Here is the fifth and final movement of the suite.
The traditional Latin text starts: Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Though it is not really a Christmas piece, the Missa Criolla is often performed at this time of year, and I was lucky enough to see a live performance recently. It really is a great work, and the combination of choir, soloists and exotic instruments like the charango really make it a great spectacle as well.
AGNUS DEI
Cordero de Dios que quitas
Los pecados del mundo
Ten compasión de nosotros
Cordero de dios que quitas
Los pecados del mundo
Danos la paz
AGNUS DEI
Lamb of God, who takes away
The sins of the world
Have mercy upon us
Lamb of God, who takes away
The sins of the world
Grant us peace
Here is the fourth movement of the suite.
The traditional Latin text starts: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
SANCTUS
Santo, santo, santo
Señor Dios del universo
Llenos están los cielos
Y la tierra de tu gloria
Hosanna en las alturas
Bendito el que viene
En el nombre del Señor
SANCTUS
Holy, holy, holy
Lord God of the universe
The heavens and the earth
Are filled with your glory
Hosanna in the highest
Blessed is he that comes
In the name of the Lord
Here is the third movement of the suite.
The traditional Latin text starts: Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem.
CREDO
Padre todopoderoso
Creador de cielo y tierra
Creo en Dios
Y en Jesucristo creo
Su único hijo
Nuestro señor
Fue concebido
Por obra y gracia
Del Espíritu Santo
Nació de Santa María
De Santa María Virgen
Padeció bajo el poder
Poder de Poncio Pilatos
Fue crucificado
Muerto y sepultado
Descendió a los infiernos
Al tercer día resucitó
Resucitó de entre los muertos
Subió a los cielos
Esta sentado a la diestra de Dios
Desde allí ha de venir
A juzgar vivos y muertos
Creo en el Espíritu Santo
Santa Iglesia Católica
La comunión de los santos
Y el perdón de los pecados
Resurrección de la carne
Y la vida perdurable
Amén
CREDO
Almighty father
Creator of heaven and earth
I believe in God
And I believe in Jesus Christ
His only Son
Our Lord
Who was conceived
By the work and grace
Of the Holy Spirit
Born of holy Mary
The holy virgin Mary
Suffering under the power
The power of Pontius Pilate
He was crucified
Dead and buried
He descended to the underworld
On the third day he rose again
He rose from the dead
He ascended into heaven
He sits at the right hand side of God
From there he will come
To judge the living and the dead
I believe in the holy Spirit
The holy Catholic Church
The communion of the saints
And the forgiveness of sins
The resurrection of the flesh
And eternal life
Amen
Here is the second movement of the suite.
The traditional Latin text starts: Glória in excélsis Deo, et in terra pax homínibus bonæ voluntátis.
GLORIA
Gloria a Dios
En las alturas
Y en la tierra
Paz a los hombres
Que ama el Señor
Te alabamos
Te bendecimos
Te adoramos
Glorificamos
Te damos gracias
Por tu inmensa gloria
Señor Dios, Rey Celestial
Dios, Padre Todopoderoso
Señor, Hijo Único, Jesucristo
Señor Dios, cordero de Dios
Hijo del Padre
Tú que quitas los pecados del mundo
Ten piedad de nosotros
Tú que quitas los pecados del mundo
Atiende nuestras suplicas
Tú que reinas con el Padre
Ten piedad de nosotros
Gloria a Dios
En las alturas
Y en la tierra
Paz a los hombres
Que ama el Señor
Porque tú, solo eres santo
Solo tú, Señor tú solo
Tú solo Altísimo Jesucristo
Con el Espíritu Santo
En la gloria de Dios Padre
Amén
GLORIA
Glory to God
In the highest
And on earth
Peace to the men
Who love the Lord
We praise you
We bless you
We adore you
We glorify you
We give you thanks
for your great glory
Lord God, celestial king
God, almighty Father
Lord, only son, Jesus Christ
Lord God, Lamb of God
Son of the Father
You take away the sins of the world
Have mercy on us
You take away the sins of the world
Receive our prayers
You reign with the Father
Have mercy on us
Glory to God
In the highest
And on earth
Peace to the men
Who love the Lord
For you, alone holy
Only you, Lord you alone
Only you, Jesus Christ, in the highest
With the Holy Spirit
In the glory of God the Father
Amen
A few years ago I translated the songs of Ariel Ramírez’s Navidad Nuestra suite. Now I will have a look at its companion piece, Missa Criolla. Written in 1964, this was probably the first ‘official’ i.e. permitted by the Catholic Church, mass to be written in Spanish rather than Latin.
The traditional Latin text is: Kyrie eleison. Chiste eleison.
As with the Navidad suite there is a great film performance made for German TV in 1967, again featuring Los Fronterizos.
KYRIE
Señor, ten piedad de nosotros
Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros
Señor, ten piedad de nosotros
KYRIE
Lord, have mercy on us
Christ, have mercy on us
Lord, have mercy on us.
The final song of the suite is also the darkest. It is about trying to escape the massacre of the innocents. The lyrics mention bombos legüeros, the traditional bass drums typically used in Argentinian folk music. Presumably these are the drums used on the recording.
NB This song is subtitled vidala tucumana. The vidala is a poetic song form. Tucumán is a province in NW Argentina.
The complete Navidad Nuestra was performed by The Fantasy Orchestra at the Trinity Centre in Bristol on December 21st, 2014. There is a clip below.
LA HUÍDA
¡Vamos! ¡Vamos! ¡Burrito apura!
Si no te apuras los van a pillar
Largo el camino, largo el salitral
Ya tocan a degollar
Ya esta sangrando el puñal
Si no te apuras los van a pillar
¡Vamos! ¡Vamos! ¡Burrito apura!
Niño bonito, no llorís mi amor
Ya llegaremos a tierra mejor
Duérmete ya, no llorís,
Cuna en mis brazos te haré.
Bombos legüeros en mi corazón.
¡Vamos! ¡Vamos! ¡Burrito apura!
THE FLIGHT
Come on! Come on! Hurry up little donkey!
If you don't hurry up they will catch them
Along the path, along the Salitral (salt flats)
They are already slitting throats
The dagger is already wet with blood
If you don't hurry up they will catch them
Come on! Come on! Hurry up little donkey!
Beautiful child, don't cry my darling
Soon we will arrive at a better land
Go to sleep now, don't cry
I will cradle you in my arms
Bass drums beating in my heart
Come on! Come on! Hurry up little donkey!
Los Reyes Magos literally translates as ‘The Magic Kings’ but in England we usually call them ‘The Three Wise Men’. In the Spanish tradition it’s them (rather than Santa) who bring kids presents, and they deliver them on the 6th of January, almost two weeks after Christmas day.
NB This song is subtitled takirari. The takirari (or taquirari) is a dance form from Bolivia.
LOS REYES MAGOS
Llegaron ya, los reyes y eran tres
Melchor, Gaspar y el negro Baltasar
Arrope y miel le llevarán
Y un poncho blanco de alpaca real.
Changos y chinitas duérmanse
Que ya Melchor, Gaspar y Baltasar
Todos los regalos dejarán
Para jugar mañana al despertar.
El Niño Dios muy bien lo agradeció
Comió la miel y el poncho lo abrigó
Y fue después que los miró
Y a medianoche el sol relumbró.
THE THREE WISE MEN
They had arrived, the kings, and there were three:
Melchior, Caspar and the black Balthasar.
Syrup and honey they will bring him
And a white poncho of royal alpaca.
Fall asleep little boys and girls
So that Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar
Can leave out all the gifts
For you to play with when you wake up
The God Child was really pleased.
He ate the honey and wrapped himself in the poncho.
And afterwards he saw them
And the sun shone at midnight.
Lots of places are mentioned in the fourth song, but most of them are in La Rioja in northwestern Argentina, where this version of the Nativity seems to be set. The piece is subtitled ‘Chaya Riojana’ which refers to a festival that takes place in this region. I guess the English equivalent of the refrain is ‘Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme’.
The complete Navidad Nuestra was performed by The Fantasy Orchestra at the Trinity Centre in Bristol on December 21st.
.
LOS PASTORES
Vengan pastores del campo
que el rey de los reyes ha nacido ya.
Vengan antes que amanezca
que ya apunta el día y la noche se va.
ESTRIBILLO:
Albahaca y cedrón
tomillo y laurel,
que el niño se duerme
al amanecer.
Lleguen de Pinchas y Chuquis,
de Aminga y San Pedro, de Arauco y Pomán,
antes que nadie le adore
Quesillos y flores le vam' a llevar.
ESTRIBILLO
Pídanle a Julio Romero
caballos de paso y su mula de andar
Con cajas y con guitarras
iremos cantando por el olivar.
ESTRIBILLO
Ay navidad de Aimogasta.
Aloja y añapa no habrá de faltar
mientras la luna riojana
se muere de ganas de participar.
ESTRIBILLO
THE SHEPHERDS
Come shepherds of the fields
Because the king of kings has been born
Come before the dawn
It's already light and the night will soon be fading
CHORUS:
Basil and lemon verbena
Thyme and laurel
The child sleeps
At daybreak
Come from Pinchas and Chuquis,
From Aminga, San Pedro, Arauco and Pomán
Before anyone else they will pay tribute
Bringing quesillos (puddings) and flowers
CHORUS
Ask Julio Romero
For Peruvian horses and pack mules
With cajas (hand drums) and guitars
We'll sing through the olive groves
CHORUS
Oh, Christmas in Aimogasta (NW Argentinia)
We have plenty of aloja (liquour) and añapa (dessert)
While the La Rioja moon
Is just dying to join in
CHORUS
The third song of the suite is the one that most sounds like a traditional Christmas carol, with a hint of ‘Silent Night’ in the melody.
Los Fronterizos are an Argentinian folk quartet, four men who all sing, usually accompanying themselves with acoustic guitars and bombo legüero (a hand held bass drum). Below is a clip of them in action in this formation.
The group formed in 1953 and broke up in 1977, though apparently they still get together sometimes for reunion concerts. Their collaborations with Ariel Ramírez on Navidad Nuestra and Misa Criolla gave them their biggest international success.
NB This song is subtitled vidala catamarqueña. The vidala is a poetic song form. Catamarca is a province in NW Argentina.
EL NACIMIENTO
Noche anunciada, noche de amor,
Dios ha nacido, pétalo y flor,
todo es silencio y serenidad,
paz a los hombres, es Navidad.
En el pesebre mi redentor
es mensajero de paz y amor,
cuando sonríe se hace la luz
y en sus bracitos crece una cruz.
Angeles cantan sobre el portal
Dios ha nacido, es navidad
Esta es la noche, que prometió
Dios a los hombres y ya llegó,
es Noche Buena, no hay que dormir
Dios ha nacido, Dios está aquí.
THE BIRTH
Night foretold, night of love
God is born, petal and flower
All is silence and serenity
Peace to all men, it's Christmas
In the manger my redeemer
He is the messenger of peace and love
When he smiles there is light
And his little arms form a cross
Angels sing over the entrance
God is born, it's Christmas
This is the night that was promised
By God to mankind, and now it has arrived
It's Christmas Eve, you don't need to sleep
God is born, God is here.
In the second song of the suite Joseph and Mary search for a place to stay.
Above is a great film made for German TV in 1967 which features Los Fronterizos performing the whole suite except the first song (so it starts with ‘La Peregrinación’).
They didn’t record ‘La Anunciación’ because César Isella, who usually sang lead on that song, had just left the group. Isella went on to co-write the song ‘Canción Con Todos’ which was recently featured on this blog.
NB This song is subtitled huella pampeana. La huella is a folk dance that was popular in Argentina in the 19th century. So the lyric ‘a la huella’ also means ‘keep dancing’. I guess the double meaning is intended, as the image of Joseph and Mary dancing their way across the plains is rather appealing.
LA PEREGRINACIÓN
A la huella, a la huella
José y María
Por las pampas heladas
Cardos y ortigas.
A la huella, a la huella
Cortando campo
No hay cobijo ni fonda
Sigan andando.
Florecita del campo,
Clavel del aire
Si ninguno te aloja
¿A dónde naces?
¿Donde naces, florcita?
Que estas creciendo,
Palomita asustada,
Grillo sin sueño.
A la huella, a la huella
José y María
Con un dios escondido
Nadie sabía.
A la huella, a la huella
Los peregrinos
Préstenme una tapera
Para mi niño.
A la huella, a la huella
Soles y lunas
Los ojitos de almendra
Piel de aceituna.
Ay burrito del campo
Ay buey barcino
Mi niño esta viniendo
Háganle sitio.
Un ranchito de quincha
Solo me ampara
Dos alientos amigos
La luna clara
A la huella, a la huella
José y María
Con un dios escondido
Nadie sabía.
THE PILGRIMAGE
Follow the trail, follow the trail
Joseph and Mary
Across the frozen Pampas (South American plains)
Thistles and nettles.
Follow the trail, follow the trail
Cutting through the fields
There is no shelter, no inn
Keep on walking.
Little flower in the field,
Carnation of the air
If no one puts you up
Where will you be born?
Where will you be born, little flower?
Now that you are growing
Frightened dove
Sleepless cricket
Follow the trail, follow the trail
Joseph and Mary
With a hidden god
Nobody knew
Follow the trail, follow the trail
The pilgrims
Lend me a ruined house
For my child
Follow the trail, follow the trail
Through suns and moons
The little almond eyes
Olive skin.
Oh, little donkey in the field
Oh, reddish-grey ox
My child is coming
Make some space for him
A thatched hut
Is the only shelter I have
Two friendly breaths (the ox and the donkey)
The bright moon
Follow the trail, follow the trail
Joseph and Mary
With a hidden god
Nobody knew
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