World Songs

World Songs

Yeguas River, Sierra Morena, Spain

Sierra de Morones, Mexico

CIELITO LINDO - COVER DE MALÉ

SONG FROM MEXICO

Preview page - Malé Music

Cielito Lindo is a traditional  Mexican song written by Quirino Mendoza y Cortes. This was in 1882 so the song and lyrics will now be Public Domain. Cielito Lindo is often performed fast but this cover is at a nice and steady tempo. It is at quite a low pitch, very suitable for young singers! The guitarist plays repeated chord patterns - simple, sophisticated and very lovely! The song usually has several verses but this is a delightfully simple version with only two verses and chorus.

Lyrics and translations are similar to those available on Wikipedia.

De la Sierra Morena

cielito lindo, vienen bajando,

Un par de ojitos negros,

cielito lindo, de contrabando.

From the Sierra Morena,

Sweet little heaven, is prancing down

A pair of little black eyes,

Sweet little heaven, is sneaking by.

Ese lunar que tienes,

Cielito lindo, junto a la boca,

No se lo des a nadie,

cielito lindo, que a mí me toca.

That beauty mark that you have

Sweet little heaven, beside your mouth,

Do not give it to anyone,

Sweet little heaven, for it is mine.

Ay, ay, ay, ay,

Canta y no llores,

Porque cantando se alegran,

cielito lindo, los corazones.

Ay, ay, ay, ay,

Sing, don't cry,

Because singing makes rejoice,

Sweet little heaven, our hearts.

Mikel Astigarraga has prepared Slideshare presentations that feature easy notation of Spanish songs. Scroll down for Cielito Lindo keyboard / simple piano score arrangement, available as download.

Tasks:

1. Print the score and add note names.
2. Listen to the full performance by Malé Music on youtube.
3. Listen to other versions. Which performance do you prefer and why?
4. Prepare your cover version or instrumental performance of the song.

The following Slideshare ‘Mexico Presentation’ by cloeosuna includes 2011 quality photos about population, geography, flag, icons, currency, history, independence, food, tortillas, salsa, drinks, tequila, language, mezcal, chocolate, indigenous languages, guacamole, art, clothing, the market, religion, transportation, education, sports, football, baseball, bull fights, traditions, dia de muertos, piñata, nature, cities, beaches, culture, mountains, waterfalls, cacti, Mayan architecture, mañana.

Tasks:

1. Update Slideshare of 2011 for the 2020s (population, for example).
2. Choose a topic from the words above and find more details.
3. Listen to ‘Policia’ by Pistolera (scroll down for link to song).
4. Find more information about ‘Music of Mexico’.