COLIBRI NAVIDEÑO
By Niños Cantores De Oriente [Barcelona, Venezuela]
Colibrí navideño cantad con mas armonia
Que al Redentor llegará tu hermosa melodía
Cuando llega la tarde se alegra los corazones
Y el colibri cantará en navidad, en navidad. [Repeat]
Christmas hummingbird, sing most melodiously
So that your beautiful melody will reach The Redeemer
When evening comes hearts are gladdened
And the hummingbird will sing at Christmas, at Christmas.
Mi canto brilla en la aurora,
Es profundo y sin igual,
Mi plumaje es tan bonito
Que reluce en navidad. [Repeat]
My song shines at dawn, It is deep and unrivaled, My plumage is so beautiful How it glitters at Christmas.
Colibrí navideño cantad con mas armonia
Que al Redentor llegará tu hermosa melodía
Cuando llega la tarde se alegra los corazones
Y el colibri cantará en navidad, en navidad. [Repeat]
Cuando le canto a Jesús,
Al pie de su hermosa cuna
Los reyes magos me dicen
Que lindo, es una fortuna. [Repeat]
When I sing to Jesus, At the foot of His beautiful cradle The Wise Men tell me How lovely, it is a treasure.
Colibrí navideño cantad con mas armonia
Que al Redentor llegará tu hermosa melodía
Cuando llega la tarde se alegra los corazones
Y el colibri cantará en navidad, en navidad. [Repeat]
Cuando le canto a ese niño,
Le canto con emoción,
Soy colibrí navideño
Y le canto con el corazón. [Repeat]
When I sing to that Child, I sing with emotion, I am the Christmas hummingbird And I sing from the heart.
Colibrí navideño cantad con mas armonia
Que al Redentor llegará tu hermosa melodía
Cuando llega la tarde se alegra los corazones
Y el colibri cantará en navidad, en navidad. [Repeat]
Thank you, Niños Cantores De Oriente. Too beautiful for words.
In 2012, I noted with some excitement that the Minister of the People and Social Development at that time, Glenn Ramadharsingh, was in preliminary discussions with Dr Pat Bishop and three musicians from Venezuela about a new and innovative crime-fighting initiative centred around music, art and sports. It was announced that the programme would be based on El Sistema, a publicly financed voluntary sector music education programme in Venezuela and would be tailored to provide youths with an alternative to crime. Without being sidetracked by mentioning the unpleasantness of LifeSport, I would like to know what happened to the music and El Sistema. Can anyone supply details?
"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.
Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.
Fuego al cañon, fuego al cañon
Para que respeten nuestro parrandon
Fuego al cañon, fuego al cañon
Para que respeten nuestro parrandon.
Fire the cannon, fire the cannon! To honour our celebration Fire the cannon, fire the cannon! To honour our celebration.
Niño chiquitito, niño parandero
Niño chiquitito, niño parandero
Vente con nosotros hasta el mes de enero
Vente con nosotros hasta el mes de enero.
Tiny child, parrandero child Tiny child, parrandero child Come with us until January Come with us until January.
Fuego al cañon, fuego al cañon
Para que respeten nuestro parrandon
Fuego al cañon, fuego al cañon
Para que respeten nuestro parrandon.
Esta casa es grande, tiene cuatro esquinas
Esta casa es grande, tiene cuatro esquinas
Y en en centro tiene nardo y clavelinas
Y en en centro tiene nardo y clavelinas
This house is big, it has four corners This house is big, it has four corners And in the centre are tuberoses and carnations And in the centre are tuberoses and carnations.
Fuego al cañon, fuego al cañon
Para que respeten nuestro parrandon
Fuego al cañon, fuego al cañon
Para que respeten nuestro parrandon
San José y la Virgen, la mula y el buey
San José y la Virgen, la mula y el buey
Fueron los que vieron al Niño nacer
Fueron los que vieron al Niño nacer.
San José and the Virgin, the mule and the ox
San José and the Virgin, the mule and the ox
They were the ones who witnessed the birth of The Child
They were the ones who witnessed the birth of The Child.
Fuego al cañon, fuego al cañon
Para que respeten nuestro parrandon
Fuego al cañon, fuego al cañon
Para que respeten nuestro parrandon.
Esta casa es grande, tiene cuatro aleros
Esta casa es grande, tiene cuatro aleros
Y en en centro tiene los aguinalderos
Y en en centro tiene los aguinalderos
This house is big, it has four eaves This house is big, it has four eaves And in the centre are the singers And in the centre are the singers.
Fuego al cañon, fuego al cañon
Para que respeten nuestro parrandon
Fuego al cañon, fuego al cañon
Para que respeten nuestro parrandon.
ALLA BAJA JESUCRISTO [Villancico Perúano]
By CORO INFANTIL MERCEDARIO
Allá baja Jesucristo, con sus rayos de cristal
Allá baja Jesucristo, con sus rayos de cristal
[There descends Jesus Christ, with His bright light]
Alumbrando el universo, el universo, con sus rayos de cristal
Alumbrando el universo, el universo, con sus rayos de cristal
[Illuminating the universe, the universe, with His bright light]
Alegría, alegría, por el día de Navidad,
Alegría, alegría.
[Joy, joy, for Christmas Day,
Joy, joy!]
De aquel tronco nace la rama, de la rama nace la flor
De aquel tronco nace la rama, de la rama nace la flor
De la flor nace María y de María el Redentor
De la flor nace María y de María el Redentor
[From that trunk the branch is born,
From the branch is born the flower
From the flower Mary is born and
From Mary the Redeemer.]
Alegría, alegría, por el día de Navidad
Alegría, alegría.
Allá baja Jesucristo, con sus rayos de cristal
Allá baja Jesucristo, con sus rayos de cristal
Alumbrando el universo, el universo, con sus rayos de cristal
Alumbrando el universo, el universo, con sus rayos de cristal
Alegría, alegría, por el día de Navidad,
Alegría, alegría.
De aquel tronco nace la rama, de la rama nace la flor
De aquel tronco nace la rama, de la rama nace la flor
De la flor nace María y de María el Redentor
De la flor nace María y de María el Redentor
Alegría, alegría, por el día de Navidad,
Alegría, alegría.
Alegría, alegría, por el día de Navidad,
Alegría, alegría.
Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!
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A Note From The Gull
Thank you, CORO INFANTIL MERCEDARIO! I became aware of the indigenous input into Hispanic Christmas music when quite by accident I listened to Andean villancicos. Many years ago a friend had brought me from Venezuela, a cassette of Spanish Christmas songs copied from an obviously old, scratched LP. We had both assumed that the songs were Venezuelan in origin and I remember dropping it into the player and beginning to listen. Something in that music grabbed me. This was not the Venezuelan music that I had become accustomed to. Yes, there was the first obvious clue in the use of distinctive instruments which I learned later were unique to the Andean regions - the charango, tambor and the quena (flute) but it was that minor, mind bending twist in the singing that made me sit right up and listen. I remember asking everyone who I could coax into listening... "Do you hear it? Listen, listen! What is that style? Isn't it beautiful. This is so beautiful."
All I could guess was that it had to be an Amerindian influence. Since I had/have no connections with music experts, I have never been able to discuss this with anyone who has studied Amerindian music but if there is anyone reading this who can throw some academic light on what my intuition told me, I'd be so grateful. I began thinking thereafter about the structure of our local parang bands and the style of singing, the way in which there was traditionally a lead singer with a chorus of female singers who, especially in the traditional, country bands tended to have a very nasal, often morose style of singing. It didn't help matters that persons with Western influenced ears made unflattering comparisons between the singers' often high-pitched, almost monotonic responses and the wailing of mosquitoes. Thanks to the voices recorded on that cassette that reached out to me, stirring memories which had not been created in this life, I began to listen to our singers more carefully, asking myself if what I was hearing was the survival of an Amerindian style of choral singing. I have always been quite excited by the prospect since I am always on the lookout for signs of their lasting influence on our culture.
My people, where are you? Where are you? I look for you everywhere but you are too much like me and I too much like you, hiding in plain sight on the wind, dans le sang qui coule dans nos veines, sending secret messages to each other behind the laughter of El Guanaguanare.
This was first our country. Is this knowledge then our confidence? Is it the quiet conviction that we do not need to state the obvious? Our apparent "absence" is our everlasting unspoken presence? Our "silence" is our perfect acceptance? Our "poverty" is our total ownership? Is it that our standing back makes a place for the inclusion of all others?
AHAKUTUWATIWA, ALËLEKATIWA, AKUYAWATIWA!
"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.
Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.
CORRE CABALLITO [Aguinaldo Venezolano] By Juan Carlos Salazar
Corre caballito, vamos a Belén A ver a María y al Niño también; Corre caballito, vamos a Belén A ver a María y al Niño también; Al Niño también dicen los pastores: Que ha nacido un niño cubierto de flores. Que ha nacido un niño cubierto de flores.
[Run little horse, we are going to Bethlehem To see Mary and also The Child (Repeat) The Child also say the shepherds That a child covered with flowers is born. (Repeat)]
El ángel Gabriel anunció a María Que el Niño Divino de ella nacería. El ángel Gabriel anunció a María Que el Niño Divino de ella nacería. De ella nacería dicen los pastores: Que ha nacido un niño cubierto de flores. Que ha nacido un niño cubierto de flores.
[The Angel Gabriel announced to Mary That The Divine Child would be born of her. (Repeat) Born of her say the shepherds That a child covered with flowers is born. (Repeat)]
Los tres Reyes Magos vienen del Oriente Y le traen al Niño hermosos presentes. Los tres Reyes Magos vienen del Oriente Y le traen al Niño hermosos presentes. Hermosos presentes dicen los pastores: Que ha nacido un niño cubierto de flores Que ha nacido un niño cubierto de flores.
[The Three Wise Kings come from the East And they bring beautiful gifts to The Child. (Repeat) Beautiful gifts say the shepherds That a child covered with flowers is born. (Repeat)]
San José y la Virgen, la mula y el buey Fueron los que vieron al Niño nacer. San José y la Virgen, la mula y el buey Fueron los que vieron al Niño nacer. Al Niño nacer dicen los pastores : Que ha nacido un Niño cubierto de flores. Que ha nacido un Niño cubierto de flores.
[Saint Joseph and The Virgen, the mule and the ox Were those who saw the birth of The Child. (Repeat) The birth of The Child say the shepherds That a child covered with flowers is born. (Repeat)]
Corre caballito, vamos a Belén A ver a María y al Niño también; Corre caballito, vamos a Belén A ver a María y al Niño también; Al Niño también dicen los pastores: Que ha nacido un niño cubierto de flores. Que ha nacido un niño cubierto de flores. Que ha nacido un niño cubierto de flores. Que ha nacido un niño cubierto de flores. Que ha nacido un niño cubierto de flores.
Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance! ..............................................................................................................................
A Note From The Gull
Thank you, Juan Carlos Salazar.
"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.
Blessed is all of creation Blessed be my beautiful people Blessed be the day of our awakening Blessed is my country Blessed are her patient hills.
Con mi burrito sabanero, voy camino de Belén Con mi burrito sabanero, voy camino de Belén
[With my little plains donkey, I am on my way to Bethlehem]
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
[If you see me, if you see me, I am on my way to Bethlehem.]
El lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero El lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero
[The little morning star illuminates my path]
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
Con mi cuatrico voy cantando mi burrito va trotando Con mi cuatrico voy cantando mi burrito va trotando
[With my little cuatro I go singing, my donkey goes trotting]
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
Tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuquita Apúrate mi burrito, que ya vamos a llegar Tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuquitu Apúrate mi burrito, vamos a ver a Jesus
[Hurry up, my little donkey, we are almost there Hurry up, my little donkey, we are going to see Jesus.]
Con mi burrito sabanero, voy camino de Belén Con mi burrito sabanero, voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
El lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero El lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
Con mi cuatrico voy cantando, mi burrito va trotando Con mu cuatrico voy cantando, mi burrito va trotando
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
Tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuquita Apúrate mi burrito, que ya vamos a llegar Tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuquitu Apúrate mi burrito, vamos a ver a Jesus
Con mi burrito sabanero voy camino de Belén Con mi burrito sabanero voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén Si me ven...
Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance! .............................................................................................
A Note From The Gull
This song happens to be my favourite Christmas song in the parang category. It is best sung, I think, by children, but I have heard it sung by adult performers in Trinidad. This Christmas song or villancico de Navidad was composed by the Venezuelan, Hugo Blanco and that's as much as I know about its origins. It contains everything that I like, innocence, music making, singing, travelling through nature, starlight, a little plains donkey and the excitement of finally meeting the baby Jesus.
"Apúrate mi burrito, vamos a ver a Jesus!" "Hurry up, little donkey, we are going to see Jesus!"
Thank you, Hugo Blanco.
"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.
Blessed is all of creation Blessed be my beautiful people Blessed be the day of our awakening Blessed is my country Blessed are her patient hills.
RONDA DE NAVIDAD [Villancico Peruano] By Niños Cantores de Huaraz
Somos los niños cantores Que vamos a pregonar. La natividad Señores Del Rey de la Humanidad.
[We are the singing children We're going to announce to you The birth of the King of Mankind.]
Venid amigos que esta noche es Noche Buena Venid a ver el nacimiento de una estrella Venid deprisa que ha nacido un chiquitín El mas hermoso que se ha visto por aquí.
[Come friends, tonight is Christmas Eve Come and see the birth of a star Come quickly, a little boy is born The most beautiful that has been seen here.]
Somos los niños cantores Que vamos a pregonar. La natividad señores Del Rey de la Humanidad.
Danzad pastores que esta noche es Noche Buena Haced que suenen el palillos y panderetas Danzad pastores que ha nacido un chiquitín Danzad pastores porque ya esta el Niño aquí
[Dance shepherds, tonight is Christmas Eve Sound the castanets and tambourines Dance, shepherds, a little boy is born Dance, shepherds, because The Child is already here.]
La Virgen va caminando llegó ya, Navidad A la puerta de Belén; llegó ya, Navidad Como se pone muy mala se lo dice a San José. Como se pone muy mala se lo dice a San José. Llegó ya, Navidad llegó ya navidad.
[The Virgin is walking, Christmas has already arrived At the gate of Bethlehem, Christmas has already arrived As it gets really bad, say to St. Joseph. As it gets really bad, say to St. Joseph Christmas has already arrived, Christmas has already arrived.]
No te asustes dulce esposa llegó ya, Navidad Que nada malo ha de ser; llegó ya, Navidad Es el Señor que te anuncia que su hijo va a nacer. Es el Señor que te anuncia que su hijo va a nacer. Llegó ya, Navidad llegó ya navidad.
[Do not panic, sweet wife, Christmas has already arrived Nothing is wrong, Christmas has already arrived. It is the Lord who announces that your child is going to be born It is the Lord who announces that your child is going to be born Christmas has already arrived, Christmas has already arrived.]
Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!
NINO LINDO [Villancico Tradicional Venezolano]
By La Rondallita
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
[Beautiful boy, before you I surrender,
Beautiful boy, you are my God.]
Con tus ojos lindos, Jesús mírame,
Y sólo con eso, y sólo con eso, me consolaré.
Con tus ojos lindos, Jesús mírame,
Y sólo con eso, y sólo con eso, me consolaré.
[With your pretty eyes, Jesus look at me,
And only with that, and only with that,
I will be consoled.]
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
Esa tu hermosura, ese tu candor
El alma me roba, el alma me roba
Me roba el amor.
Esa tu hermosura, ese tu candor
El alma me roba, el alma me roba
Me roba el amor.
[Your beauty, your sincerity
Steals my soul, steals my soul,
Steals my love.]
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!
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A Note From The Gull
Thank you, niños La Rondallito. Beautiful sentiments expressed beautifully.
"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.
Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.
CHOLITO JESUS [Villancico Peruano]
By Los Toribianitos
Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala Lalalala la Lalalalala la Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala la Lalalalala la
Al niño Dios le llevamos un ponchito de color,
Al niño Dios le llevamos un ponchito de color,
Un chuyito muy serrano, zapatitos de algodón.
Un chuyito muy serrano, zapatitos de algodón.
To the God-child we carry a coloured poncho An Andean cap, little cotton shoes.
Y todos le gritarán: Cholito!
¿De dónde llegaste tú?: Cholito!
Todos le creerán: Cholito!
Que naciste en el Perú
And everyone will shout: Cholito! From where have you come? Cholito! Everyone will believe: Cholito! That you were born in Peru.
Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalala la
Lalalalala la Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala la Lalalalala la
A la Virgen le llevamos un mantón abrigador
A la Virgen le llevamos un mantón abrigador
A San José una quena, un charango y un tambor.
A San José una quena, un charango y un tambor. To the Virgin we carry a warm shawl To San Jose, a flute, a charango and a drum.
Y todos le gritarán: Cholito!
¿De dónde llegaste tú?: Cholito!
Y todos le creerán: Cholito!
Que naciste en el Perú
Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalala la
Lalalalala la Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala la Lalalalala la
[Instrumental]
Cholito! Cholito! Cholito!
Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalala la
Los indiecitos pastores trigo y quinua llevarán,
Los indiecitos pastores trigo y quinua llevarán,
José y la Virgen María buena chicha tomarán
José y la Virgen María buena chicha tomarán
The Indian/Indigenous shepherds will carry wheat and quinine Joseph and the Virgin Mary will drink good chicha.
Y todos le gritarán: Cholito!
¿De dónde llegaste tú?: Cholito!
Y todos le creerán: Cholito!
Que naciste en el Perú.
Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalala la Lala la lalala
Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance! ..............................................................................................................................
A Note From The Gull
In this joyful and rousing Peruvian villancico the story of the Nativity is told with a Peruvian twist. The shepherds in the fields are indigenous "Indiecitos pastores" and they bring gifts of "trigo" wheat and "quinua" quinine and "chicha" a fermented corn drink. The travellers who visit the child of God are carrying gifts of "un ponchito de color" a colourful little poncho, "un chuyito muy serrano" a cap typical of the Andean Highlands and "zapatitos de algodón" little cotton shoes [Remember the woven cotton "sapats" that Trinidadians used to wear?] To Mary they bring "un mantón abrigador" a warm shawl and to San Jose they bring "una quena" an Incan flute, "un charango" a charango [higher pitched string instrument like a tiny cuatro] and "un tambor" a drum.
They sing: Y todos le gritarán: Cholito! ¿De dónde llegaste tú?: Cholito! Y todos le creerán: Cholito! Que naciste en el Perú. Here "Cholito" is used to address the child, Jesus. It is a way of claiming Him as one of their own - "naciste en el Perú" who was born in Peru. Cholito is generally used as a term of endearment usually used to refer to a child but it has other connotations. It can describe a person with Indigenous heritage, whether "pure" or mestizo, an individual of mixed heritage - indigenous and european. I think that this is the meaning that is appropriate for this song. Jesus is born among the people of the land. Like the "n" word however, how the meaning of the word "cholito" is intended and taken depends on who is using it and the tone with which it is used. Some have described it as a pejorative, racist word used to put down morenos or indigenous persons or people from the Highlands, or native peoples who are being derided for adopting Western ways.
I provide these details solely to inform and with the conviction that nothing can detract from the unbridled affection and joy of the warm welcome that this song expresses at the birth of the Saviour.
"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.
Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.
The Christmas bug has been biting for a few months now. I don't think that I ever mentioned that I used to be a guitarist in a parang band and even though I no longer play, by the time June rolls around I am in parang mode. I start listening to the music, I remember the band members crammed into vehicle convoys, the camaraderie tangible through even the squabbles. I feel the night air as we unload instruments, I hear the sounds of instruments being tuned and synced. I nurse my bruised fingers and aching wrist but I forget everything once the music starts. I am in heaven. The audiences are a blur when I play. For me there is only the band and the music. I have to mingle with the people while other bands are playing to get a sense of the crowd's mood. I still dream about my band which no longer exists. I imagine the practice sessions, I imagine introducing new songs and instruments. In my dreams I invite performers from Latin America to join us for the season. We exchange music and are both left richer... Dreams are cheap, replete with success and easy on the muscles.
For the next week or so, I will be posting Villancicos, including songs with children's voices in mind. It has been my hope for the longest while to see the creation of a children's chorus which focuses on the Indigenous/Hispanic roots of Trinidad and Tobago and the often neglected historical ties - geographical, genetic, cultural and developmental with the South American continent.
Our children should not be denied the part of their heritage which is firmly tied to the magnificent continent to the south and as they learn first of all about their own country, they should be guided to make the connections with their more immediate and real cultural roots. Many of our ancestors were of Indigenous and Hispanic origin. Some of them literally walked over from Venezuela when the land bridge was exposed by lower sea levels. Others came by canoe and are they are still coming today. I visited Venezuela only once in my life and as I mentioned in an earlier post, I felt that it was a homecoming. My Iberian ancestry could have played a part in my response to the language and the familiar faces but in my heart I felt that it was the indigenous connection that was calling to me.
I am increasingly disturbed by our tendency to stare longingly northwards, mesmerized by what exactly, I don't know. It is an exercise in futility, if not insanity, to look for ourselves in the faces and cultures of people who did not contribute at such fundamental levels to who we are today. It is my hope that if Trinidadians and Tobagonians choose to leave our shores to travel for pleasure and business, that more and more of them will recognise that visas to the countries of that "other" America to the South will open doors to excellent tourist experiences, excellent educational institutions, high quality medical services, abundant trade opportunities and of course the personal ties which will naturally follow.
But for most of us descendants and other preservers of the culture, it is the season of Christmas that unwraps one of the most treasured souvenirs of our Indigenous/Hispanic roots - the parranda or parang. However, even as we faithfully pay homage to this persisting connection, I am dismayed to find the usual stereotyping in the music that is used mostly to give a Hispanic twist to the usual odes to excess. Even if we'd rather not admit it, Hispanic women are linked more often with the exotic "hotness" which unfortunately our brothels are also happy to peddle. Combine that with the language difference and you can just imagine that some must experience great difficulty appreciating that there are serious messages, especially the religious, in many of the songs classed loosely under the term "parang".
Sharlene Flores of San Jose De Flores expressed this disrespect/ignorance in her song "Spanish Confusion" when she described an audience member who was convinced [or preferred to think] that the Spanish lyrics of her song could all be translated into banal demands for alcohol, food and sexual satisfaction. Below are some excerpts from their song:
Flores De San Jose sang in Talparo
Briefly, I come to tell you about the show
You know that is the birth of our Saviour
So everything was happy and in order
Everybody was enjoying themselves
You could see they put their worries upon a shelf
There was this gentleman standing by the bar
And taking note of every word I utter
When I finish sing, he come on the stage
And this is what he had written on that page:
Gimme rum, gimme whiskey, gimme something to eat
Then sing a parang song let me move my feet
All the time you twisting your tongue to sing
I coulda tell you that's what you was saying.
[Gimme] Rum in Spanish is babash [Gimme]
[Gimme] Whiskey is wine [Gimme]
If you give me salt prunes then I'll love you all the time
[Canta] Come on baby, do it. [Canta] You do it so sweet [Canta]
I'll translate for you any Spanish word you speak.
[Ey] ey [ey] ey [ey] ey...
"El angel Gabriel," on this I sang
He turn and say, "Of course, I will be your man!"
"Anuncio a Maria" was the next line
He went down on his knees and ask me to wine
I stand up there in shock, couldn't understand
Why people think is joke when we sing parang
This is not the first time it happen to we
For the reason of Christmas, we just let it be....
A lady shout," Look man, just get off the stage!"
"Look what she sang is what I have on this page."
Gimme rum, gimme whiskey, gimme something to eat
Then sing a parang song let me move my feet
All the time you twisting your tongue to sing
I coulda tell you that's what you was saying.
[Gimme] Rum in Spanish is babash [Gimme]
[Gimme] Whiskey is wine [Gimme]
If you give me salt prunes then I'll love you all the time
[Canta] Come on baby, do it. [Canta] You do it so sweet [Canta]
I'll translate for you any Spanish word you speak.
[Ey] ey [ey] ey [ey] ey...
People in the party, they like this thing
I wonder if they know what was happening
Maybe they think we don't know what we singing?
For the story of Christmas comes in paranging
This is the best festival in the land
But good things, people will never understand
So when you see this Yuletide time come around
Remember the real reason to sing your song
I told the crowd the Spanish to sing along
He turn and tell me, "I couldna been that wrong."
Gimme rum, gimme whiskey, gimme something to eat
Then sing a parang song let me move my feet
All the time you twisting your tongue to sing
I coulda tell you that's what you was saying.
[Gimme] Rum in Spanish is babash [Gimme]
[Gimme] Whiskey is wine [Gimme]
If you give me salt prunes then I'll love you all the time
[Canta] Come on baby, do it. [Canta] You do it so sweet [Canta]
I'll translate for you any Spanish word you speak.
[Ey] ey [ey] ey [ey] ey...
No matter what they say, no matter what they do [Ey!]
You know that this time is true [Ey!]
You know why we sing this song
So we want you to sing along
It's the only time of year [Ey!] that life really feels so fair [Ey!]
It brings back a memory of how life really used to be.
Gimme rum, gimme whiskey, gimme something to eat
Then sing a parang song let me move my feet
All the time you twisting your tongue to sing
I coulda tell you that's what you was saying.
Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!
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A Note From The Gull
Thank you, Sharlene. You are a true, true Trinitaria, crossing over to bring your own unique spice and talent to the parang. I have always been a great respecter of your spirit, your voice and the huge contribution that you have made to our culture.
"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.
Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.
Lord, Please walk beside me through this day. Clear the heavy air with the lightness of Your Presence. Guide my hands and steady my heart that I may give comfort when I cannot give hope, that I may give relief when I do not have a cure, and that I may radiate Your healing peace when the limits of science, time, and the human body overwhelm us all. Amen
Source
Sáncte Míchael Archángele, defénde nos in proélio, cóntra nequítiam et insídias diáboli ésto præsídium. Ímperet ílli Déus, súpplices deprecámur: tuque, prínceps milítiæ cæléstis, Sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos, qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in múndo, divína virtúte, in inférnum detrúde. Ámen
