El cant dels ocells (original) (raw)

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"El cant dels ocells" (Catalan: [əl ˈkan dəlz uˈseʎs], 'The Song of the Birds') is a traditional Catalan Christmas song and lullaby. It tells of nature's joy at learning of the birth of Jesus Christ in a stable in Bethlehem.[1] The song was made famous outside Catalonia by Pau Casals' instrumental version on the cello.[2] After his exile in 1939, he would begin each of his concerts by playing this song. For this reason, it is often considered a symbol of Catalonia.[1]

Joan Baez included it in her 1966 best selling Christmas LP Noël, dedicating the song to Casals.

In 1991, Catalan tenor Josep Carreras recorded "El cant dels ocells" on his album, José Carreras Sings Catalan Songs. His Three Tenors colleague, Plácido Domingo also recorded the song on his 2014 album, Encanto del Mar.

The most widely heard version of this song was performed by Catalan cellist Lluis Claret and soprano Victoria de los Angeles at the 1992 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. At the end of this performance, the Olympic cauldron was extinguished.

Catalan	Literal English Translation
El cant dels ocells _Cançó de nadal_Al veure despuntarel major lluminaren la nit més ditxosa,els ocellets cantant,a festejar-lo vanamb sa veu melindrosa.L’àguila imperialse’n vola cel adalt,cantant amb melodia,dient: Jesús és nat,per treure’ns de pecati dar-nos alegria.Repon-li lo pardal:Avui, nit de Nadal,és nit de gran contento!El verdum i el lluerdiuen cantant, també :"Oh, quina alegria sento!Cantava el passerell :Oh, que hermós i que bellés l’infant de Maria!I li respon el tord :Vençuda n’és la mort,ja naix la vida mia !Refila el rossinyol :És més bonic que el solmés brillant que una estrella!La cotxa i el bitxacfestegen al manyaci a sa Mare donzella.Cantava el reietóper glòria del Senyor,inflant amb biçarria;el canari segueix:llur música pareixdel Cel gran melodia.Ja n’entra el cotoliudient: Ocells veniua festejar l’aurora!I lo merlot, xiulant,anava festejanta la més gran Senyora.L’estiverola diu:No és hivern ni estiusinó que és primavera;puix que és nada una florque pertot dóna olorI omple la terra entera.Cantava el francolí:Ocells qui vol veniravui a trenc de diaa veure el gran Senyoramb sa gran resplendora dins d’una establia?Ve cantant el puput:Eixa nit ha vingutel Rei de més grandesa!La tórtora i el colomadmiren a tothomcantant sense tristesa.Picots i borronersvolen entre els fruiterscantant llurs alegries;la guatlla i el cucutde molt lluny han vingutper contemplar el Messies.Cantava la perdiuMe’n vaig a fer lo niudins d’aquella establia,per a veure l’Infantcom està tremolanten braços de Maria.La garsa, griva o gaigdiuen: Ara ve el maig!Respon la cadernera:Tot arbre reverdeix,tota branca floreixcom si fos primavera.Xiuxiueja el pinsà:Glòria avui i demà;sento gran alegriade veure el diamanttan hermós i brillantals braços de Maria.El xot i el mussolal veure eixir el solconfosos se retiren.El gamarús i el ducdiuen: Mirar no puc;tals resplendors m’admiren!	The Song of the Birds _Christmas Carol_In seeing emergeThe greatest lightDuring the most celebrated of nights,The little birds sing.They go to celebrate HimWith their delicate voices.The imperial eagleflies high in the sky,singing melodically,saying, "Jesus is bornTo save us all from sinAnd to give us joy."The sparrow responds,Today, this Christmas Eve,Is a night of good cheer!"The greenfinch and the siskinSay in singing, too,"Oh, what joy I feel!"The linnet sang,"Oh, how lovely and beautifulIs the child of Mary!"The thrush answers:"Death is conquered,My life now begins!"The nightingale twitters,"He is more beautiful than the sun,More brilliant than a star!"The redstart and the stonechatCelebrate the infantAnd his virgin Mother.The wren sangFor the glory of the Lord,Inflating with fantasy;The canary follows:Its music sounds likeA great song from Heaven.Now comes the woodlarkSaying, "Come birdsTo celebrate the dawn!"And the big blackbird, whistling,Went celebratingThe greatest Lady.The tit says,"It is neither winter nor summerBut rather springtime;A flower is bornThat gives a sweet smell all aroundAnd fills the whole world."The francolin sang,"Birds, who wants to comeToday at daybreakTo see the good LordWith all of his splendorWithin a stable?"The hoopoe goes singing,"This night has comethe greatest of Kings!"The turtle dove and rock doveAdmire, and to allSing without sadness. Woodpeckers and bullfinchesFly between fruit treesSinging their joys.The quail and the cuckooFrom afar have comeTo see the Messiah.The partridge sang,"I am going to make my nestInside of that stable,To look upon the Infant;How he tremblesIn the arms of Mary."The magpie, mistle thrush, and jaySay, "May is coming!"The goldfinch responds,"All the trees become green again,All the branches flowerAs if it were the spring."The chaffinch whispers,"Glory today and tomorrow;I feel great joyTo see the diamondSo handsome and brilliantIn the arms of Mary."The scops owl and little owlSeeing the sunriseLeave confused.The tawny owl and eagle-owlSay, "I cannot look;Such splendors are in front of me!"

Catalan

Literal English Translation

El cant dels ocells _Cançó de nadal_Al veure despuntarel major lluminaren la nit més ditxosa,els ocellets cantant,a festejar-lo vanamb sa veu melindrosa.L’àguila imperialse’n vola cel adalt,cantant amb melodia,dient: Jesús és nat,per treure’ns de pecati dar-nos alegria.Repon-li lo pardal:Avui, nit de Nadal,és nit de gran contento!El verdum i el lluerdiuen cantant, també :"Oh, quina alegria sento!Cantava el passerell :Oh, que hermós i que bellés l’infant de Maria!I li respon el tord :Vençuda n’és la mort,ja naix la vida mia !Refila el rossinyol :És més bonic que el solmés brillant que una estrella!La cotxa i el bitxacfestegen al manyaci a sa Mare donzella.Cantava el reietóper glòria del Senyor,inflant amb biçarria;el canari segueix:llur música pareixdel Cel gran melodia.Ja n’entra el cotoliudient: Ocells veniua festejar l’aurora!I lo merlot, xiulant,anava festejanta la més gran Senyora.L’estiverola diu:No és hivern ni estiusinó que és primavera;puix que és nada una florque pertot dóna olorI omple la terra entera.Cantava el francolí:Ocells qui vol veniravui a trenc de diaa veure el gran Senyoramb sa gran resplendora dins d’una establia?Ve cantant el puput:Eixa nit ha vingutel Rei de més grandesa!La tórtora i el colomadmiren a tothomcantant sense tristesa.Picots i borronersvolen entre els fruiterscantant llurs alegries;la guatlla i el cucutde molt lluny han vingutper contemplar el Messies.Cantava la perdiuMe’n vaig a fer lo niudins d’aquella establia,per a veure l’Infantcom està tremolanten braços de Maria.La garsa, griva o gaigdiuen: Ara ve el maig!Respon la cadernera:Tot arbre reverdeix,tota branca floreixcom si fos primavera.Xiuxiueja el pinsà:Glòria avui i demà;sento gran alegriade veure el diamanttan hermós i brillantals braços de Maria.El xot i el mussolal veure eixir el solconfosos se retiren.El gamarús i el ducdiuen: Mirar no puc;tals resplendors m’admiren!

The Song of the Birds _Christmas Carol_In seeing emergeThe greatest lightDuring the most celebrated of nights,The little birds sing.They go to celebrate HimWith their delicate voices.The imperial eagleflies high in the sky,singing melodically,saying, "Jesus is bornTo save us all from sinAnd to give us joy."The sparrow responds,Today, this Christmas Eve,Is a night of good cheer!"The greenfinch and the siskinSay in singing, too,"Oh, what joy I feel!"The linnet sang,"Oh, how lovely and beautifulIs the child of Mary!"The thrush answers:"Death is conquered,My life now begins!"The nightingale twitters,"He is more beautiful than the sun,More brilliant than a star!"The redstart and the stonechatCelebrate the infantAnd his virgin Mother.The wren sangFor the glory of the Lord,Inflating with fantasy;The canary follows:Its music sounds likeA great song from Heaven.Now comes the woodlarkSaying, "Come birdsTo celebrate the dawn!"And the big blackbird, whistling,Went celebratingThe greatest Lady.The tit says,"It is neither winter nor summerBut rather springtime;A flower is bornThat gives a sweet smell all aroundAnd fills the whole world."The francolin sang,"Birds, who wants to comeToday at daybreakTo see the good LordWith all of his splendorWithin a stable?"The hoopoe goes singing,"This night has comethe greatest of Kings!"The turtle dove and rock doveAdmire, and to allSing without sadness. Woodpeckers and bullfinchesFly between fruit treesSinging their joys.The quail and the cuckooFrom afar have comeTo see the Messiah.The partridge sang,"I am going to make my nestInside of that stable,To look upon the Infant;How he tremblesIn the arms of Mary."The magpie, mistle thrush, and jaySay, "May is coming!"The goldfinch responds,"All the trees become green again,All the branches flowerAs if it were the spring."The chaffinch whispers,"Glory today and tomorrow;I feel great joyTo see the diamondSo handsome and brilliantIn the arms of Mary."The scops owl and little owlSeeing the sunriseLeave confused.The tawny owl and eagle-owlSay, "I cannot look;Such splendors are in front of me!"

Short speech by Pau Casals at the United Nations in October 1971, followed by a separate recording of "El cant dels ocells" YouTube
Joan Baez "The Carol of The Birds" YouTube
José Carreras "El cant dels ocells" (Singing with piano accompaniment) YouTube
Placido Domingo "El cant dels ocells" YouTube
List of Christmas carols

^ a b "El Cant dels Ocells". L'Enciclopèdia.cat (in Catalan). Barcelona: Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^ Historical Dictionary of the Catalans Helena Buffery, Elisenda Marcer 2010 97 "He settled in Catalunya Nord to remain close to Catalan soil and organized concerts and music festivals in Prada de Conflent. One of his most famous pieces is El cant dels ocells based on a Catalan folk tune.