Songs Since hearing David Archuleta’s holiday album Christmas from the Heart, I have been curious about one song in particular.  I had never heard this song before. That is, until I listened to David’s version! Singing in Spanish, he sounds as if he has been a native speaker of that language all his life. David has reported that Spanish was his first language as a small child. Both of his parents are of Latin heritage, especially his mother Lupe who was born in Honduras. I am sure this is one reason why he is able to sing in Spanish with expert pronunciation. However, David has also admitted that he lost much of his ability to speak Spanish as he grew older. You would never know that, because David does such a wonderful job singing this song.

I did not know what the song was about, but it did not matter. David’s voice is so rich and beautiful as he sings this tune that I have listened to it over and over!  With that in mind, I have done my research for this song, and I’d like to share what I have learned with all of you. 😉

The Song of the Week is…

“Riu, Riu, Chiu”

“Riu, Riu, Chiu” is a Spanish carol written in so-called villancico style, a rustic song form popular in post-Renaissance Spain. The words in the title, “Riu, Riu, Chiu,” are the vocalizations of the sounds made by the nightingale, which means ‘night songstress’. Early writers assumed the female sang, but in fact the male nightingale is the singer. Listen to twelve vocalizations from this marvelous bird! Among other lovely sounds, you will easily hear “riu, riu, chiu.”

According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, villancico consisted of two parts, beginning with the refrain, or estribillo, which alternates with the stanza, or copla. The copla has two parts, the mudanza and the vuelta. The vuelta rhymes with the last line of the mudanza but is sung to the melody of the estribillo. This overlap of poetic and musical form is characteristic of the villancico. This carol was one of the more widely known works in Medieval times. Beginning in the 17th century, the poetic text became sacred, connected in some aspect with Christian principles or beliefs. Today the term villancico refers to the Spanish Christmas Carol. Translations vary in order to better understand the song’s original archaic words and meanings.

Some believe that the writer of “Riu, Riu, Chiu” is anonymous, and its text may have been originally written in Portuguese, but others think the song may have been written by Mateo Flecha (1481-1553). Mateo Flecha was a Renaissance-era Spanish composer noted for his ‘ensaladas,’ a sort of eclectic vocal form, usually incorporating humorous verse, with a reference about Christmas.

The melody for “Riu, Riu, Chiu” most likely dates back to the fifteenth century or earlier. The main theme of the song as sung by the “nightingale” is lively and rhythmic. With its appealing blend of Renaissance-era elegance and peasant-like festivity, “Riu, Riu, Chiu” is a catchy, memorable tune. The words tell of the Blessed Mother Mary and her son Christ, the Redeemer, and the way God protected them from Satan, the wolf!

Here now is David singing “Riu, Riu, Chiu” from his album Christmas from the Heart. I have provided the lyrics he sings below, so you may follow along.

“Riu, riu, chiu” as sung by David Archuleta

Riu, riu, chiu
La guarda ribera
Dios guarde el lobo
De nuestra cordera

Riu, riu, chiu
La guarda ribera
Dios guarde el lobo
De nuestra cordera

Riu, riu, chiu, Riu, riu, chiu
Riu, riu, chiu, Riu, riu, chiu

El lobo rabioso la quiso morder
Mas Dios poderoso la supo defender
Quisole hazer que no pudiesse pecar
Ni aun original la Virgen no tuviera
Riu, riu, chiu
La guarda ribera….

Este viene a dar a los muertos vida
Y viene a reparar de todos la caida
Es la luz del dia aqueste mocuelo
Este es el cordero que San Juan dixera
Riu, riu, chiu, Ooh riu, riu, chiu
Riu, riu, chiu, Por guarda ribera

Este qu’es nascido es el gran monarca
Cristo patriarca de carne vestido
Hanos redimido con se hazer chiquito
Aunqu’era infinito, finito se hizera
Riu, riu, chiu
La guarda ribera…

Here are the original Spanish lyrics to “Riu, Riu, Chiu”. (Note: David sang only the first three verses with the repeating chorus.)

Riu, riu, chiu
La guarda ribera
Dios guarde el lobo
De nuestra cordera

El lobo rabioso la quiso morder
Mas Dios poderoso la supo defender
Quisole hazer que no pudiesse pecar
Ni aun original esta Virgen no tuviera
Riu, riu, chiu

Este viene a dar a los muertos vida
Y viene a reparar de todos la caida
Es la luz del dia aqueste mocuelo
Este es el cordero que San Juan dixera
Riu, riu, chiu

Este qu’es nascido es el gran monarca
Cristo patriarca de carne vestido
Hanos redimido con se hazer chiquito
Aunqu’era infinito, finito se hizera
Riu, riu, chiu

Muchas profecias lo han profetizado
Y aun en nuestros dias lo hemos alcancado
A Dios humanado vemos en el suelo
Y al hombre nel cielo porqu’er le quisiera
Riu, riu, chiu

Yo vi mil Garzones que andavan cantando
Por aqui bolando, haciendo mil sones
Diziendo a gascones Gloria sea en el cielo
Y paz en el suelo qu’es Jesus nascieta
Riu, riu, chiu

Pues que ya tenemos lo que desseamos
Todos juntos vamos presentes llevemos
Todos le daremos nuestra voluntad
Pues a se igualar con el hombre viniera
Riu, riu, chiu

And finally, the original Spanish lyrics translated into English go something like this:

‘Riu, riu, chiu,’ cried the nightingales by the riverside.
God kept the wolf [Satan] away from our lamb [the Virgin Mary].

The raging wolf wanted to bite her,
but the more powerful God knew how to protect her.
He wanted to make her incapable of sin,
and this Virgin did not even have original sin.

He who is born is a great King,
Christ the Patriarch clothed in human flesh.
He has redeemed us by making himself a child:
Although he is immortal, he made himself mortal.

As St. John the prophecy foretold it,
And in our time we have seen it fulfilled.
We see God in human form here on Earth,
and man raised to heaven because God loved him.

Since now we have our hearts’ desire,
let us all go together bearing gifts;
we shall all submit our will to him,
because he came to make himself equal with man.

Have a great week everyone and as always, take care!
Katie

Listen to Song of Last Week.

David Archuleta, the Voice