I purposely chose a very inaccurate, but beautiful image for today's post because this is a good illustration of what most traditional Spanish carols are like. They are lovely pieces of music, but love to make things up about Jesus, Mary, and Joseph at a prodigious rate, asserting things like:
"Mary was a baker,"
"Jesus wouldn't stop crying,"
"They gave soup to the child Jesus but he wouldn't eat it because it was so sweet so St Joseph ate it."
"The Child Jesus was so beautiful, all rosy white."
"The virgin Mary's hands are slightly coarse but beautiful."
And, one of my favorites:
"Mary did not even have original sin."
Such statements are all either wild conjectures, or blatantly false, however, the Spanish songs manage to weave such things into their carols along with many other things which I might not have missed had I known more than a few words in Spanish.
As it is, however, gems such as La Peregrinacion, or today's carol, Esta Noche, can still be found amidst all the superfluity. "Esta Noche" does include one of the lines I wrote above...you'll see which, however, what it also incorporates is the element of rejoicing because a child is born in a manger in Bethlehem.
Yes, again, I find that John Rutter's version is the best. I challenge you to find one better.
Esta noche nace un nino entre la escarcha y el hielo
Quien pudiera nino mio vestirte de terciopelo
Alegri, alegri, alegria
Alegr, alegri, que placer,
Esta noche nace un nino en el portal de belen.
La virgen estalavando con un poco de jabon
Se le picaron las manos, manos di mi corazon,
Alegri, alegri, alegria
Alegri, alegri, que placer
Esta noche nace un nino en el portal de Belen.
Tonight a child is born between the frost and the ice,
If only I could, little child, dress you up in velvet!
Happiness and joy,
Happiness and pleasure,
For tonight a child is born in a manger in Bethlehem.
The virgin is washing clothes with a little bit of soap
Her hands are slightly coarse, those beautiful loving hands!
Happiness nad joy,
Happiness and pleasure,
For tonight a child is born in a manger in Bethlehem.
Yes, happiness and joy must be the result of Christ's birth for He came to save us from ourselves! Is there any greater gift, and is there any greater joy?
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