Cantigas de Amigo (Songs to a Friend)

Published by Roger Dean Publishing Company

Cat.# 15/2323R (mvmt I), 15/2324R (mvmt II),
15/2325R (mvmt III & IV), 15/2327R (mvmt V)

I. No Puedo apartarme

II. Moreno mio

    III. Veo que todas
    IV. Agora que se d’amor
    V. Pues todas

variously SSA or SSAA/piano

Secular medieval folk texts in Spanish

Duration: fifteen minutes
Difficulty rating (1-5): 3

Premiered November 5, 2001 by Vox Caelestis Women’s Chorus, La Grange, IL with The Cello Divas

This was the first original (non-arrangement) piece I wrote after not composing for twenty-two years. I was curious what my “voice” would be after being away so long. Melodies and harmonies seemed to flow easily, and the “Spanish” aspect made it easier to find a direction, format, etc. A good friend, Jennifer Duitsman, had formed a cello quartet, and I thought the combination of celli and women’s voices might be very warm and attractive. This seems to be the case, and the piece in general has been so well received that I created a piano version for those who would not be able to find cellists to do the original version. The Boston Conservatory Women’s Choir, directed by John Delorey, recently did a wonderful performance of this piece. This piece is dedicated to a good friend (and Vox Caelestis Spanish coach) Rosa Salinas and also is dedicated to my ancestors from the Madeira Islands.

TEXT

I. No Puedo apartarme

de los amores, madre,

no puedo apartarme.

Amor tiene aquesto
con su lindo gesto,

que prende muy presto

y suelta muy tarde:

no puedo apartarme.

II. Moreno mio

De tu cama a la mia

pasa un varquillo;

aventurate y pasa,

moreno mio.

III. Veo que todos

Veo que todos se quejan;

yo callandro morire.

IV. Agora que se d'amor

Agora que se d'amor

me meteis monja?

Ay, Dios, que grave cosa!

Agora que se d'amor de caballero,

agora me meteis monja en el monesterio

Ay, Dios, que grave cosa!

V. Pues todas (Juan de Timoneda)

Pues todas las aves vuelan, corazon,

pues todas las aves vuelan,

volad vos.

I. No Puedo apartarme
I can't forfeit love, Mother,

I can't let it go.

When it seems to have

the lightest touch

is when it grabs

and won’t let go:

I can’t forfeit love.

II. Moreno mio

There’s a boat sailing

from your bed to mine;

take a chance and come over,

my sunburnt lover.

III. Veo que todos

Everybody complains;

I will die silently.

IV. Agora que se d'amor

Now that I’ve tasted love

you’d make me a nun?

Oh, God, what an awful blunder!

Now that I know the love of a man,

now you shut me up in a convent.

Oh God, what an awful blunder!

V. Pues todas (Juan de Timoneda)

All the birds fly, heart,

all the birds fly,

so you try.

(partial score of mvmt I)

Audio - Mvmt 1
Audio - Mvmt 2
Audio - Mvmt 3
Audio - Mvmt 4
Audio - Mvmt 5

Ithaca College Women's Chorale, directed by Janet Galván. Recorded live November, 2007

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PAUL CAREY composer / conductor
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