno, was born to the family of the lighthouse keeper, Antonio Zaneti.
The birth was difficult and mother Lucija died that same night.
Father Antonio raised Kruna carefully, with great love. A hardworking and silent man, he only relaxed during stormy times, when the falkuše, fishing boats from Komiža, would take shelter from the bora on the southern side of the coast, in the coves of Stara Vlaka. Then the fishermen would sing quiet and sad songs until morning.
With his silent father, Kruno sought company in birds. He would rejoice in their spring songs, and grieve in the fall when they flew away. In 1858, Palagruža was briefly visited by Princess Sophia of Bavaria, who was touring the southern Adriatic on the yacht Bavaria.
Lighthouse keeper Antonio and his neighbors, fishermen from Komiža, were asked to prepare a small program in honor of the princess. The night before the performance, one of the fishermen fell ill, and 13-year-old Kruno was the only possible replacement.
The program was short. The fishermen sang only one song (I love you, my dove.). Sofia was sincerely moved by the song and the silver voice of little Krun.
Two months later, a special dispatch arrived from the Viennese court. Princess Sophia of Bavaria invited Crown Zaneti to become a member of the famous Vienna Court Orchestra.
Lighthouse keeper Antonio Zanetti was the happiest father in the world in those days. He proudly showed the imperial dispatch to his acquaintances, the fishermen from Komiža. Little Kruno did not share his father's enthusiasm. He cried, begged and begged his father not to send him to Vienna. In the end, completely desperate, he spent hours naked in the sea during the strongest storm, calling on the Mother of God and all the saints to reward him with at least a cold. His prayer was not answered and his father remained implacable.
Vienna was already covered in snow when Kruno Zanetti arrived in the Austrian capital.
Three months later he was performing with the Vienna Boys' Choir. At the time, it was the most famous choir in the world, consisting of 150 boys from the vast monarchy. They performed in the Vienna Cathedral Shepherd on the Rock Franz Schubert, once a member of the choir himself.
Life in Vienna, with its monastic discipline, harsh punishments, poor food and cold room, was difficult for Kruno. In addition to all this, he had to play the cello for three hours every evening. He became silent, withdrawn, strikingly resembling his father - the lighthouse keeper. After one evening mass, in the boarding school chapel, he decided to run away home - the sparse landscape of his native Palagruža attracted him more than baroque Vienna. For two days he hid on the outskirts of the city, trying to get into one of the carriages traveling south. On the third day, he was found completely frozen. He was punished with solitary confinement and a strict ban on performing for the next six months. During the difficult days spent in solitary confinement, Kruno became "closer" to the cello. He cherished it with great love, talked to it and in moments of great sadness played great melodies on it, surprisingly similar to the voices of birds above his native Palagruža.
Kruno's first performance with the Vienna Boys' Choir was on Christmas Day 1859. They sang Stille Nacht in the great hall of Schönbrunn Palace. The blue-blooded Viennese gentlemen, His Royal Highness Franz Joseph, his mother Princess Sophia of Bavaria, and her youngest son and Franz's brother, Crown Prince Ferdinand Maximilian, were sincerely moved by the delicate children's voices. Sophia of Bavaria instantly recognized the little boy from Palagruža and waved to him.
In the spring of 1860, Kruno began to mutate. That ended his membership in the choir. And while most of the boys received that moment with great sadness, Kruno rejoiced. His native Palagruža seemed to him to be closer than ever. It seemed.
On the recommendation of director Kraus and with the written consent of his father, Kruno became a member of the "Gift Quartet", a string ensemble that His Royal Highness Franz Joseph sent as a birthday present to his brother Maximilian at his Miramare castle.
Maximilian was genuinely moved by the gift. His wife, Princess Charlotte of Belgium, saw it as yet another sign of mockery from her more powerful brother - the protector. It was known in Schönbrunn that Maximilian loved music and that in frequent moments of depression he would give himself up to it. Depressions filled with the vain hope of the heir to the throne that he would become the Habsburg king, and his wife the Habsburg queen.
In those days, the Miramare Castle breathed music. Whether Maximilian was planting oranges with dignified gestures, or sailing along the Adriatic coast on the yacht “Sveti Marko” dressed in the white uniform of an admiral of the fleet. His string quartet, also in white suits, would quietly play Mozart for him. During one of these nostalgic trips, “Sveti Marko” found itself near Palagruža. The night was moonless, and the lighthouse on Palagruža shed light at regular intervals. Standing alone at the stern, overwhelmed with memories, Kruno quietly sang Good night, my dove.! In the middle of the song he stopped, wiped his tears with the back of his hand, jumped into the sea and swam towards the lighthouse. His disappearance was noticed, an alarm was raised, the ship was stopped, and a lifeboat with rescuers was lowered into the sea.
During that time, Kruno swam with all his might towards Palagruža. A boat with sailors finally caught up with him. The sailors managed to catch him and lift him into the boat. After a few moments, Kruno jumped into the sea again. The sailors caught him again and never left him alone again for a moment.
Kruno spent the next few weeks in bed, suffering from a high fever. Sounds reached his room, voices mixed. Through the window Kruno could see colorful embassies, numerous delegations. Something strange was happening in Miramare Castle, or rather on the political merry-go-round of Europe.
After France, Spain and Great Britain intervened in Mexico in 1861 on behalf of Catholic reaction against Juárez and the advancing Mexican forces, and after conquering Juárez's main strongholds in 1861-1863, Spain and Great Britain withdrew from this adventurous campaign. Not so Napoleon III - wishing to make Mexico the center of a Latin monarchy as a counterweight to the United States. At his instigation, Mexican clerical circles offered Maximilian the crown. In return, Maximilian was obliged to renounce all honors and rights in Austria. Soon a large Mexican delegation led by Gutierrez Estrada arrived in Miramar and officially offered Maximilian the crown of Mexico. The Mexican flag was solemnly raised at the court. The celebration lasted until late at night. Seven days later, the royal frigate Navarre anchored in front of Miramar.
A festively decorated boat transported Maximilian and Charlotte to the “Navarra”. They were accompanied by seven boats. Three were crammed with personal belongings and three with furniture, cutlery and other necessary trifles. The seventh accommodated twenty-two people personally selected by Charlotte and Maximilian as members of the entourage: secretaries and notaries of the future king and queen, advisors, courtiers, maids, cooks and - a string quartet. Holding the cello tightly in his hand, Kruno stared absently at the sea. Once again, history had cruelly intervened in his life.
On May 22, 5, the cannons from the San Juan de Ulya fortress solemnly announced the arrival of the "Navarra" into the port of Vera Cruz.
On the same day, the new King of Mexico, Maximilian, and the new Queen of Mexico, Charlotte of Belgium, set foot on Mexican soil for the first time. Even a pompous protocol parade did not remove the "wall of silence" between Maximilian and the Mexicans - the new king was greeted with lowered blinds, drawn curtains, and closed windows.
In the following weeks and months, Maximilian, dressed in a tight black suit, interwoven with gold threads, and with an ornate sombrero, toured Mexican villages, attending folk festivals, church processions, and devoutly worshipping at Mass. He ate incomprehensibly spicy food, listened to unfamiliar music, and learned Spanish, trying with all his might to become Mexican.
He also completely renovated two royal palaces: Chapultepec and Huernavaca, in order to hold lavish balls in them. In vain. The capital responded with silence.
Kruno and his string players were renamed the royal trumpeters. Dressed in military uniforms, they were tasked with announcing with fanfare Maximilian's arrivals and departures, his speeches, toasts, and the presentation of decorations.
At night, Kruno would retreat to his room and, by the meager light of candles, try to calculate on porous paper how much money he would need to buy a ticket for one of the ships that occasionally sailed to Europe.
One day, before dawn, while he was writing down numbers for the hundredth time, daydreaming about a ship's chart, he heard a voice coming from the basement of Chapultepec. Amazed, Kruno, guided by the crystal soprano, followed it and for the first time saw...
Violeta De Caravaggio, the most beautiful girl Kruno had ever seen, was 17 years old and was peeling potatoes in her everyday apron. She "disturbed" the loneliness and monotony of everyday life with a song. Thanks to A la Vida. Over the following days, weeks, months, Kruno would drop by the basement every day. Silent and withdrawn, with the patience of a lighthouse keeper, he would sit next to Violeta without a word, helping her peel the potatoes and enjoying her voice.
One day, making sure no one saw him, he took his cello into the basement. He unwrapped it, tuned it, and started playing. He imitated the calls of birds from his native Palagruža. Violeta recognized almost all of them. She waved her arms, performed graceful movements, overdubbed herself with the cello, and outlined the contours of the birds.
So they started talking and understanding each other, better and better...
The Mexican sovereign, however, was unable to break down the “wall of silence” between him and the people of Mexico. Europe abandoned him to the lonely fate of a ruler in a foreign and distant land. Disappointed Charlotte retreated to her room, drew the curtains, and spent days and weeks in solitude. Maximilian would, as always, in moments of depression, reach for music.
The royal trumpeters became a string quartet again. Their wigs were carefully combed, their costumes cleaned.
In the most secluded chamber of the castle, Maximilian would lock himself in with the musicians and listen to them for hours. They played exclusively Mozart, with whom he would Laudate Dominum It was mandatory to start every such session.
Benito Juarez had no time for classical music. He headed for Mexico City with a large army. Charlotte traveled to Europe in the hope of securing help.
In their hideout, Kruno and Violeta carefully crafted an escape plan. She mapped out for him how to get out of the city and which route to take to Puerto Angel, a small port in the state of Oaxaca, where her parents lived.
A few hours before the scheduled escape, Maximilian's soldiers came to fetch the Crown. They loaded him into a carriage along with Maximilian's secretary, instruments, and three musicians. Maximilian had chosen these five as his sole escort for the upcoming decisive battle with Juarez. The two carriages, accompanied by a hundred horsemen, silently left the castle.
In the following days, Maximilian, with a small army, encamped in the town of Querétaro. Seven days later, Juárez's army surrounded them. The Crown lost all hope.
Maximilian's string quartet had now been transformed into a military band. Almost every day, at different times, the four of them, surrounded by trumpets and drums, would climb the hill above the village. Then they would play a mock attack by a non-existent army with all their might. During this time, Maximilian would watch the opposing soldiers through his eyes and enjoy their confusion. In those days, Maximilian had changed a lot. Faced with death, he became more relaxed, behaving friendly towards his small entourage. The Mexicans who had remained with him now genuinely loved him, and the girls from the nearby village entertained him with song and graceful dance deep into the night.
In the summer of 1867, Juárez's troops entered Querétaro. They captured Maximilian, about thirty soldiers, and his entourage. On June 19, Maximilian was executed by firing squad along with the last two loyal generals, Miramón and Meija.
The top of a completely deserted hill was chosen as the place for the execution. Three tall pillars were impaled on it. The generals were tied to them, one on each side, and Maximilian was in the middle. In front of them stood a firing squad of eight soldiers, their rifles raised. The commander and the priest stood on the right, and the string quartet on the left. Kruno and his comrades, dressed in the prescribed costumes and with wigs on their heads, were to fulfill Maximilian's last wish - the fourth movement from Mozart's Entertaining the B-flat major.
After the last chord, Maximilian shouted: “Long live Mexico!” This was followed by the command: “Fire!”
Kruno spent the next two weeks in prison with his comrades. They expected to be shot.
Violeta wasted neither hope nor time. She managed to reach the prison guards, bribe them, and free Krun.
They headed towards Puerto Angel.
The journey was long and dangerous. A warrant was issued for Kruno, as well as the rest of Maximilian's entourage. They were all sentenced to death, and the perpetrators were rewarded with a cash reward.
Violeta "dressed" Kruno in worn-out robes, forbade him to speak, and presented him to others as her deaf-mute brother. Only when they were alone would she teach him Spanish, patiently explaining the meaning of words.
Thus they evaded Juarez's pursuit, bypassing larger towns and settlements. Before Kruno's astonished eyes, an unreal Mexican landscape of rainbow colors opened up in vivid dissonance with the gray landscape of his native Palagruža.
They supported themselves by Violeta's performances at village parties and weddings. From the collected "fees", Violeta bought Krun his first guitar.
Evading Juarez's pursuit, their journey took them to the town of Huaujapan De Leon. The Day of the White Dove was celebrated. Red ribbons were tied around the legs of a chosen white dove and it was released. It would rise to the height of the top of the church tower and fly around it in large circles.
During this time, pigeon fanciers from all over the province gathered in festively decorated cages and held a white dove.
The master of ceremonies would open one cage at a time. Each pigeon would fly out and begin circling with the dove. If it touched the Crown during its flight, the pigeon would return to its cage on its own. Then the next cage would open, and so on until the real pigeon appeared. The one who would fly around the circle with it without being touched by it during that time. After a few more victory laps, the pigeon, followed by the dove, would fly into the cage. The master of the parade would then close the door behind them, cover the cage, and mark the beginning of the ceremony.
That same night, Kruno proposed to Violeta in his limited Spanish. She said “yes”! and in honor of that, that same night, Kruno “set it to music” The Blanku DoveA few days later, Violeta came up with the words to the song that are still sung today.
Upon arriving in Puerto Angelo, he proposed to Violeta's father for her hand in marriage. Father Juan Carlos did not give him his blessing until three months later, when the new government declared an amnesty for all of Maximilian's subjects.
At a wedding in front of 400 guests, Violeta and Kruno performed publicly for the first time. The Blanku Dove. That date, engraved on a guitar kept as a relic by the Zanetti family, is celebrated as the birthday of the song. Krun and Violeta's daughter, Blanka, was also named after the song. In addition to her, the Zanetti couple had eleven more children. The large family lived in a small house on the outskirts of Puerto Angel in peace and harmony. As the children grew up, some went to the city, some stayed on the coast.
The peace and harmony of the family would occasionally be disturbed by the strange departures of old Krun. He would often leave the house, enter the sea at dawn, and swim out to sea.
Grandma Violeta wasn't worried. She knew that on the nearby peninsula he would sit in its shade for hours, talking to the birds in the dialect of his native Palagruža.
Kruno Zanetti died on September 1, 9, at the age of 1941. 96 mariachi bands from all over Mexico gathered at his funeral. As he was lowered into the tomb, they played for him. The Blanku DoveVioleta also died that same night.
This is the testimony of Lopez De Silva Zanetti, great-grandson of Kruno and Violeta Zanetti, written on June 2, 6 and submitted to the court in Puerto Angel in the state of Oaxaca, on the occasion of the initiation of evidentiary proceedings regarding the authorship of the poem. The Dove Blanka.
...If it's not all true - it's beautifully told.
Still, restless White Dove did not rest in her native Mexico. She embraced all continents - from distant Australia to "black" Africa. And she was especially warmly received on the Old Continent. Inspired by the authentic version of Johannes Bouwens, the Dutch singer-songwriter wrote the lyrics that his band recorded and released in 1975. The author himself said in an interview that it is a song about a "poor South American farmer" who works hard all day, and then in the shade of a tree dreams of being a free white bird - a dove. There are other interpretations - that the song was inspired by the Portuguese "Carnation Revolution" and the liberation of the country in 1974.
Bonus video:
