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Contents
Posts
Raffi Lyrics and Musical Arrangements
Sunday, May 31st, 2009Many children love Raffi’s music! I’ve just discovered something wonderful on his site… Raffi’s Lyrics and Scores – which include his specific arrangements to many of the songs he sings.
Enjoy!
Mama Lisa
Wedding Custom and Song in Occitan from France
Thursday, January 8th, 2009Guest blogger, Monique Palomares works with me on Mama Lisa’s World en français. Monique grew up speaking the Occitan language in southern France. Occitan was the language spoken by the troubadours – largely in southern France – but also in parts of Spain and Italy.
Recently, Peter emailed us asking about the lyrics of a Gascon Occitan song called “Lo torrin”. (Gascon is an Occitan Dialect.) Peter’s wife is learning how to play the “boha” (the Gascon bagpipe) and he wanted to sing along. He got the lyrics and forwarded them to us.
The song “Lo torrin” is a “wedding song” that the wedding party-goers would sing to the newlyweds. “Lo torrin” specifically refers to a garlic soup spiced with pepper. This soup was traditionally brought to newlyweds on the morning after their wedding night.
In this old tradition, the bride and the groom would ride around the village in a cart with their brand-new chamberpot, on their wedding day. It symbolized the start of their new life together and it also let people know about their wedding. Remember that at that time there were no bathrooms, only outhouses. Yet people wouldn’t go out at night to “go” in the outhouse (”la cabane au fond du jardin”*). During the evening meal and party the newlyweds would sneak out around midnight and they would go to sleep at some accomplice’s place (an aunt’s, a grandma’s…). Later in the night or early in the morning, the young people at the wedding (those in their late teens and their twenties) would search for them. When they found them, they’d get them out of bed so that they could eat the soup that had been cooked especially for them.
In some areas, they wouldn’t cook a soup, they would pour into a brand new chamberpot the leftovers of the drinks with chocolate and biscuits (nobody needs further description to guess what it was supposed to look like). This was supposed to help them recover from the wedding night.
When I was a child and in my neighborhood the bride and groom wouldn’t tour around the town with their brand-new chamberpot, but they’d still be gotten out of bed. Nowadays the tradition survives in some places. Since nobody now uses chamberpots, “pots de la mariée” (brides’ chamberpots) are still on sale for this event.
*”La cabane au fond du jardin” refers to the little wooden cabin used as toilets at the other end of the garden and it’s also the title of a spoof song imitating the style of the French singer Francis Cabrel.
Below, you can hear Jane Thomasson playing the “boha” and Peter Horton singing the first verse of the song. After that you’ll find the lyrics in Occitan, and then an English translation…
Click to Hear the first verse of Lo Torrin
Lo torrin
(Gascon Occitan)Obritz la pòrta, obritz (x2)
La novèla maridada luron lonla (x2)Vos portèm lo torrin (x2)
E la sopa ben pebrada luron lon la (x2)Coma obrirei jo (x2)
Que soi dens mon lheit cochada luron lon la (x2)Au pròche de mon marit (x2)
Que me ten tota embraçada luron lon la (x2)Que me ten e me tendrà (x2)
Tota la nèit empenada luron lon la (x2)Se perdèvi mas amors (x2)
Ont las anguerei o quèrre luron lon la (x2)Seren per debat París (x2)
A dus cent cinquanta legas luron lon la (x2)Dabans la pòrta i a (x2)
Un grand pè de heuguèra luron lon la (x2)Dens ‘quera heuguèra (x2)
Un beròi nid de tortèla luron lon la (x2)La tortèla i a cohat (x2)
E apèi s’es envolada luron lon la (x2)En partint a feit rocó (x2)
E la bèra n’es plus bèra luron lon la (x2)Obritz la pòrta, obritz (x2)
La novèla maridada luron lon la (x2)Se no l’obrissètz pas (x2)
En ‘questa ora vos l’enfoncèm luron lon la (x2)The “Torrin”
(English Translation)Open the door, open it, (2 x’s)
You, bride (newlywed) luron lon la…We bring you the tourrin*
And the soup spiced with pepper.How would I open it
If I’m lying in my bed?Close to my husband,
Who holds me in his arms**.Who holds me and will hold me
Saddened, all night long.If I lost my love
Where would I go for him?He’d be, northwards, near Paris,
250 leagues from here.In front of the door is
A big fern.In this fern is
A pretty turtle dove nest.The turtle dove hatched there
Then she flew away.When she left, she went “coo”,
And the pretty one isn’t pretty any more.Open the door, open, (twice)
You, bride.If you don’t open it
Now we’ll break it open.Click here for the Lo torrin Song Page – where you can access the Sheet Music, midi tune and French and Spanish translations.
Note: There are some other songs about getting married in Occitan and French, most of which are addressed to girls. They’re along the lines of Joan Baez’s song The Wagoner’s Lad: “Oh hard is the fortune of all womankind, she’s always controlled, she’s always confined, controlled by her parents until she is wife, a slave to her husband the rest of her life!”
Many thanks to Peter Horton for contributing the lyrics to “Lo torrin”and the sheet music (which came from the “Bohaires de Gasconha”), and for singing the first verse for us, accompanied by Jane Thomasson playing the “boha” (local bagpipe).
-Monique Palomares
UPDATE: Here’s a Recipe for Lo Torrin Soup!
The Echo Song with a YouTube Video
Monday, November 24th, 2008Orlando di Lasso (1530 or 32 – 1594) was a Flemish Renaissance composer. He wrote over 2000 pieces in his lifetime. They were religious and secular choral works in Italian, German, Latin and French.
Some of Lasso’s works were masses that he dedicated to the pope. Interestingly, he also wrote some drinking songs, and plain ole humorous songs. I would say The Echo Song fits into the humorous category. What’s funny is that when you hear choral music, you expect it to be serious in nature. I find The Echo Song to be a surprising exception to this idea.
Enjoy David Solomons rendition of the song in the YouTube video below. After the video I posted the lyrics, though they’re in David’s video. I also posted his English translation of the song. After that you’ll find another rendition of the song by a full choir (the video is black but you can hear the song). It’s interesting to compare renditions.
O La, O Che Bon Eccho!
(Italian Lyrics)O la, o che buon echo!
Pigliamo ci, piacere!
Ha ha ha ha ha! Ridiamo tutti!
O buon compagno!
Che vuoi tu?
Vorria che tu cantassi una canzona.
Perchè? Perchè si?
Perchè no?
Perchè non voglio.
Perchè non vuoi?
Perchè non mi piace!
Taci dico!
Taci tu! O gran poltron!
Signor, si!
Orsu non più!
Andiamo!
Addio buon echo!
Addio buon echo!
Rest’ in pace!
Basta!
Basta!
Basta!
Basta!Here’s the English translation:
The Echo Song
(English)My word! Oh, what a lovely echo!
Let’s try it out.
Pleased to meet you!
Ha ha ha ha ha! Let’s all laugh!
Oh my fine companion?
What do you want?
I’d like you to sing a song.
Why? Why should I?
Why not?
‘Cos I don’t want to.
Why don’t you want to?
‘Cos I don’t fancy it.
Shut up, I say!
You shut up, you big fool!
Yes, Sir!
Come now, no more!
Let’s go!
Goodbye lovely echo!
Goodbye lovely echo!
Peace be with you.
That’s enough!
That’s enough!
That’s enough!
That’s enough!Score of O La, O Che Bon Eccho!
Many thanks to David Solomons for bringing his wonderful Youtube video and The Echo Song to my attention!
Mama Lisa
Does Anyone Have the Sheet Music to “Joyeux Enfants de la Bourgogne”?
Monday, September 15th, 2008Jean wrote:
I am looking for the music to “Joyeux Enfants de la Bourgogne.” I already have the words. Does anyone know the musical notes. I could play them on my guitar if I had them. Many thanks. MJ Baney
If anyone can help out Jean, please email me or comment below.
Thanks!
Lisa
Lyrics – in Search of Tunes
Sunday, January 6th, 2008Becky Lovgren wrote to me looking for the tunes to several songs and rhymes from her childhood. She sent me so many songs and rhymes with such great lyrics that I thought you might like to read them here. I inserted some info about some of the songs in the middle of Becky’s letter to give an indication of where and when the song or rhyme comes from when I was able to find it out. My comments are in parentheses. Here’s Becky’s letter with the songs…
So excited to find your website! My Grandmother used to sing many songs to “us kids” in Minnesota as we were growing up during the 1950’s. In her wisdom before her death, she wrote down the lyrics but I’m not able to recall the tunes that went with them and would appreciate any assistance so I can share them with our grandchildren.
Here are the verses as my Grandma Hatling remembered them:
Twenty Froggies
(by George Cooper)Twenty froggies went to school
Down beside a rushing pool
Twenty little coats of green
Twenty vests so white and clean
We must go to school said they
First we study then we play
That is how we keep the rule
When we froggies go to school.Master Bull Frog brave and stern
Called the classes in their turn
Taught them how to nobly strive
Also how to leap and dive
Not one dunce among the lot
Not one lesson they forgot
Now they sit on other logs
Teaching other little frogs.(The Little Bird is an old English nursery rhyme, dating back to at least 1823. -Mama Lisa)
The Little Bird
Once I saw a little bird coming hop, hop, hop,
And I said “Little bird will you stop, stop, stop?”
I was going to the window to say “How do you do?”
But he shook his little tail and away he flew.(Birdie with the Yellow Bill is a slight variation of a Robert Louis Stevenson poem. I wonder if Becky’s grandmother put it to a tune she made up herself or if there was a tune from a more “official” source that existed. -Mama Lisa)
Birdie with the Yellow BillBirdie with the yellow bill,
Hopped upon my window sill,
Cocked his pretty head and said,
“Ain’t you ’shamed you sleepy-head”?The Cricket
My grandpas’ getting old and gray,
But he has such a merry way,
He always says the cricket says cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer up!
He always says the cricket says cheer up, cheer up!My grandpa says that half the things
We do fret over would take wings
If we could hear the song he sings – cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer up!
He always says the cricket says cheer up, cheer up!(Jacky Frost may originally come from a poem by Laura E. Richards – though I haven’t been able to confirm this. -Mama Lisa)
Jacky Frost
Jacky Frost, Jacky Frost,
Came in the night
Left the meadows that he crossed
All gleaming white.
Painted with his silver brush
Every window pane,
Kissed the leaves and made them blush,
Blush, blush, and blush again.Jacky Frost, Jacky Frost,
Crept ’round the house,
Sly as a silver fox
Still as a mouse.
Out our little Jennie came
Blushing like a rose,
Up jumped Jacky Frost
And pinched her little nose.The Sandman
Here comes the Sandman
Stepping so lightly
Skipping along on the tips of his toes
As he scatters the sand
With his own little hand
In the eyes of the sleepy children.Close your sleepy eyes
The Lady Moon is sailing
Across the deep blue skies
The little stars are peeping
To see if you are sleeping
Go to sleep my children
Go to sleep, Good Night.Good Morning Merry Sunshine
Good Morning Merry Sunshine
What makes you wake so soon?
You scared away the little stars
And shone away the moon.
I saw you go to sleep last night
Before I ceased my play
I saw you go ‘way over there
And where have you been staying?I never go to sleep dear child
I just go ’round to see
The little children of the
East awake and watch for me.
I waken all the birds and bees
And flowers on my way,
And last of all the little
Child who stayed out late to play.Grandpapa and Me
Last night when I was snug in bed,
What joy it was for me,
I dreamed that I was grandpapa
And grandpapa was me,
And grandpapa was me,
And grandpapa was me,
I dreamed that I was grandpapa
And grandpapa was me.As I went walking down the street
And he ran by my side,
Because I walked too fast for him
The little fellow cried,
The little fellow cried,
The little fellow cried,
Because I walked too fast for him
The little fellow cried.My Little Yellow Duck
I have a little yellow duck,
He says, “quack, quack”.
I love to see the yellow down
He wears upon his back,
But when he walks he waddles so
He really makes me laugh you know.
He waddles up and down outdoors,
And says, “quack, quack”.My funny little yellow duck
Goes swimming every day,
And why he likes the water so
I really cannot say.
He does not go in when the rain
Goes splashing on the window pane,
He waddles up and down outdoors,
And says, “quack, quack”.The Little Shoemaker
There’s a little wee man
In a little wee house
Lives over the way you see
And he sits by the fire
And sews all day
Making shoes for you and me.CHORUS:
A rap-a-tap-a-tap
A rap-a-tap-a-tap
Hear his hammers tit tat tee
A rap-a-tap-a-tap
A rap-a-tap-a-tap
Making shoes for you and me.He puts his needle in and out
His thread flies to and fro
With a tiny awl he bores a hole
With his hammers whistling blows.(The Little Mouse comes from a poem by Phoebe Cary called They Didn’t Think. -Mama Lisa)
The Little MouseOnce a trap was baited
With a little piece of cheese.
It tickled so a little mouse,
It almost made him sneeze.
The old mouse said, “There’s danger,
Be careful where you go.”
“Nonsense” said the other,
“Don’t you think I know?”
So he walked in boldly,
No one was in sight.
First he took a nibble,
Then he took a bite.
The trap together snapped
As quick as a wink,
Leaving little mouse inside,
Because he wouldn’t think.We’d just like to find a tune to go with the music. Either midi tunes or sheet music would be great. Our folks have always enjoyed “us kids” singing their memories to them – this would be fabulous; a real special present. Thank you.
Becky (Zeise) Lovgren
Kim & Becky LovgrenIf anyone can help with these tunes, or if you can give us more information about these songs and poems, please comment below or email me.
Thanks in advance!
-Mama Lisa
Can Anyone Help with the Lyrics to a Norwegian Christmas Song called “Christmas Bells”?
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007Ed wrote:
Lisa,
I sing in a choral club which is sponsored by Travelers Insurance, in Hartford, Connecticut. It is the oldest company sponsored choral club in the country. This Christmas we are doing a piece called Christmas Bells, which is a Norwegian Folk Carol. I am wondering if you posted the lyrics and midi of this piece someone might recognize it and provide the Norwegian words to it. I have no idea if the English words are a translation of the original or the lyricist just came up with words that matched the tune. The tune however, is quite nice and would be a very good children’s song.
Thanks
Ed
Here are the lyrics Ed sent me:
Christmas Bells
Christmas is coming and sleigh bells are jingling and
Faces are tingling in frost and in snow
Riding along with the reindeer together in
Cold frosty weather we sing as we go.See! The lights of the home are glowing;
Warmth and welcome clear they’re showing.Journey’s end comes soon in sight, with the sleigh bells
A jingle in the bright starry night.If anyone can help with the Norwegian lyrics to this song, please comment below or email me.
Thanks!
Lisa
Chinese Musical Notation – Music without a Staff!
Thursday, June 28th, 2007I recently received a song from China called Little Swallow. The sheet music was very different from the notes on staffs that we use in the West. It consisted of numbers with dots and lines. Here’s what it looks like:
I asked Wang Li, who sent me the song, about it. She said, “In China this kind of sheet music consist of numbers 1-7 and is quite popular:
1-do (C)
2-re (D)
3-mi (E)
4-fa (F)
5-sol (G)
6-la (A)
7-ti (B)It’s called numbered musical notation (”jianpu” in Chinese – simple sheet music) and used to be the only musical score for the ordinary people.”
A dot above or below a number raises or lowers the note an octave.
A plain number is a quarter note. A line under the number cuts it in half – so if it has one line under it – it’s an eighth note.
A dash after the number adds a quarter note – so if it has one dash after it – it’s a half note.
Here you can hear the midi tune of Little Swallow
I can see an advantage to musicians using the Chinese numbered notation as a type of shorthand.
If you’re interested in more details, you can read about Chinese numbered musical notation on Wikipedia.
You can see the song page for Little Swallow with the lyrics, midi and staff sheet music by clicking on the link.
Many thanks to Wang Li for the Little Swallow score and to Monique Palomares for creating the midi music.
-Mama Lisa
Come Listen to the Japanese Children’s Song “Donguri Korokoro” – A Rolling Acorn
Thursday, May 17th, 2007Roxanne Dixon sent me this wonderful recording of some Japanese schoolchildren singing the well-known song, Donguri Korokoro. Click the link below to hear the recording. Below that you’ll find the Japanese transliteration for singing along, followed by an English translation.
MP3 Recording of Donguri Korokoro – A Rolling Acorn
Donguri Korokoro
(Transliteration)Donguri korokoro donburiko
O-ike ni hamatte saa taihen
Dojou ga detekite konnichi wa
Botchan issho ni asobimashouDonguri korokoro yorokonde
Shibaraku issho ni asonda ga
Yappari o-yama ga koishii to
Naite wa dojou wo komarasetaA Rolling Acorn
(English)An acorn rolled down and down,
He suddenly fell into a pond.
Then came the loaches*,
Hi boy! Come play with us!The acorn enjoyed playing with them.
But he soon began to cry,
I want to go back to the mountain.
The loaches didn’t know what to do.*Loach is the name for various Eurasian and African freshwater fish of the carp family.
Come visit the Donguri Korokoro Song Page for the Japanese text, the sheet music, the tune played on piano and a link for a French translation. Roxanne also sent recordings of Zosan and Yuki. You can click the links to visit those song pages and hear the newest recordings.
Many thanks to Roxanne Dixon for the recording. Roxanne collected the recording and songs on her trip to Japan as part of the Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Exchange Program, a Program of the Japanese government to foster goodwill and understanding between the US and Japan.
Thanks also to Petter Mæhlum for the transliteration and to Ayako Egawa for the English translation.
Enjoy!
Lisa
How to Find Sheet Music, Tunes and MP3’s on Mama Lisa’s World
Saturday, January 6th, 2007In addition to this blog, I also host Mama Lisa’s World. Mama Lisa’s World is a large collection of children’s songs and rhymes from countries all around the globe.
Matt, a music teacher from Rhode Island, wrote a question to me, the other day, about Mama Lisa’s World:
Hey Mama,
I love the concept of your site. It’s been exciting to watch it grow. My only frustration is not being able to find either written (preferably) or audio music to accompany the lyrics. How do I find the tunes for all these great lyrics?
Matt
Music Teacher, Rhode Island, USAHere’s what I wrote back, I’m sharing it with you, in case it helps you too…
Hey Matt,
Thanks for writing!
We’ve just added basic sheet music to a lot of songs on the Germany, France, Hungary, Spain and Mexico pages – plus many others.
We’re now in the process of converting the whole site to a database. We’re halfway through. Hopefully by the summer we’ll have a feature that will let you do a search on songs that have sheet music, midis or mp3’s. Midis play the tune of a song. MP3’s are recordings – usually of someone singing the song.
But for now, the songs on the countries that are in the database are working on a simple system. On the country pages they have symbols next to the song if they have special features. Here’s the key…
KEY TO SYMBOLS
– this song has sheet music
Midi – this song has a Midi tune
MP3 – this song has an MP3 recording
– this song has a Video recording
If there’s anything in particular you’re looking for, you’re welcome to ask – in case I know if we have it or not – I may be able to guide you to the right place to find what you’re looking for.
And, of course, we’re always looking for more sheet music, midi’s and mp3’s, so if you’d like to contribute any from your culture, we’d be thrilled!
I hope this helps!
Mama Lisa
Mama Lisa’s World News and Multimedia Features
Thursday, November 30th, 2006A significant part of the Mama Lisa sites is a large collection of songs and nursery rhymes from around the world. We currently have about 750 songs from around 90 countries and cultures.
When you consider how many languages there are in those cultures – that’s a lot of information! In order to make it easier to access all of the songs, we are in the process of converting the sites to a database. The database allow our visitors to search for songs on the site by language, by songs with sheet music, recordings, etc.
While we’re putting the songs into the database, we’re trying to obtain as much information as possible about each song. So if we can find the tune, we’ll include a midi tune and sheet music. If we find a recording of the song on the internet, we’ll provide a link to the recording. Sometimes we’ll make a recording ourselves. Anything we can do to help you know everything possible about that song.
If you happen to see any songs on the site that are missing a tune or recording and you know it, we’d be very pleased if you could help us get the tune. We’re able to make midis from sheet music, if that’s what you can send. We’re also happy to post recordings if you’d like to sing the song, play it on an instrument, or even hum it. Really, anything to help others get an idea how to sing or play the song.
Once the database is complete Mama Lisa’s World will have 98 countries and cultures and over 850 songs. How great is that!
-Lisa
UPDATE: The Database is now complete! We have 100 countries and cultures. We’re now working on a Spanish version of Mama Lisa’s World which will feature children’s songs, folks songs and nursery rhymes from around the world with Spanish translations.
German Children’s Songs with Sheet Music and Midi Tunes
Saturday, November 25th, 2006We’ve finished a major update of the Mama Lisa’s World German page! It now has 51 German children’s songs, lullabies and nursery rhymes. Most of the songs have sheet music and midi tunes!
We always welcome more traditional songs from Germany. You’re also welcome to share any cultural tidbits: such as traditions, recipes, customs, photos, information about German holidays, etc.
Come visit the new German Children’s Song Page with English Translations, Sheet Music and Midi Tunes. Or, you can visit the Mama Lisa’s World en français pages for German Children’s Songs with French Translations.
________
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