To Keep In My Heart

This week will feature my favorite choral pieces. Most of these are the ones I sang with Novo during my last year with them in 2009. This year is by far the most memorable and meaningful to me. I’d never thought that it would be the year where I’d fly off to one of my dream destinations: Spain.

In Torrevieja is an annual choral singing competition called the Certamen Internacional de Habaneras y Polyfonia. Choral groups from around the world come to to Torrevieja for an awesome display of choral singing in two categories: Habaneras and Polyphony. Today, I’ll feature my favorite Habanera choral piece. The habanera is a genre of Cuban popular dance music of the 19th century. It is a creolized form which developed from the contradanza. (From Wikipedia) For more information about the habanera, you may also go to eNotes and StreetSwing.

In many competitions, choral groups need to sing a required choral piece and a choice piece. The choice piece that we chose to sing was “A Tulado” composed by Javier Busto.

Me sabe a sal tu pelo y es verde tu mirar

Me miras y me muero por se tu respirar

Tu chispa es loque quiero para ir contigo al mar

Me sabe a miel tu boca y para me es poco un beso

Si me hablas o me tocas me nublo me embeleso

Tu fortaleza de roca me retiene preso

No quiero escapar de ti, no quiero vivir sin virte

Porque seria un triste fin, haber vivido y perdete

Deja me aqui como un perro da me comida en tu mano

Ponme a taduras de hierro y ol vida que soy humano

Quiere me como a una sombra o ye me como a un latido

Pero deja que me esconda en tu pecho y que me duerma contigo

Whenever I sing and remember this song, I feel like swaying and dancing to the rhythm. I just move and groove deep within. And my favorite part is “Pero deja que me esconda en tu pecho y que me duerma contigo”--roughly translated means, “But keep me in your heart and there I shall sleep with you.” Truly, this is one song I’ll always keep in my heart. ;-)

A New Beginning with the Mother of Graces

I couldn't think of any other way to start the New Year than to pause and reflect on the Solemnity of the Motherhood of Mary.

In 2009, while preparing for my trip to Spain with my choir, I did my research on our destination which was Torrevieja. The first thing I sought was a church and I was not disappointed.  Prayer time is important to me. During our European tour (we went to Austria and Germany too), I knew that I could easily find a church. But how I actually found it is even astounding to me. It was my first time to go to Spain, but one could find their way around if they know how to look--asking directions would be the direct way! So my friend and I asked for instructions on how to go to the city proper of Torrevieja. I asked if the church is along the bus route. True enough, it was!

The Plaza in front of the church

Drawing closer to the church...

This post is dedicated to the Blessed Mother Mary--mother of Jesus Christ. Oh how I'd love to sing and bask in the presence of the Mother of God! I am speechless and humbled before the Gracious Lady. Admittedly, when I took the picture below, I was shaking in awestruck at one of the most beautiful images of our Blessed Mother.

Our Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion, Torrevieja, Spain

An Image of Our Lady taken from the Diocesan Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus -- where I went to church this morning. :)

In honoring Mary, we also honor the Lord Jesus Christ. Her grace comes from her own Son and it is quite impossible to speak about Mary without reference to Jesus Christ. Since we have come towards the end of Christmas celebration, there is one song that I'll always cherish that pertains to the birth of Jesus--O Magnum Mysterium. The version that you will listen to is composed by Javier Busto. There are other renditions of this beautiful song but I like this version because the "Alleluia" at the end just takes one's breath away! The song begins with the choir "whispering"--O Magnum Mysterium--but if you listen closely, you will realize that this is not just some fancy whispering. Without further adieu, in honor of Jesus and his mother Mary, here is the song  O Magnum Mysterium.

Latin text
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Jesum Christum.
Alleluia.

English translation
O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
Jesus Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!