Qué bonito niño chiquito – Colombina
Composer: Anonymous
Like A los maytines era, this piece illustrates the journey of the word “villancico”: from denoting pastoral works to naming Christmas songs. By way of introduction, Carles Blanch improvises on the vihuela in the manner of Mudarra, the Renaissance canon from Seville.
Lyrics
¡Qué bonito
Niño Chiquito!
Pariendo la virgen,
dos buenas mugeres
servían al parto
y fazíanle plazeres
al niño.
Desque lo ovo parido
la virgen con prudencia,
luego lo adoraron,
dándole rreverençia
al niño.
La Virgen María,
como era moçuela,
ciñólo cuerdamente
con una faxuela
al niño.
Ángeles del çielo
muy dulçe cantavan
«Gloria in excelsis Deo».
Asy lo acallavan
al niño.
What a lovely
little Child!
As the Virgin gave birth,
two good women
attended the birth
and brought delight
to the Child.
When she had given birth,
the Virgin, in her wisdom,
they straightaway adored him,
paying reverence
to the Child.
The Virgin Mary,
being but a young girl,
wisely swaddled
with a little band
the Child.
Angels from heaven
sang very sweetly
“Gloria in excelsis Deo”.
And so they hushed
the Child.
Credits
ACCADEMIA DEL PIACERE
Fahmi Alqhai, viola da gamba & direction
Alena Dantcheva, soprano
Rami Alqhai, viola da gamba
Carles Blanch, vihuela
Marta Graziolino, harp
Recording and editing (video and audio): Félix Vázquez
