Classical Guitar Favorites

Carol of the Bells

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:49:32 -0600

"Carol of the Bells" (also known as the "Ukrainian Bell Carol") was adapted from "Shchedryk" by Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych, which was first performed in December 1916 by students at Kiev University. It was a part of the Ukrainian National Chorus reportoire during its 1,000-plus concert tour around Europe and the Americas. It was introduced to American audiences on October 5, 1921 at Carnegie Hall.

Lyrics:
Hark how the bells,
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away

Christmas is here,
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
meek and the bold,

Ding dong ding dong
that is their song
with joyful ring
all caroling

One seems to hear
words of good cheer
from everywhere
filling the air

Oh how they pound,
raising the sound,
o'er hill and dale,
telling their tale,

Gaily they ring
while people sing
songs of good cheer,
Christmas is here,

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,

On on they send,
on without end,
their joyful tone
to every home

Ding dong ding... dong!

Malagueña

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 09:37:19 -0600

Malagueñas is one of the traditional styles of flamenco, derived from earlier types of fandango from the area of Málaga, classified among the Cantes de Levante. A folkoric type of song in its origins, it became a flamenco style in the 19th century. Later on This flamenco style is not normally used for dance, as it is generally interpreted as a "cante libre" (with no regular rhythmic pattern). It has a very rich melody, with virtuous flourishes and use of microtones. It is normally accompanied by a guitar in the position of E for the tonic (but can be transposed by using a capo).

Malagueñas (flamenco style) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

La Paloma (Sebastian Yradier)

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:36:08 -0600

"La Paloma" is one of the most popular songs ever written, having been produced and reinterpreted in diverse cultures, settings, arrangements, and recordings over the last 140 years. The song was composed and written by Sebastián Iradier (later Yradier) after he visited Cuba in 1861. The first line of the original song is "Cuando salí de la Habana, válgame Dios!" Iradier may have composed "La Paloma" around 1863, just two years before he died in Spain in obscurity, never to learn how popular his song would become.

La Paloma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia