Els oficis i la granja
Cançó dels colors
El ball
de la civada
El ball
de Sant Ferriol
El petit vailet
Els quatre llauradors
La pastoreta
Som
els bombers
Last updated: 08/10/2016 20:32
The songs below are part of ‘Joan del Rui’
The Catalan collection
compiled, adapted, translated and illustrated by Dany Rosevear
Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home page
To listen to music from these
songs click on 🔊
To watch the
author sing a song click on the title at:
Why a
separate Catalan collection?
My
intention in researching Catalan songs was to add just a small number to my
original Spanish collection. However it was obvious from the outset that this
region of Spain is a particularly rich source of wonderful music and rhythms
and before long I had assembled and translated a dedicated compilation of
singing games and dances.
Many
of these had been accessed on the internet in the form of videos. The dances
themselves should be self-evident from the directions given but I would urge
anyone who would like to introduce these songs in the Catalan language to
classes of children to illustrate the dances using these videos as a model to
copy on their whiteboards.
© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved
You
are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the
following conditions:
·
you must give the original author credit
·
you may not use this work for commercial purposes
·
for any re-use or distribution, you must make clear to others the
licence terms of this work
·
any of these can be waived if you get permission from the copyright
holder
Your
fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.
The
Catalan Collection
Catalan
pronunciation
Spoken
Catalan like Spanish is quite distinctive from spoken English. The more
distinctive sounds of letters in the words of the songs are provided to aid
pronunciation in the guide below. The letters not listed are pronounced
approximately as in English.
a stressed sounds like ah (father) as
in pa
a unstressed sounds like a (sugar) as
in porta
e open sounds like e (met) at the beginning or within a word as in nen
e closed sounds like e (they) at the beginning or within a word as in llet
i sounds like ee (feet) as
in nit
e sounds like ay at the end of a word as in leche
o sounds like oa (boat) as
in boca
u sounds like oo (boot) as
in una
b is silent after m as in amb
c sounds like c (acid) before the letters i and e as
in cel
ç sounds like c (acid) as
in canço
g (before
e and i) and
j sounds like sh (vision) as in pàgina jeure
g sounds like h (hallo)
before the letters i
and e as in gente
h is always silent unless the word is of foreign origin
ll sounds like lli (million) as
in llapis
p is silent after m as
in llamp
v at the beginning of a word sounds like b as in vi
rr sounds like a Scottish r as
in carro
v sounds
like b as in vaca
s and z
sounds like z (zoo) as
in casa zero
u is silent after g
and q as
in gue qui
x at the beginning of a word or
after l, n, r sounds like sh as in xarop
There are many sites on line
that provide help with pronunciations
Catalan
punctuation
Written
Catalan like Spanish is distinctive from written English; fewer capitals are
used at the beginning of each line of verse, exclamation and question marks are
used both at the beginning and end of sentences. However, for familiarity I have
usually conformed to the English model when writing Catalan verse.
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Cançó dels
colors O
This song originated
from Germany but is a great way to learn Catalan colours and occupations. Add
your own colours and jobs.
The English
translation is closer to the original German that the Catalan words below.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRCTpgbxAlw
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Directions:
Stand
in a circle holding hand. Allow each child to choose and wear a coloured
hanky or band.
Skip anticlockwise.
On the last line those wearing the specified
colour step forward and mime the stated occupation. They then skip round on
the spot with a chosen partner inside the circle while few extra bars of
music are played.
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Verd, verd, verd és el vestit que porto.
Verd, verd, verd és tot el que jo tinc.
Perquè m’agrada el verd de les fulles,
El meu
amic és un jardiner.
Blau, blau, blau és el vestit que porto.
Blau, blau, blau és tot el que jo tinc.
Perquè m’agrada el blau del mar,
El meu
amic és un mariner.
Vermell, vermell és el vestit que porto.
Vermell, vermell és tot el que jo tinc.
Perquè m’agrada el vermell del foc,
El meu
amic és un bomber.
Groc, groc, groc és el vestit que porto.
Groc, groc, groc és tot el que jo tinc.
Perquè m’agrada el groc de la truita,
El meu
amic és un cuiner.
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Green, green, green is everything I’m
wearing.
Green, green, green my only clothes shall
be.
Why do I always dress myself in green?
Because a gardener is the one I love.
Blue, blue, blue is everything I’m
wearing.
Blue, blue, blue
my only clothes shall be.
Why do I always dress myself in blue?
Because a sailor is the one I love.
Red, red, red is everything I’m wearing.
Red, red, red my only clothes shall be.
Why do I always dress myself in red?
Because a firefighter is the one I love.
Yellow, yellow, yellow is everything I’m
wearing.
Yellow, yellow, yellow
my only clothes shall be.
Why do I always dress myself in yellow?
Because an artist is the one I love.
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El ball de
la civada O
This harvest dance will be enhanced accompanied
by the strong beat of a drum.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kaGRpFeZwY
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Directions:
Make two circles one inside the other, the outer facing the inner.
1. Place hands on hip and in place move rhythmically up on toes and
down.
2. Mime actions of sowing, ploughing, reaping etc.
3. With right hand give a slight slap to the left side of the chest
and jump round to the right to face outwards or inwards. Each time the song
is sung jump to face the opposite direction.
4. Gallop round holding hands.
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1. El
ball de la civada, jo us el cantaré,
El
ball de la civada, jo us el cantaré.
2. El pare quan la sembrava, feia així, feia així,
3. Se'n daba un truc al pit i se'n giraba
així:
4. Treballem, treballem, que la civada, que
la civada,
Treballem, treballem, que la civada guanyarem.
Each time the song is sung, in sequence
replace ‘la sembrava’ with:
la llaurava ploughing
la segava reaping
la molia grinding
la menjava eating
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The
oats are dancing in the field, I’ll sing for you, x2
My dear
father he is planting, just like this, just like this,
He
slaps his chest and turns around and then he says:
We must
work, we must work, so the oats will grow, so the oats will grow,
 We must work, we must work, so the oats will grow for us
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El ball de Sant Ferriol O
Ferriol was a robber chief who met
his co-conspirators in a tavern after each robbery to toast success and to
dance. After his death, having mended his ways and later attaining sainthood,
he was buried beneath a barrel of wine in a tavern he frequented.
This two part game is sung and danced
at important dates in the agricultural calendar.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGU7AQ5w5YU
For more challenge each pair moves in
the opposite manner to their partner e.g. one partner starts with hands
across chest the other with arms wide.
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Directions:
Make two rows of facing
pairs. Stand
with left hand on the hip and the right hand in the air with index finger
pointed upwards.
Verse: Skip round anti clockwise on the
spot as above.
Chorus: 1. Cross arms on chest then
fling arms out to the side, repeat and then do the same action two times
rapidly in succession finishing with hands on chest followed by original
stance; hand on hip, finger pointed up ready for the verse.
2. Follow sequence above with hands covering the face and then
opening.
3. Throw arm forward with finger pointing then back.
4. Bob down then up again.
5. With outstretched arms slap right then left hand of partner. Bow
to finish.
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Éra un
pastor que en tenia tres ovelles,
Éra un
pastor que tenia un penelló.
1. Ara ve
Sant Ferriol, ballarem si Déu ho vol,
El qui toca
el tamborino ha perdut
el flabiol.
Jo i el
pastor, que vivíem d'amoretes,
Jo i el
pastor, que vivíem de l'amor.
2. Ara ve
Sant Ferriol...etc.
Tots en
tenim, de picor i de pessigolles,
Tots en
tenim, si som vius i
no ens morim.
3. Ara ve
Sant Ferriol...etc.
Bé pots ballar si no tens pa i botifarra,
Bé pots ballar si no tens per manducar.
4. Ara ve
Sant Ferriol...etc.
No en tastaràs, des del nas fins a
la boca,
No en tastaràs, de la boca fins al nas.
5. Ara ve
Sant Ferriol...etc.
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Long, long ago, lived a kindly
shepherd with three sheep,
Long, long ago, lived a shepherd
with sore feet.
Then along came Saint Fergus,
saying come and dance with us,
You can hear the drums a-playing,
but the flageolet is lost.
Shepherd and me, how we laughed
and teased each other,
Shepherd and me, how our lives
were filled with love.
Then along came Saint Fergus...etc.
Most of us have, jolly times of
mirth and merriment.
Most of us smile, if we’re full
of life not dead.
Then along came Saint
Fergus...etc.
You can dance well when you have
no bread and sausages,
You can dance well when you have
no food to eat.
Then along came Saint
Fergus...etc.
Be grateful for every lovely warm
sensation; Be grateful for every touch, perfume or taste.
Then along came Saint
Fergus...etc.
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El
petit vailet O
A song sung
throughout Northern Catalonia.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE_n_s4ma2k&feature=related
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Directions:
Stand
in a circle holding hands. Rise up and down on feet to the introduction.
Skip anticlockwise. On the
last phrase mime to the words of the verse:
1. Stretch hands above head and turn round
on the spot. Dig.
2. Place hands on hips, sway from side to
side while turning round.
3. Turn with hands on hips.
4. Kneel and drink.
5. Turn to partner and skip round.
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El
petit vailet de matí es llevà,
Agafa la relleta i a llaurar se'n va.
Lairum, laireta, lairum, lairum, lairà.
La petita jove li porta esmorzar:
Un tupí de sopes, un crostó de pa.
Lairum...
I una carbasseta per a xerricar,
Al mig de la vila una font hi ha.
Lairum...
Que
qui vulgui beure s'ha d'agenollar,
De genolls en terra, barret a la mà.
Lairum...
Jugarem a córrer, qui més correrà:
Tu
per la costeta, jo pel camí pla.
Lairum…
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Oh the
little ploughboy, in the morning wakens, He takes up his harrow for to dig
and plough.
Lairum, laireta, lairum, lairum, lairow.
See a
young girl carry, breakfast in her basket: A small pot of hot soup and some
crusty bread. Lairum ... lared.
And a
smallish pumpkin that’s in need of scraping,
At a
fountain in the middle of the town.
Lairum ... larown.
Anyone
who wants to drink, should kneel down gently,
Should
kneel on the gravel, holding hat in hand. Lairum
... larand.
Let us
play and run now, come and join the fun now,
It will
cost you nothing, if you play with me. Lairum ...
laree.
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Els quatre llauradors O
A very simple dance that uses a great deal of energy. There is an old belief
that stamping the ground encourages the vegetables to grow quicker.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C3aiWhNfdg&feature=related
Played in a whole class circle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILLjOCuTwYA&feature=related
or in a line: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2zojwU7E6Y&feature=related
or sitting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N1S8QULf6k&feature=related
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Directions:
Make groups of four holding hands.
Opposite pairs make alternating jumps towards each other in time to
the music.
Skip round in a circle between each singing.
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Els
quatre llauradors,
com treballen, com treballen,
Els
quatre llauradors,
com
treballen dos a dos.
Els
quatre sabaters,
com treballen, com treballen,
Els
quatre sabaters,
com
treballen pels carrers.
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Just watch those ploughers four,
So hardworking, so hard working,
Just watch those ploughers four,
So hardworking two by two.
Just watch those cobblers four,
So hardworking, so hard working,
Just watch those cobblers four,
So hardworking two by two.
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La pastoreta O
A beautiful little tune sung in first the major then minor key.
Each time the song is sung choose a new item of clothing to put on.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6P5NaiB5Dg&feature=related
Hold hands in a circle.
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Què li donarem a la pastoreta?
Què li donarem
per anar a ballar?
Jo li donaria una caputxeta,
I a la muntanyeta la faria
anar.
Little
shepherdess in the field please tell me,
What
should I give you, for to see you dance?
I
would give a little bonnet if you’d have it,
To the
mountain we would go to hop and prance.
A la muntanyeta no neva
ni plou,
I a la terra plana tot el vent ho mou.
On the
mountain it would neither rain nor snow,
On the
flat plain all around the winds would blow.
Sota l'ombreta,
l'ombreta, l'ombrí,
Flors i violes i romaní.
Under
the shade of the old olive tree,
Sweet
flowers, violets and rosemary.
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Walk to the right in a circle.
Mime putting a bonnet tying a
bow.
Walk towards the centre hands held high then back out again, hands low,
moving from side to side.
Walk to the left in a circle.
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 Som els bombers O
Busy fire fighters have all sorts
of jobs to do.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNReZQ6-qLs
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Directions:
Stand in pairs one behind the
other holding a coloured scarf / band to indicate either a fire engine
(around waist of leading child) or water hose (over shoulders).
Other tasks might include climbing
a ladder or holding a safety blanket. March or skip round the room in time
to the music.
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Som els bombers,
Que venim d’apagar el foc,
Amb la camisa bruta,
I el bigoti tort.
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Fire fighters
brave,
We will put out
all your fires,
Our shirts will
get so dirty
Moustaches all
awry.
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