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(Act 1 continues)

CIELO SOBERANO  (Sovereign Heaven)  1

Corrales MS., Gallegos tune no. 3 (1)
[Click to play MIDI (joeweb); download PDF]

1. Cielo soberano, tenednos piedad (repeat)
Que ya no aguantamos, esta cruel frialdad. (repeat)

2. Lástima de verlos, a los corderitos, (repeat)
Temblando de frío, se están paraditos. (repeat)

3. Los llaman sus madres, ellos se detienen (repeat)
Por no dar un paso, del frío que tienen . (repeat)

CIELO SOBERANO  (Sovereign Heaven)  2

Juan B. Rael Collection, southern Colorado

1. Cielo soberano sea más piedad,
que ya no sufrimos la nieve que cae,
que ya no sufrimos la nieve que cae.

2. Suspenden delirios cesen los quebrantos,
(Suspende tus iras cesen tus quebrantos — Antonito, CO)
que ya están poblados de nieve los campos,
que ya están poblados de nieve los campos.

3. Qué copos de nieve Caen sobre el ganado,
aunque sobre el valle viven reclinados,
aunque sobre el valle viven reclinados.

4. Las estrellas vuelan y luego se paran,
absortas se quedan de ver tal nevada,
absortas se quedan de ver tal nevada.

5. Lástima de verlos a los pobrecitos,
temblando de frío se están paraditos,
temblando de frío se están paraditos.

6. Los llaman sus madres y ellos se detienen,
por no dar un paso sobre tanta nieve,
por no dar un paso sobre tanta nieve.

Translation

1. Sovereign Heaven, be more merciful,
That we no longer suffer the snow that falls,
That we no longer suffer the snow that falls.

2. May rapture be suspended, may afflictions cease,
Already the snow has covered the countryside,
Already the snow has covered the countryside.

3. What flakes of snow fall on the flocks,
Though in the valley they are lying down,
Though in the valley they are lying down.

4. The stars fly and then stand still,
They are amazed to see such snowfall,
They are amazed to see such snowfall.

5. It hurts to see the poor little lambs,
Trembling from the cold, they are huddled together,
Trembling from the cold they are huddled together.

6. Their mothers call them and they stand still,
And cannot take a step on so much snow,
And cannot take a step on so much snow.

Audio and lyrics-
American Memory, MP3 recording, Adolfo Chavez and Rosabel Espinosa, Romeo, CO.

CIELO SOBERANO  3

Agua Fria version (2), Act 2. With score.

1. Cielo soberano, cielo soberano,
Tenemos piedad que ya no sufrimos
la nieve que cae. (repeat)

2. Las estrellas vuelan (repeat)
Y luego se paran absortas se quedan
de ver tal nevada absortas se quedan
de ver tal nevada.

3. Las ovejas balan (repeat)
los corderos gritan
de ver tanta nieve
que del cielo estila. (repeat)

4. Lástima de avelos, (repeat)
pa’ los pobrecitos,
temblando de frío,
Se están paraditos. (repeat)

5. Que copos de nieve, (repeat)
caen sobre el ganado
pero sobre el valle
se está reclinando,
pero sobre el valle
se está reclinando.

6. Los llaman sus madres, (repeat)
y ellos se detienen
por no dar un paso sobre tanta nieve. (repeat)

Translation

1. Heaven above, (repeat)
Have pity on us, we can hardly endure this snowfall.

2. The stars dance (repeat)
And then are still,
Astonished they seem, to see so much snow. (repeat)

3. The sheep complain, (repeat)
The lambs bleat to see so much snow,
To see so much snow drifting down from above.

4. ‘Tis a pity to see, (repeat)
The poor little things
Shivering with cold, huddled they stand. (repeat)

5. Look at those snowflakes, (repeat)
As they fall o’er the flock,
But now in the valley they are lying down.

6. Their mothers call to them, (repeat)
But not a step will they take over so much snow.

CIELOS SOBERANOS

San Rafael, in Cole, Appendix (5), no tune

1. Cielos soberanos
Tenednos piedad,
Que ya no sufrimos
La nieve que cae.

2. Suspende tus iras,
Cesan tus quebrantos,
Que ya están poblados
De nieve los campos.

3. Suspende tus iras,
Que ya está poblado
Todo está campiña
De tan grande nevada.

4. Las ovejas balan,
Los corderos gritan,
De ver tanta nieve
Que del cielo estila.

5. Lástima de ver
A los corderitos,
Temblando de frío,
Se están paraditos.

6. Los llaman sus madres,
Y ellos se detienen,
Por no dar un paso
Sobre tanta nieve.

7. Que copos de nieve
Caen sobre el ganado,
Cuando sobre el valle,
Duerme reclinado.

 
Shepherds are camped for the night.  They eat tamales y cabrito.  Ermitaño rises, talking to himself, fingering his *rosary.  After some conversation, he joins then in the meal.  They lie down and sleep.

* Anachronisms in the play include the cross and rosary.

Luzbel appears, and summons up his diabolical “science.”  He entices the hermit, calls himself an angel, and tries to take the hermit away.  The hermit takes his crucifix and the Devil retreats and covers himself.  The Devil points to Gila, the crucifix is dropped and the devil puts the hermit under his spell, asking him to kidnap Gila.  The hermit leads her away.  Bato is awakened.  The shepherds arise, bring Gila and the shepherd back.  They start to beat the hermit, but after the hermit blames evil forces, he is pardoned and retires with his rosary.

Luzbel re-enters, shouting that the infernal regions (Hell) support him (“Todo el infierno me valga!”).  Ermitañ trembles, the shepherds are frightened.

An angel (usually the archangel Miguel) appears, tells the shepherds to stay, and brandishes his sword at Luzbel.  “NI TU!  ASTUTA SERPIENTES, PONSONOSA SABANDIJA!  The Devil is routed and the shepherds sigh in relief.  It is very cold.  The shepherds rest, Bartolo warm under his skins.  Cucharón is cold and worries about the sheep.  He starts off, and Luzbel intercepts him.  He escapes the devil’s wiles and returns.  Parrado had elected to continue to Bethlehem.  He returns, breathless, with news of the miraculous event in Bethlehem.  The others doubt his story and elect to sleep.  Parrado leaves, disheartened.

(End of Act 1)

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