Can you believe tomorrow is May 1? We can’t. To celebrate the new month, here’s a May song from twelfth century Provence, but with a twist: In this performance, from Camerata’s trailblazing CD New Britain, it morphs into a Spanish-language Christmas carol from the American Southwest. Thus does musical energy, and the creative spirit, persist across the oceans, and the centuries. Forward into spring!
And stay tuned – next week we will have a special preview of Songs to the Lute, our upcoming online concert of French lute songs featuring lutenist Nigel North and our own Anne Azéma, which will be streaming from May 15 – 31.
Translations:
Calenda Maia, R. de Vacqueyras, Provence, ca. 1200
Neither Calends of May, nor beech leaves, nor bird songs, nor gladiolas – there is nothing that rejoices me more, noble and gay dame, than the messenger coming to me and speaking of your beautiful body that gives me the renewed pleasure of love, and takes me back to you, true lady; let the jealous one tumble!
Cuando por el oriente, New Mexico, 1953
When dawn came up from the east, our lady went out walking. Oh, what joy, my soul; blessed be thou, Queen of Heaven! * “Come,” said saint (Joseph), “We beg you, friend, to take us in. Sir, please give shelter to this young girl who is pregnant.” * Pregnant and beautiful maiden, who has ever seen such beauty. Oh, friends, these are flowers, and I can feel that there will be no more idiots in this world. * They took refuge in a fortunate shelter, where they were surrounded by a bull and a mule. What a joy to see these happy animals — there are beasts that can teach a thing or two to humans. * When the kings entered, without a by-your-leave, they made a square for a dance. A little black one, an Italian, a student, and a Portugee jumped around from place to place.