Program, texts and translations for Navidad Nuestra
Tony
Program Order
Navidad Nuestra Ariel Ramírez
La Annunciación (1921-2010)
La Peregrinación
El Nacimiento
Los Pastores
Los Reyes Magos
La Huida
Yambambó José Antonio Rincón
En El Portal de Belén Puerto Rican carol
arr. Ed Henderson
El Cielo Canta Alegría Pablo Sosa
arr. Ed Henderson
Misa Criolla Ariel Ramírez
Kyrie
Gloria
Credo
Sanctus
Agnus Dei
Program Notes
Ariel Ramírez, whose music begins and ends our concert, is one of Argentina’s most loved choral composers. He was born in 1921 in Santa Fé, Argentina. As a young man Ramírez traveled all over rural South America studying and collecting folk music. After study in Buenos Aires, he went to Europe where he studied first at the Institute of Hispanic Culture in Madrid, Spain, and then at the Academy of Music in Vienna in 1950 where he concentrated on Central European folk music. Then he got a job teaching in a German convent. In 1954 he returned to Argentina and completed his musical training in Buenos Aires. His politically inspired popular songs soon earned him fame as a leader of the nueva canción movement.
Navidad Nuestra (Our Nativity) is subtitled “A folk drama of the nativity based on rhythms and traditions of Hispanic America.” The lyrics are by Argentine poet Felix Luna, with whom Ramírez had previously collaborated in writing songs. The work was created for a criollo retable (native tableau) where each movement of the Christmas story is expressed in a popular style. Ramírez gave each episode a distinctive regional voice: a chamamé for the Annunciation, a huella pampeana for the pilgrimage of Joseph and Mary, a vidala catamarqueña for the Birth of Christ, the Adoration of the Shepherds is in chaya riojana rhythm and the visit of the Three Kings in takirari tempo. The Flight into Egypt is a vidala tucumana.
Luna sprinkled his Spanish language poem with indigenous Guaraní words, subtly shifting the Nativity story’s setting from Bethlehem to the north of Argentina, alluding to Rioja’s moonlight in the poem about the adoration of the shepherds. In the Annunciation story, the Virgin Mary is described as la más bonita cuñatai (the most beautiful of all maids) and the Angel Gabriel arrives caré, which literally means “sharp looking.” The Three Kings don’t bring gold, frankincense and myrrh but arrope (grape and cactus jelly) and a white poncho made of the finest alpaca wool. There are also references to local musical instruments such as cajas, guitars and bombo leguero. Local drinks made from the algorrobo blanco tree, aloja (a kind of beer), añapa (a non-alcoholic beverage) arrope (carob syrup).
Ramírez became an internationally celebrated composer with the release of his recording of Misa Criolla starring Los Fronterizos in 1967. The work had been composed in 1963. The work is a Catholic mass text set in Spanish rather than Latin and using native musical styles. It was one of the first major masses written after the Second Vatican Council that mandated the use of local language rather than Latin for Catholic worship. The work also gained popularity due to the growing interest in folk music worldwide. The reception of the work elsewhere helped overcome native skepticism in Argentina about sacred music written in popular style.
The opening Kyrie is in the rhythm of the vidala-baguala, a characteristic of northern Argentina and Bolivia, which reflects the atmosphere of the loneliness of life on a deserted high plateau. The Gloria rhythm, the carnavalito, is also from the Andes mountains area. The two sections of the Gloria are separated by a recitative Yaraví. The Credo is based on the chacerera trunca, a folk motif of central Argentina. The Sanctus is fashioned after unusual Bolivian folk rhythms called carnaval cochabambino. The concluding Agnus Dei is written in the style of the pampas of Buenos Aires(estillo pampeano) and, like the Kyrie, expresses the feeling of solitude in an enormous, empty land.
The orchestration of both Navidad Nuestra and Misa Criolla for two flutes, guitar, string bass, percussion and keyboard are by Dr. Nile Norton. Ramírez’s original instrumentation included amplified harpsichord, guitar, bongs, jingle bells (cascabeles), high drums with sticks and low drums with hands and a concertina heard in a great deal of Argentine music known as a bandoneón.
Yambambó is the work of Colombian choral director and arranger José Antonio Rincón. The words are by Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén. Colombian music is particularly rich in African and Native South American elements – all of which are on vivid display in this exotic maze of complex rhythms and vocal production. In this piece the meaning of the words is subordinate to the sound of the words. The poem evokes a kind of sonic video of the black man drumming and the “Mama” dancing.
En El Portal a Belén (In the Stable at Bethlehem) is a traditional Puerto Rican Christmas carol arranged by Ed Henderson (b. 1952), one of Canada’s finest music directors for theatrical productions. Henderson is also a recognized producer of world music recordings. Among his award-winning CDs is “El Camino Real” for Ancient Cultures and “Endless” for Silk Road.
El Cielo Canta Alegría (Heaven is Singing for Joy) is a carol whose words and music were composed by Argentine church musician and liturgist Pablo Sosa (b. 1933). Sosa teaches Liturgy and Hymnology at the Protestant Institute for Higher Theological Studies, and Choral Conducting at the National Conservatory of Music in Buenos Aires. El Cielo Canta Alegría was written in 1958 in the carnavalito style. Like Ramírez, Sosa has also devoted his talents to the use of indigenous music within the context of Christian worship in Latin America.
Texts and Translations
Navidad Nuestra
1. La Anunciatión
Jinete de un rayo rojo, viene volando el Angel Gabriel,
Con sable punta de estrella que vuele plate cabacate.
Que Dios te salve Maria, la más bonita cuñatai.
La flor está floreciendo, crece en la sangre tu cuclumi.
Soy la esclava del Señor, llevando su corazón,
Capullo que se hace flor y se abrirá en Navidad.
El Angel Gabriel ya vuelve ai pago donde se encuentra Dios.
Mamó parehó Angelito, que tan contento te vuelves vos.
He visto a la reina del mundo, la más bonita cuñatai.
Los ojos son dos estrellas, su voz el canto de un yeruti.
1. The Annunciation
Mounted on a red thunderbolt, the Angel Gabriel comes flying,
With his star-pointed saber he flies over the earth.
May God bless you, Maria, prettiest of maids.
The flower is blooming; in your blood your child is growing.
I am the handmaid of the Lord, bearing his heart,
The bud becomes a flower and will open on Christmas.
The Angel Gabriel returns to the place where he find the Child.
The little one nursed equally from each breast. You return contented.
I have seen the Queen of the World, the prettiest of maids.
Her eyes are two stars, her voice is the song of a yeruti.
2. La Peregrinación
A la huella, José y Maria, por las pampas heladas, cardos y ortigas,
A la huella, cortando campo, no hay cobijo ni fond, sigan andando.
Florecita del campo, clavel del aire, si minguno te aloja ¿Adónde naces?
¿Donde naces florcita que estás creciendo, palomita asustada, grillo sin sueño?
A la huella, José y Maria, con un Dios escondido, nadie sabia.
A la huella, los peregrinos, préstenme una tapera para mi niño.
A la huella, soles y lunas, dos ojitos de almendra, piei de aceltuna.
Ay burrito del campo, ay buey barcino, qui mi niño ya viene, háganle sitio.
Un ranchito de quincha solo me ampara, dos alientos amigos; la luna clara.
2. The Pilgrimage
On the path, Joseph and Mary, across the frozen pampas,
Through thistles and nettles,
On the path, cutting across the countryside.
There is neither shelter nor inn. Keep walking.
Little flower of the field, carnation of the air,
If no one shelters you where will you be born?
Where will you be born, little growing flower, frightened dove, unsleeping cricket?
On the path, Joseph and Mary, with a hidden God. No one knew.
On the path, pilgrims. Lend me a hovel for my child!
On the path, suns and moons, two little almond eyes and olive skin.
Oh little donkey, oh spotted ox, my child is coming, make room for him.
Only a little stable of straw protects me, two friendly spirits, and the bright moon.
3. El Nacimiento
Noche anunciada, noche de amor, Dios ha nacido, pélato y flor.
Todo es silencio y serenidad, pas 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 aqui.
3. The Nativity
Night foretold, night of love; God is born, petal and flower.
All is silence and serenity. Peace to all, it is Christmas.
In the manger my savior is the messenger of peace and love.
When he smiles a light shines and in his little arms a cross grows.
Angels sing over the doorway, God is born, it is Christmas.
This is the night that God promised to all, and now it has arrived.
It is Christmas Eve, you should not sleep; God is born, God is here.
4. Los Pastores
Vengan pastores del campo, que el Rey de los Reyes ha nacido ya.
Vengan antes que amanezca, que ya apunta el dia y la noche se va.
Albahaca y cedrón, tomillo y laurel, que el Niño se duerme al amanacer.
Lleguen de Pinchas y Chuquis, de Aminga y San Pedro, de Arauco y Pomán,
Antes que nadie le adoren, quesillos y flores le vamos a llevar.
Pidanie a Julio Romero caballos de paso y su mula de andar.
Con cajas y con guitarras iremos cantando por al olivar.
Ay Navidad de Aimogasta! Aloja y añapa no habrá de faltar.
Mientras la luna riojana se muere de ganas de participar.
4. The Shepherds
Come, shepherds of the fields, the King of Kings has been born.
Come before dawn, for day is already breaking and night is passing.
Basil and verbena, thyme and bay, the Child falls asleep at dawn.
Come from Pinchas and Chuquis, from Aminga and San Pedro,
from Arauco and Pomán.
Adore him above all others. We will bring him cheeses and flowers.
Ask Julio Romero for horses and his pack mule,
With drums and guitars we will go singing through the olive grove.
Oh, Christmas in Aimogasta! We must not run out of beer and carob juice.
While the moon of Rioja is dying to take part.
5. Los Reyes Magos
Llegaron ya los reyes y eran tres: Melchor, Gaspar y el negro Baltazar.
Arrope y miel le llevarán y un poncho blanco de alpaca real.
Changos y chinitas, duérmanse, que ya Melchor, Gaspar y Baltazar
Todos los regalos dejarán para jugar mañana al despertar.
El niño Dios muy bien lo agradeció, comió la mile y el poncho lo abrigó.
Y fue despu´s que los miró y a medianoche el sol relumbró.
5. The Three Kings
Now the kings arrived and they were three: Melchior, Caspar and black Balthazar.
They will bring him jelly and honey and a white poncho of finest alpaca wool.
Boys and girls, go to sleep! Now Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar
Will leave all the presents to play with tomorrow when you awake.
The Baby Jesus thanked them very much, ate the honey, and put on the poncho.
And after that he looked at them and at midnight the sun shone forth.
6. La Huida
¡Vamos! ¡Vamos! ¡Burrito apurá! Si no te apuras los van a pillar.
Largo el camino, largo el salitral.
Ya tocan a degollar, ya está sandrando el puñal.
Ninõ bonito, no llores mi amor, ya llegaremos a tierra mejor.
Duérmete ya, no llores, cuna en mis brazos te haré.
Bombos leguereos en mi corazón.
6. The Flight
Let’s go! Let’s go! Little donkey, hurry up! If you do not hurry they will catch them.
The road through the saltbed is long.
They are already starting the massacre, the dagger is already bloody.
Pretty child, do not cry, my love, soon we will arrive in a better land.
Go to sleep now, do not cry, I will make you a cradle in my arms.
Distant drums pound in my heart.
Yambambó
Yambambó, yambambé, replica el congo solongo, replica el negro bien negro.
Congo solongo del songo, baila yambó sobre un pie. Mama tomba serembé, cuserembá. El negro canta y se ajuma, el negro se ajuma y canta, el negro canta y se va. Aquememe serambó, yambo tamba. Tumba del negro que tumba, tumba del negro caramba. Caramba que el negro tumba, negro que tumba caramba.
Yambambó! The black man’s drum beats out solongo. Dance yambo on one foot. Mama dances cuseremba, the black man sings and staggers and goes off. The black man beats his drum. Caramba!
En El Portal a Belén
Ha nacido en un portal llenito de telaranas, entre la mula y el buey,
El Redentor de las almas.
Estribillo: Este un lerum, la maruxina, este es un lerum, en el portal;
Vaya prosigo este cantar. Lerum, lerum, lerum, la!
En el portal de Belén hay estrella, sol y luna,
La Virgen y San José y el Niño que está en la cuna.
Entro al portal un gallego que vengo desde Galicia
Y le traigo al Niño Dios lienzo para una camisa.
Entro un gitano al portal de Granada vengo a aqui
Y le traigo al Niño Dios un gallo quiquiriqui.
There was born in a stable full of cobwebs, between the mule and the ox,
The Redeemer of our souls.
Refrain: This is a lerum, the dear Mary, this is a lerum in the stable;
Here I continue this song. Lerum, lerum, lerum, la!
In the stable of Bethlehem there is a star, sun and moon,
The Virgin and St. Joseph and the Child who is in the crib.
A Spaniard entered the stable who comes from Galicia
And I bring to the Child of God linen for a shirt.
A gypsy entered the stable, from Granada I come here
And bring to the Child of God a rooster cock-a-doodle doo.
El Cielo Canta Alegría
El cielo canta alegría, ¡Aleluya! Porque en tu vida y la mía brilla la gloria de Dios!
¡Aleluya! Porque a tu vida y la mía nos une el amor de Dios ¡Aleluya!
El cielo canta alegría, ¡Aleluya! Proclamarán al Señor. ¡Aleluya!
Heaven sings for joy, Alleluia!
Because in your life and mine shines the glory of God Alleluia!
Heaven sings for joy, Alleluia! Because your life and mine are one in the love of God, Alleluia! Heaven sings of joy, Alleluia! For your life and mine will always proclaim the Lord, Alleluia!
Misa Criolla
1. Kyrie
Señor, ten piedad de nosotros. Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros. Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.
Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.
2. Gloria
Gloria 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 immensa 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 nosostros. Tú que quitas los pecados del mundo, atiende nuestra súplica. Tú que reinas con el Padre, ten piedad de nosotros. Porque tú, sólo eres Santo, sólo Tú Señor; Tú sólo altísimo Jesucristo con el Espiritu Santo, en la gloria de Dios Padre. Amén.
Glory be to God on high and peace on earth, good will to people the Lord loves, We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we give thanks to you for your great glory. Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jesus Christ. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. You who take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. You who reigns with the Father, have mercy upon us. For you only are holy, you only are the Lord; you only, Jesus Christ, are most high with the Holy Spirit in the Glory of God the Father. Amen.
3. Credo
Creo en Dios, Padre Todopoderoso, creador de cielo y tierra; y en Jesucristo creo,
Su único Hijo, nuestro Señor, Fue concebido por obra y gracia, nació de Santa Maria Virgen, padeció bajo el poder de Poncio Pilato, fue crucificado, muerto y sepultado.
Descendió a los infiernos. Al tercer día, resucitó, de entre los muertos; subió a los cielos, está 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.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the grace of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, for our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He died and was buried. He descended to the dead; on the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God; and he shall come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
4. 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. Hosanna en las alturas!
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of the Universe! Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
5. 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.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, grant us your peace.