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July 16, 2013

ANGELICA, FROM THE FOLKLORE OF ARGENTINA IN SPANISH AMERICA



WELCOME TO THIS POST!


A LOVELY RED ROSE, A SYMBOL OF ROMANTIC LOVE!



Click to enlarge


Source: Shyam Sundar Thakur Mathura, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons 


INTRODUCTION.


This post refers to a famous love song from Argentina that follows the rhythm of the zamba.

The Argentine zamba has nothing to do with the famous Brazilian dance, that one is the samba, with an “s”.

The one I’m writing about in this post is a majestic dance, where couples circle each other waving white handkerchiefs and use stately movements.

Although the zamba is a dance, there are many versions that are more of a “music for listening” style.

One of the most well known is the one called Angelica, which is the theme of this post. 

The composer of the music and the lyrics is Roberto Cambaré, whose real name is Vicente Cambareri.

The lyrics of this folklore genre are usually very beautiful, and this one is no exception.

The following is my very free English translation of the verses of Angelica.



ANGELICA (MY ENGLISH LYRICS).


I.
Angelica
When I say your name
I remember a valley, a pale moon on an April night
And that little town in Córdoba.
II.
If you love was as the eagle,
Then my soul was as the pigeon,
Trembling, my heart bled in its claws
And you had no pity.

Refrain.
I’ll never forget when I saw you in Córdoba
Where I stole your flower under the trees,
Mi arms were your nest, your veil -
The light of the moon through the poplars.

III.
Your eyelids that for fleeting moments
Change your eyes to tenderness
Recall that suddenly
The skies show  
The birth and death of a lightening flash.
IV.
The sheet covering the ground
That spreads with the frost
Is not as white
As the limpid flower of your skin
Nor as cold as your tears.

Refrain (bis)


 A COUPLE DANCING THE ZAMBA.

 


Click to enlarge


Source: Yehuda Mizrahi, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons 



THE ORIGINAL SPANISH VERSES FOR ANGELICA


(This Blog is bilingual).


I.
Angélica
Cuando te nombro
Me vuelven a la memoria
Un valle, pálida luna en la noche de abril
Y aquel pueblito de Córdoba.
II.
Si un águila fue tu cariño
Paloma mi pobre alma
Temblando mi corazón en sus garras sangró
Y no le tuviste lástima.

ESTRIBILLO
No olvidaré cuando en tu Córdoba te vi
Y tu clavel bajo los árboles robé
Mis brazos fueron tu nido, tu velo,
La luz de la luna entre los álamos.

III.
Tus párpados si por instantes
Te vuelven los ojos mansos
Recuerdan
Cuando en el cielo de pronto se ve
Que nace y muere un relámpago.
IV.
La sábana que sobre el suelo
Se tiende cuando la escarcha
No es blanca
Como la límpida flor de tu piel
Ni  fría como tus lágrimas.

ESTRIBILLO
Bis


THE MOST FAMOUS VERSION SUNG BY “THE CHALCHALEROS”


This is a prime video, with the internationally famous version of “Angelica”.

Notice the typical drum that one of the singers plays. That is known as a “bombo legüero”.

The drum is made from a hollowed out tree trunk and covered with the skins of animals which are cured for this purpose. The sound of the “bombo” is dark and deep.

The Argentine zamba is not a zamba without this drum!

ANGELICA SUNG BY THE CHALCHALEROS

 

 

What didyou think of this video?

I hope you have enjoyed this post, as I had great fun writing it!

See you on the next one!


How is your level of comprehension?    ¿Cómo está su nivel de comprensión?


© 2013  joanveronica  (Joan Robertson)


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