Honduras’ religious demographics differ from much of Latin America, with a majority practicing Catholicism at only 38%. This, in addition to Honduras having an underdeveloped music recording industry in the early 20th century has resulted in a shortage of accessibly documented Honduran Christmas music. Classical soprano Isabel Salgado Castillo (1930-2020) relied on international travel and success to sustain her operatic singing and recording career. “Canciones Navideñas de Ayer y Hoy” (1969) touts a playlist of popular folk and contemporary Honduran villancicos, but without labeling clearly the source of each tune. Castillo sings this lesser known tune “Campanita de navidad” with quartal harmony on piano and her signature bel canto tone, as if an art song.

This new arrangement maintains the directness of the vocal line in 2-part voices, with a toy-box sounding piano accompaniment that rings nostalgic to an American Christmas aesthetic.