A la media noche

$3.25

SATB a cappella + opt. Percussion. 2’40”
*Recording may vary from the most up-to-date score shown below.



Note: This is a digital score (PDF).
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The Puerto Rican aguinaldo originated as a poetic form in the 19th and 20th centuries. "A la media noche" is one setting of well-known verses in hexasyllabic form that centers around tellings of the Catholic nativity narrative. The Journal of American Folklore published collections of these aguinaldos in their 1918 publication, where several versions of these verses can be found. This setting is a plena, a style of music described as a periodico cantado or "sung newspaper" meant as a form of communication across the working class.

"A la media noche's" melody can be found in another very popular secular aguinaldo, "Si me dan pasteles," usually sung by children as they knock door to door asking for loose change to fund their holiday celebrations. Sung recordings of this tune by Aurora Calderón can be found as far back as the 1939 in the Library of Congress's digital archives. Both of these tunes have origins in the aguinaldo jíbaro song style, which the opening lines of each stanza refer to in the melody, and which cuatro puertorriqueño players (a stringed instrument similar to a guitar or ukelele) still learn to play, accompanied by plena rhythm on percussion. This arrangement of the aguinaldo utilizes onomatopoeia in the voices, as well as an Afro-Cuban clave rhythm not present in the original melody.

Forces

SATB, Clave/Woodblock (Optional), Güiro/Shaker (Optional), Conga Drum (Optional), Piano Reduction

Text

A la media noche al rigor del hielo
Nace Jesucristo, redentor del Cielo.
A la media noche el gallo cantaba,
Y en su voz decía ya Cristo ha nacido.
Entre pajas nace del cielo el gran Rey.
A su lado tiene la mula y el buey.
El buey como humilde las pajas le hechaba.
La maldita mula le descobijaba.
Su madre lo mira sin poderle dar
Ni techo ni cuna donde reposar.
Tiernecito Niño mi Jesús, mi Dios,
Eres suave y dulce, eres todo amor.

Translation

At the stroke of midnight, in the icy night,
Jesus Christ is born, redeemer of Heaven.
At midnight the rooster crowed,
Singing, "Christ has been born!"
In straw, the great King is born from heaven.
At his side he has the mule and the ox.
The humble ox chewed the straw bed.
The naughty mule uncovered him.
His mother looks at him without being able to give
Neither roof nor cradle to rest.
Tender Child my Jesus, my God
You are soft and sweet, you are all love.

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