The melody of Xtoles is thought to be one of the oldest known melodies still in existence. This is a Mayan Warrior Dance song to the Sun God. Nowadays it's a popular song for choruses to sing.

Xtoles - Mayan Children's Songs - The Maya - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World - Intro Image

Notes

*This is how to phonetically say this line.

Pronunciation

Xtoles is pronounced chi-tol-les

Konesh, konesh pah leh shen, sheekoobeen, sheekoobeen yoh kol keen.
Konesh, konesh pah leh shen, sheekoobeen, sheekoobeen yoh kol keen.
Sho-la ma-yo-la, sho-la ma-yol, Ay-ah, ay-ah, ay-ah oh.
Konesh, konesh pah leh shen, sheekoobeen, sheekoobeen yoh kol keen.

The song "Xtoles" is sometimes called "Konex".

Comments

"This is a winter song, basically a prayer to the sun reminding it to come back in the spring. The song is repeated again. It is probably played with timpani. It would have a steady beat." -Phillip

The following Spanish translation of this song can be found at Cosas de los Mayas:

Vamos, vamos muchachos, que ya el sol se está poniendo,
Xala mayola xala mayol ea,ea, ea, óh.
Vamos, vamos muchachos, que ya el sol se está poniendo.

Which translates to English as:

Let's go, let's go boys, for the sun is setting,
Xala mayola xala mayol ea,ea, ea, óh.
Let's go, let's go boys, for the sun is setting.

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Note: The word "palanxen" throughout the song can also be spelled "palexen".

Elena Mouritsen wrote, "Conex apparently means 'Come along' and K's are glottal stops with a click."

Listen

Download MIDI Tune

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Sheet Music

Sheet Music - Xtoles

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Suzanne Hellerstein for contributing and translating this song. Suzanne wrote, "Thanks to Al _____ who taught Mexican Culture extension courses at Cal State Fullerton in the late 1970's (can't remember his last name). He used the version of Ricardo Palmerin, which uses flute music accompaniment."

Thanks also to Philip for also contributing this song and for help with the pronunciation.
Many thanks to Monique Palomares for the midi music. Thanks to Elena Mouritsen for writing in about the meaning of Conex.

Yum bo'otik!