GC
​
Federico's Little Songs for Children
"The seven little poems constituting the Canciones para Niños by Federico Garciá Lorca reflect many different aspects of a child’s fantasy world. The mood can be reflective, playful, mock-serious, gently ironic, or simply joyous."
George Crumb
​
Notes from the composer
​
At an early stage in the sketching process, I decided to use al four instruments of the flute family so that I might associate an appropriate timbre with the innate character of each poem. Of course the varied treatment of voice and harp, together with purely compositional choices (tempi, thematics, texture, etc.), likewise help delineate the desired mood.
The opening song, “Seníorita of the Fan,” is set for the most part in quintuple measure. The reference to “crickets is illustrated by a chirping piccolo motif.
“Afternoon” (with flute in C) is delicate and idyllic throughout.
“A Song Sung” is set in a very capricious style. The alto flute personifies Lorca’s “Griffon Bird.”
The central song in the cycle, “Snail” (bass flute), projects a sense of time suspension and wonder. The soprano whispers the opening and concluding lines of the poem; for the central portion, the soprano sings Sprechstimme style, combined with highly coloristic use of the harp.
In “The Lizard is Crying!” the soprano alternates between quasi-cadenza style of singing and rhythmically articulated spoken passages. The alto flute participates in the general sobbing.
The concluding piece, “Silly Song,” is…just a silly song!
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
The Lorca Texts
​
I. La señorita del abanico (Señorita of the fan) II. La tarde (Afternoon)
La señorita The señorita La tarde equivocada The mistaken afternoon
del abanico, of the fan, se vistó de frió was dressed in cold.
va por el puente goes over the bridge,
del fresco río. over the cool river. Detrás de los cristales Behind the merky windowplanes
turbios, todos los niños, all the children watch,
Los caballeros The gentlemen ven convertirse en pájaros a yellow tree change
con sus levitas, in their waistcoats, en árbol armarillo. into birds.
miran el puente look at the little bridge,
sin barandillas. without railings. La tarde está tendida The afternoon stretches out
a lo largo del río, along the river,
La señorita The señorita Y un rubor de manzana And a blush of apple
de abanico, of the fan, tiembla en los tejadillos. trembles in the roof tiles.
y los volantes, with skirts a-flying
busca marido. is seeking a husband.
III. Cancíon cantada (A Song Sung)
Los caballeros The gentlemen
están casados, are already married, En el gris In cold gray
con altas rubias to tall blond ladies el pájaro Griffón the Griffon bird
de idioma blanco. Of the white language. se vestía de gris. was clothed in gray.
Y la niña Kikirikí And there from little Kikiriki
(La señorita, (The señorita perdía su blancor whiteness and shape
va por lo verde.) walks through the greenery.) y forma allí. were taken away.
Los grillos cantan Crickets are singing Para entrar en el gris To enter cold gray
bajo las flores. under the flowers. me pinté de gris. I painted myself gray.
¡Y como relumbraba And how I sparkled
(Los caballeros, (The gentlemen en el gris! in the cold gray!
van por el Norte.) go towards the north.)
​
​
IV. Caracola (Snail)
​
Me han traído una caracola. They have brought me a snail.
​
Dentro le canta Inside it sings
un mar de mapa. a map-green ocean.
Mi corazón My heart
se llena de agua, swells with water,
con pececillos with small fish
de sombra y plata. of brown and silver.
​
Me han traído una caracola. They have brought me a snail.
​
​
V. ¡El lagarto está llorando! (The Lizard is Crying)
​
¡El lagarto está llorando! The he-lizard is crying!
¡La lagarta está llorando! The she-lizard is crying!
​
El lagarto y la lagarta The he-lizard and the she-lizard
con delantalitos blancos. with little white aprons.
Han perdido sin querer Have lost without wanting to
su anillo de desposados. their wedding ring.
¡Ay, su anillito de plomo, Ah, their little leaden wedding ring
ay, su anillito plomado! Ah, their little ring of lead!
​
Un cielo grande y sin gente A large sky without people
monta en su globo a los pájaros. carries the birds in its balloon.
​
El sol, capitán redondo, The sun, rotund captain,
lleva en chaleco de raso. wears a satin waistcoat.
​
¡Miradlos qué viejos son! Look how old they are!
¡Qué viejos son los lagartos! How old the lizards are!
​
¡Ay, cómo lloran y lloran Oh, how they cry and cry
¡ay!, ¡ay!, cómo están llorando! Oh! Oh! How they go on crying!
​
VI. Cancioncilla sevillana (A Little Song from Seville) VII. Cancíon tonta (Silly Song)
​
Amaneciía Dawn is awakening Mamá. Mama,
en el naranjel. in the orange grove. Yo quiero ser la plata. I wish I were silver.
Abejitas de oro The little golden bees
buscaban la miel. are looking for honey. Hijo, Son,
tendrás mucho frío. You'd be very cold.
¿Dónde estará Where will they find
la miel? the honey? Mamá. Mama,
Yo quiero ser de agua. I wish I were water.
Está en la flor azul, It's in the blue flower,
Isabel. Isabel. Hijo, Son,
En la flor, In the flower tendrás mucho frío. You'd be very cold.
del romero aquel. of that rosemary yonder.
Mamá. Mama,
(Sillita de oro (A little chair of gold Bórdame en tu almohada. Embroider me on your pillow.
para el moro. for the moor.
Sillita de oropel A chair of brass ¡Eso sí! That, yes!
para su mujer.) for his wife). ¡Ahora mismo! Right away!
Amaneciía Dawn is awakening
en el naranjel. in the orange grove.
​
​
​
​
