If the Virgin were from the Andes……A Christmas Carol for all Axis readers | Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela |Axisoflogic.com

With just a few days before Christmas we thought that a pleasant break from the rough and tumble of politics might be order.

For the enjoyment of Axis readers we present a classic Venezuelan Christmas carol which is entertaining and original in its content and arrangement.

Readers will notice that the content is based more around Venezuelan folklore and does not have the heavy albeit joyous religious overtones of orthodox US or UK carols that are sung in church.

Many classic Venezuelan carols are composed and performed with children in mind and there are many examples of these which are heard every year and cross from generation to generation.

The carol presented is performed by Serenate Guayanesa (Guyanese Serenade) a folklore group formed in 1971 in Bolivar state in south east Venezuela, which is called Venezuelan Guyana. The group’s hallmarks are perfect harmonies peppered with divine counterpoint rhythms all backed up by tradition Venezuelan instruments such as the cuatro, furuko, mandolin, drums and maracas.

The Seranate Guayanesa was declared cultural patrimony of the nation by President Chávez in 2011 when the group celebrated its 40th anniversary. The group has maintained its popularity for four decades and we are certain that US readers will appreciate the carol presented as well as the music and lyrics.

Si la Virgen fuera andina…. translated by Arturo Rosales for Axis of Logic

Si la Virgen fuera andina…. Aguinaldo venezolano tradicional – Anónimo Por Serenata Guayanesa	If the Virgin were from the Andes Traditional Venezuelan Christmas Carol – Anonymous Sung by Serenata Guayanesa
CORO x 2 Si la Virgen fuera andina y San José de los llanos el Niño Jesús sería un niño venezolano	CHORUS x 2 If the Virgin were from the Andes and Joseph the country maybe then little Jesus would be a Venezuelan baby
I Sería un niño de alpargatas y liquiliqui planchado un sombrero de cogollo y el calzón arremangado CORO x 2	I He’d be a child wearing sandals and a nicely pressed jacket a straw hat on his head with neatly rolled up trousers CHORUS x 2
II Tendría los ojos negritos quien sabe si aguarapados y la cara tostadita del sol de por estos lados. CORO x 2	II He’d have little black eyes perhaps the color of coffee his face tanned by the sun that shines here oh so lofty CHORUS x 2
III Por cuna tendría un chinchorro chiquito muy bien tejido y la Virgen mecería al Niño Jesús dormido. CORO x 2	III For a crib he’d have a hammock tiny and finely woven and the Virgin would rock her baby sleeping as he was chosen CHORUS x 2
IV El crecería en la montaña cabalgaría por los llanos cantándole a las estrellas con su cuatrico en la mano CORO x 2	IV He’d grow up in the mountains riding across the land singing up to the stars with a cuatro in his hand CHORUS x 2

READ MORE ANALYSIS, ESSAYS AND VENEZUELAN SONGS INTRODUCED AND TRANSLATED BY AXIS OF LOGIC COLUMNIST, ARTURO ROSALES