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 The
Heritage Library Division of the National Library and Information
System Authority (NALIS) launched its Parang
Project on Monday 23rd December, 2002.
The
idea for the Project arose out of a desire by NALIS to contribute
to the documentation of the heritage of Trinidad and Tobago. The
idea coincides with the anticipated opening of the National Library
of Trinidad and Tobago. An observation was made that there is no
seminal work on Parang. As a result Rawle Gibbons, head of the Creative
Arts Centre, UWI, Eintou Pearl Springer, Director of Heritage Library,
Sylvia Moodie Kublalsingh, Francesca Allard and Natalie Charlerie
decided to become involved in recording the history of Parang. The
Creche element of Parang, peculiar
to Paramin and other villages of French origin, is also being researched
and documented. Mrs. Ganpat of Los Buenos Parranderos will translate
the songs.
A
condensed version of Francesca Allard's master's thesis will be
used by Nalis to create a book on Parang. Angostura Company Limited
and the National Lotteries Control Board donated cash towards the
production of the publication.
What
is Parang? 
The
term Parang is
derived from the Spanish word parranda,
which means a spree or a fête. Initially it meant a group
of four or more men who went to give a parranda at an event - a
christening or a birthday celebration. The group sang to the accompaniment
of musical instruments. However, in Trinidad, parang came to mean
the songs that were sung, especially during the Christmas season.
What was brought from Venezueal to Trinidad was parranda
navideña, which means Christmas parang.
There
are two theories about the origins of Trinidad parang. The first
is that the custom was brought to the island by the Spainish colonists
who ruled Trinidad from 1498-1797. It continued to flourish after
the British took over the island, because of constant interaction
between the people of Trinidad and those of Venezuela (The Spanish
Main).
The
second theory suggests that the custom came from Venezuela during
the Spanish occupation. The cocoa panyols came from Oriente, East
Venezuela to work on the cocoa plantations in Trinidad.
Initially,
only men sang parang. They were called parranderos.
They went from house to house with their their basic musical instruments
- the cuatro and marac. The women remained in the background, preparing
the food for the parranderos when they visited.
Categories
of Parang Songs, Titles and Descriptions
The
following table depicts the categories and descriptions of Parang
songs, along with a sample song from each category.
|
Categories
of Parang Songs, Titles and Descriptions
|
Type
of Song |
Title |
Description |
| Serenal
or Aguinaldo |
Nosotros
Tenemos |
Parranderos
announce their arrival in song and seek to gain entry to the
homes of family and friends to relate the story of the birth
of Christ, and to share in the joy of the message of Peace on
Earth and Goodwill to all men. |
| Anunciacion |
Gloria
en el Cielo |
This
song tells of the Angel Gabriel's visit to Mary telling her
that she was chosen to bear the Christ Child. |
| Nacimiento |
El
Nacimiento |
This
song relates the events of the actual birth of the child called
Jesus Christ. |
| Guarapo |
Guarapo |
This
is a lively song based on any topic. |
| Joropo |
Alma
Llanera |
Song
similar in style to the Spanish waltz, it is used for dancing. |
| Vals |
Ansiedad |
|
| Salsa |
Moliendo
Café
Guantanamera |
The
salsa is a Latin style of music, which is popular with dancers
in the present time. |
| Manzanare |
Rio
Manzanare |
A
Manzanare is a Venezuelan song celebrating different things
at the Manzanare river. |
| Estribillo |
Sabaneando |
An
Estribillo is a very lively sing along song in which you call
and answer. |
| Despedida |
Vamos
Vamos Vamos |
This
is a song to give thanks for the joy of sharing, and to say
farewell to the host, until the next Christmas. |
  
Below
are a few Parang songs in the original Spanish, with their English
translations in the adjacent column.
Nosotros
Tenemos |
| Coro:
Nosotros
tenemos un coro especial
Nosotros tenemos un coro especial
Y en esta casa le vamos a cantar
Y en esta casa le vamos a cantar
Por
primera vez a esta casa venimos. (bis)
Ábreme la puerta y venga a recibirnos. (bis)
Si
no te despiertas no van a dormir (bis)
Porque de tu casa no me voy a ir (bis)
Si
quiere que yo cante en su lindo hogar (bis)
Un paso adelante mándame a pasar (bis)
Con
gusto y contentos vamos a cantar (bis)
Esta parrandita viene de San Juan (bis)
Ya
yo vi a uno, ya yo vi a dos (bis)
Y el amo de la casa ya se levanto (bis)
Yo
no vine anoche porque estaba oscuro (bis)
Pero mi aguinaldo debe estar seguro (bis)
Nosotros
nos vamos por donde venimos (bis)
La estrella del norte nos alumbra el camino. |
Chorus
We have
a special chorus
We have a special chorus
And we are going to sing it to you in this house
And we are going to sing it to you in this house
We have
come to this house for the first time (twice)
Open the door for me and let us in (twice)
If you
don't wake up, you won't be able to sleep (twice)
Because I will not leave your house. (twice)
If you
want me to sing in your beautiful home (twice)
Let me come inside.(twice)
We are
going to sing with pleasure and happiness (twice)
This litle parang singer comes from San Juan. (twice)
I saw
one person already, I saw two persons already (twice)
And the head of the house has already awoken. (twice)
I did't
come last night because it was dark (twice)
But my song must be sure. (twice)
We are
going from whence we came (twice)
The north star lights the way for us. (twice) |
| |
| |
| Coro:
Gloria,
gloria, gloria, gloria
Gloria en el cielo. (bis)
Cantemos un coro del buen anuncio
Cantemos un coro del buen anuncio.
El ángel
Gabriel bajo del cielo
El ángel Gabriel bajo del cielo,
Trayendo al mundo el buen anuncio
Trayendo al mundo el buen anuncio. Ay,Ay,Ay....
EITHER
A Maria le dijo bendita tú eres
A Maria le dijo bendita tú eres,
Bendita tú eres entre las mujeres
Bendita tú eres entre las mujeres. Ay,Ay,Ay
OR
Le digo a Maria bendita tú eres
Le digo a Maria bendita tú eres
Bendita tú eres entre las mujeres
Bendita tú eres entre las mujeres. Ay,Ay,Ay
Maria
tu serás madre del señor
Maria tu serás madre del señor,
Virgen immaculada de Belén la flor
Virgen immaculada de Belén la flor. Ay,Ay,Ay....
Maria
la pura Maria bendita
Maria la pura Maria bendita,
Reina de los cielos reina de la tierra
Reina de los cielos reina de la tierra. Ay,Ay,Ay,...
Anuncio
Gabriel a la Virgen Maria
Anuncio Gabriel a la Virgen Maria,
Tu hijo será Manuel
Y nacerá en Belén de Judea
Tu hijo será Manuel
y nacerá en Belén de Judea. Ay,Ay,Ay.....
La Virgen
Maria sé cayo de rodillas
La Virgen Maria sé cayo de rodillas,
Y en voz humilde dijo las santas palabras
Y en voz humilde dijo las santas palabras. Ay,Ay,Ay...
El ángel
se fue se fue de su presencia
El ángel se fue se fue de su presencia,
Y Maria visito a Isabel su prima
Y Maria visito a Isabel su prima.
Paren
la maraca y la guitarra
Paren la maraca y la guitarra,
Respondemos todos que viva que viva
Respondemos todos que viva que viva. |
Chorus
Gloria,
gloria, gloria, gloria
Gloria in the heavens
We sing a chorus about the good news
We sing a chorus about the good news.
The
Angel Gabriel came down from heaven
The Angel Gabriel came down from heaven
Bringing the good news to the world
Bringing the good news to the world. Ay, ay,
ay...
EITHER
Blessed
are you, he said to Mary
Blessed are you, he said to Mary
Blessed are you among women
Blessed are you among women. Ay, ay, ay...
OR
He said to Mary, blessed are you
He said to Mary, blessed are you
Blessed are you among women
Blessed are you among women. Ay, ay, ay...
Mary
you will be the mother of God
Mary you will be the mother of God
Immaculate Virgin of the flower of Bethlehem
Immaculate Virgin of the flower of Bethlehem. Ay,
ay, ay...
Pure
Mary, blessed Mary
Pure Mary, blessed Mary
Queen of the heavens, queen of the earth
Queen of the heavens, queen of the earth. Ay,
ay, ay...
The
Angel Gabriel said to the Virgin Mary
The Angel Gabriel said to the Virgin Mary
Your son will be called Emmanuel
And he
will be born in Bethlehem, in Judea
Your
son will be called Emmanuel
And he will be born in Bethlehem, in Judea Ay,
ay, ay...
The
Virgin Mary fell to her knees
The Virgin Mary fell to her knees
And in a humble voice said the sacred words
And in a humble voice said the sacred words Ay,
ay, ay...
The
angel left her presence
The angel left her presence
And Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth
And Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth
Stop
the marac and the guitar
Stop the marac and the guitar
Let us all respond long may she live
Let us all respond long may she live. |
| |
| |
| Coro:
Que
vengan, que vengan,
Que vengan, adorar.
El rey de los cielos
Que ha nacido ya.
Y el
nacimiento
De Cristo así fue.
Según la escritura
Se lo explicare
La virgen
Maria
Su madre así fue
Su padre adoptivo
Era San José
Oh Jesús
bendito
Nuestro redentor
Y por tus deseos
De paz y amor
Salve
a su creador
Llamado Emmanuel
Que apacentara
al pueblo de Israel
El que
no se alegra
En este momento
No cree en Jesús Cristo
Ni en su mandamiento
|
Chorus
May
you come, may you come
Come
and adore
The King of Heaven
Is already born.
And
the birth
Of the Christ Child was so.
According to the scripture
I'll explain it to you.
The
Virgin Mary
Was his mother
His adopted father
Was St. Joseph
Oh blessed
Jesus
Our redeemer
And through your wishes
Bring peace and love.
Greetings
to your creator
Called Emmanuel
Who will save
The people of Israel
He who
is not happy
At this moment
Does not believe in Jesus Christ
Nor in his commandments. |
| |
| |
| Guarapo
por la mañana
Guarapo a medio día
Guarapo a todas horas
Como se fuera comida
Este guarapito de caño
No se puede comprender
Lo mando pa la cabeza
Y se baja pa los pies
Este
guarapo de caño
Pero se puso baboso
Porque le metió la mano
El indio de calabozo
Cuando
canto este guarapo
Yo canto con alegría
Porque los mismos pesares
Me siguen de compañía
Ahora
no canto yo
Como en un tiempo cantaba
Se me acabó la voz
Pero me queda la fama
Cuando
no puedo cantar
No valle que me moriera
Los hombres del mundo lloran
Y los sajaditos sé alegría
Ay Ay
Ay Oy Oy Oy
Como no voy a llorar
Una sola vida tengo
Y me la quieren quitar |
Cane
juice in the morning
Cane juice at noon
Cane juice anytime
As if it was food
This
little drink from cane
You cannot understand
It governs my head
And it goes down to my feet.
This
drink of cane
Yet it becomes sour
because the Indian from Calabozo (city in venezuela)
put his hand in it
when
I sing this guarapo
I sing with joy
Because the same worries
Keep me company.
Now
I don't sing
How I use to sing before
I have lost my voice
but I still have fame
When
I can't sing
I wish only to die
Men of the world cry
And my cuts make me happy.
Ay ya ya oy oy oy
I am not going to cry
I have only one life
and they want to take it from me. |
Alma
Llanera |
| Yo
nací en esta ribera
del Arauca vibrador,
soy hermano de la espuma,
de las garzas de las rosas,
soy hermano de la espuma,
de las garzas de las rosas,
y del sol, y del sol,
Me arrulló
la viva diana
de la brisa en el palmar,
y por eso tengo el alma,
como el alma primo rosa,
y por eso tengo el alma,
como el alma primo rosa,
del cristal, del cristal,
Amo,
lloro, canto, sueño
con claveles de pasión,
Con claveles de pasión.
Amo, lloro, canto, sueño
Para ornar las rubias crines al potro de mi amador.
Yo nací en esta ribera del Arauca vibrador,
soy hermano de la espuma,
de las garzas de las rosas,
y del sol, y del sol. |
I
was born on this bank
Of the vibrating Arauca river
I am the brother of the foam,
the herons, the roses
I am the brother of the foam,
the herons, the roses,
And the sun, and the sun.
I am
lulled by the quick movement
of the breeze in the palm grove
And for that reason I have a soul,
Like the rosy untouched soul,
And for that reason I have a soul,
Like the rosy untouched soul,
Made of glass, made of glass
I love,
I cry, I sing, I dream
With carnations of passion
With carnations of passion
I love, I cry, I sing, I dream
Of adorning the fair mane of the colt belonging to my love.
I was born on this bank of the vibrating Arauca river,
I am the brother of the foam,
the herons, the roses,
And the sun, and the sun. |
| |
| |
| Ansiedad
de tenerte en mis brazos,
musitando palabras de amor,
Ansiedad de tener tus encantos,
Y en la boca volverte a besar.
Tal
vez estés llorando al recordarme,
tus lágrimas son perlas que caen al mar
y el eco adormecido de este lamento
Hace que estés presente en mi soñar.
Ansiedad
de tenerte en mis brazos,
musitando palabras de amor,
Ansiedad de tener tus encantos,
Y en la boca volverte a besar.
Quizás
esté llorando tu pensamiento
y estreches mi retrato con frenesí,
y hasta tu oído llegue la melodía salvaje
Y el eco de la pena de estar sin ti.
. |
The
anxiety of having you in my arms,
Whispering words of love,
The anxiety of having your charms,
And kissing your lips again.
Perhaps
you are remembering me,
Your tears are pearls falling into the sea
And the drowsy echo of this lament
Makes you present in my dreams.
The
anxiety of having you in my arms,
Whispering words of love,
The anxiety of having your charms,
And kissing your lips again.
Perhaps
your thoughts are crying
And you hug my picutre in a frenzy
And even the wild melody reached your ears,
And the echo of the pain of being without you.
|
| |
Moliendo
Café |
| Cuando
la tarde languidece renacen las sombras,
Y en la quietud los café tales vuelven a sentir
Esta triste canción de amor de la vieja molienda,
Que, En la quietud de la noche parece decir;
Una
pena de amor, una tristeza,
Lleva el zambo Manuel en su amargura
Pasa incansable la noche moliendo café |
When
the evening wanes, the shadows are born again
And in the silence the coffee estates hear
This sad love song of the old mill,
That, in the quiet of the night seems to say:
A pain
of love, a sadness,
Which knock-kneed Manuel bears in his bitterness,
He spends the night tirelessly grinding coffee. |
|
click here to view the musical score
for this song
|
Guantanamera |
| Coro:
Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera
guantanamera, guajira guantanamera. (bis)
Yo soy
un hombre sincero
de donde crece la palma. (bis)
Y antes de morirme quiero
cantar los versos del alma.
Cultivo
una rosa blanca
en junio como en enero. (bis)
Para el amigo sincero
que me da su mano franca.
Mi verso
es de un verde claro
Y de un carmín encendido. (bis)
Mi verso es un siervo herido
que busca del monte amparo.
|
Chorus:
Guantanamera, rustic guantanamera
Guantanamera, rustic guantanamera (twice)
I am
a sincere man
From the land of the palm trees
And before I die I want
To sing these verses of the soul.
I grew
a white rose
In June as in January (twice)
For a genuine friend
Who gives me his hand freely.
My verse
is a clear green
And bright red carmine (twice).
My verse is a wounded servant
Who looks for the protection of the mountain.
|
Río
Manzanare |
| Coro:
Rio
Manzanare
Déjame pasar
que mi madre enferma
me mando llamar
Mi madre
es la única estrella
que alumbra mi por venir
y si se llega a morir
al cielo me voy con ella
Ay Cumana
quien té viera
Y por tus calles pasara
Y a San Francisco fuera
a misa de madrugada
Si el
Manzanares me diera
Su licencia y libertad
En sus aguas me bañara
Cuando el calor me da
Manzanares
Manzanares
Con tus corrientes de arena
Alíviame los pesares
Llévate pronto mis penas
Que
refrán tan verdadero
Que tienen los cumaneses
Lo que se pierde en el agua
En el asiento aparece. |
Chorus
Manzanare
river
Let me
pass
Because my mother is ill
And she sent to call me
My mother
is the only star
That lights my future
And if she dies
I will go to heaven with her
Oh Cumana
who could see you
And walk through your strees
And could go to San Francisco
To morning mass
If the
Manzanare would give me
permission and freedom
I would bathe in its waters
When I feel hot.
Manzanares
Manzanares
With your currents of sand
Soothe my worries
And take away my pain
What
a true saying
The Cumana people have
That what is lost in the water
Will appear in the sediment. |
| |
Sabaneando |
| Cuando
salgo a sabanear
En mi caballito moro
Voy recordando el cantar
La prenda que más adoro
Voy recordando el cantar
Oye, el cantar
La prenda que mas adoro
Sabaneando,
Sabaneando
Distraigo los males míos
Viendo las aves volar
Mira, volar
A las orillas del rió
Pita
un toro en el palmar
La vaca llama al becerro
Y yo siento en mi cantar
La brisa de los esteros
Y yo siento en mi cantar
En mi cantar
La brisa de los esteros |
When
I leave to
On my little Moroccan horse
I remember in song
The one I love the most
I remember in song
Listen, I remember in song
The one I love the most
Rounding
up, rounding up
I distract the bad deeds
By watching the birds fly
Look, the birds
Fly on the banks of the river.
A bull
whistles in the palm grove
The cow calls to the calf
And I feel the breeze of the estuary
In my song
And I feel the breeze of the estuary
In my song
The breeze of the estuary |
| Click
here to view the musical score of this song |
Vamos
Vamos Vamos |
| Coro:
Vamos
Vamos Vamos
Es hora de partir
Adorar al Ninoesta en Belen
En la
Palestina cerca de belen
Fue que nacio el rey de Israel
A la
media noche Maria Pario
Un hermoso nino Emmanuel lo llamo
A la
media noche en Belen se vio
Una maravilla el hijo de dios
Los
tres reyes magos bajaron a Belen
Para adorar ese nino quien es hijo de dios |
Chorus:
We are
going, we are going, we are going
It's time to leave
To worship the Christ child in Bethlehem
In Palestine
near Bethlehem
The king of Israel was born
At midnight
Mary gave birth
To a beautiful boy whom she called Emmanuel
At midnight
in Bethlehem was seen
A marvel, the son of God.
The
three wise men went to Bethlehem
To worship this child who was the son of God. |
| |
|
