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El Desembre congelat  
(The Cold December)
or La Nit de Nadal
(Christmas Eve)
Traditional from Catalonia, villancico from Catalan traditional folk heritage, particularly played in Majorca (Balearics).
The “timbre” of this Catalan Christmas carol is known in France as early as 16th century, where it was used as a tune for the drinking song Quand la mer Rouge apparut (When the Red Sea appeared). Probably, adaptation of this secular tune to El Desembre congelat was done during 18th century, period of fast-expanding for French style in Catalonia. El Desembre congelat is one of the most frequent carols founded within manuscripts of this epoch.
The guitarist and composer Miguel Llobet (Barcelone, october 18th 1878 - Barcelone, february 22nd 1938) transcribed for guitar the tune of this Christmas carol in his opus Canciones populares catalanas (Catalan popular songs) under the title La Nit de Nadal (Christmas Eve).
| 1st verse |
El desembre congelat
Confús es retira.
Abril, de flors coronat,
Tot el món admira,
Quan en un jardí d’amor
Neix una divina flor
D’una ro, ro, ro,
D’una sa, sa, sa,
D’una ro,
D’una sa,
D’una rosa bella,
Fecunda i poncella. | | Cold December’s winds were stilled
In the month of snowing.
As the world fell dark one night,
Springtime’s Hope was growing;
Then one rose-tree blossomed new,
One sweet Flower on it grew.
On the tree once bare,
Grew the Rose so fair,
Ah, the Rose, ah, the Rose,
Ah the Rose tree blooming,
Sweet the air perfuming. |
2nd verse |
El primer pare causà
La nit tenebrosa
Que a tot el món ofuscà
La vista penosa ;
Mes, en una mitja nit,
Brilla [Surt] el sol que n’és eixit
D’una be, be, be,
D’una lla, lla, lla,
D’una be,
D’una lla,
D’una bella aurora
Que el cel enamora. | | When the darkness fell that night,
Bringing sweet reposing,
All the land was hid from sight,
Sleep our eyes was closing.
Suddenly, there came a gleam
From the sky, the wondrous beam
Of a heav’nly star,
Giving light afar;
Ah, the star, ah, the star,
Ah, the star-beam glowing,
Brightness ever growing. |
3rd verse |
El mes de maig ha florit,
Sense ser encara,
Un lliri blanc tot polit
De fragància rara,
Que per tot el món se sent,
De Llevant fins a Ponent,
Tota sa, sa, sa, [I que amb dol, dol, dol,]
Tota dul, dul, dul, [I que amb çu, çu, çu,]
Tota sa, [I que amb dol]
Tota dul, [I que amb çu,]
Tota sa dulcura [I que amb sa dolçura]
I olor, amb ventura. [Dóna gran ventura.] [A l’hort en voltura.] | | Now the month of May was here,
Filled with God’s own radiance;
Now the purest Lily bloomed,
Flow’r of sweeted fragrance.
To the people far and near
Came a breath of heav’nly cheer;
O, the incense rare
Of the Lily there!
Ah, the scent, ah, the scent
Of the Lily blooming,
All the air perfuming! |
4th verse |
Arribaren els tres reis
Amb molta alegria,
Adorant el rei del cel
En una establia,
Oferint-li tres presents,
Com són or, mirra i encens.
A la Ma, Ma, Ma,
A la re, re, re,
A la Ma,
A la re,
A la Mare pia,
La Verge Maria. | |
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5th verse |
Amb contentament i amor
Celebrem el dia
En què el diví Senyor
Neix amb alegria.
Si no tenim més tresor
Oferim-li nostre cor,
Qu’és la gran, gran, gran,
Qu’és la fi, fi, fi,
Qu’és la gran,
Qu’és la fi,
Qu’és la gran finesa
De nostra pobresa. | |
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1. Adam.
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© 2001-2025 Jean-Gabriel Maurandi.
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