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22 Jan 13 - 07:09 PM (#3470164) Subject: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl From: Joe Offer THE UNHAPPY OWL (Mexican folk song - English words by Vivian Cooper) In a lonely tree in the moonlight, Sits a poor unhappy owl. Much too young to fly in the moonlight, He can only sit and scowl. Little owl, you are crying, You are plaintively sighing. Little owl, you'll be flying When your wings grow big and strong. Ti-cu-ri cu-i, cu-i, cu Ti-cu-ri cu-i, cu-i, cu Ti-cu-ri cu-i, cu-i, cu Little owl, you must be patient Till your wings lift you in flight. Ti-cu-ri cu-i, cu-i, cu Ti-cu-ri cu-i, cu-i, cu Ti-cu-ri cu-i, cu-i, cu Little owl, you must be patient Till your wings lift you in flight. from Music Around the World, Silver Burdett & Company, 1956, page 38 [the 6th grade volume in the Music for Living series] Can anybody find the Mexican folk song this comes from? -Joe-
Click to play (joeweb)Click to play Harmony Version (joeweb) |
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23 Jan 13 - 02:39 AM (#3470240) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl From: Joe Offer OK, got the song and melody posted. I did not find an original source for the song listed in the attributions, but it may that I missed it when I read through the list. So, can anybody identify the original Mexican song? Apparently, this song only appeared in the 1956 Silver Burdett songbook series, and not in any of the later series. We have most or all of the later series indexed, and it did not come up when I searched. -Joe- |
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23 Jan 13 - 02:53 AM (#3470244) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tecolote From: Joe Offer I found the original Mexican song by searching for "Ticuri cui, cui, cu." It's a choral piece, arranged by Victoria Ebel-Sabo, described as "really a love song, with the singer's heart tired from longing as the owl is tired from flying." TECOLOTE Tecolote de Guadaña pájaro madrugador. Si tuviera tus alitas pa´ ir a ver a mi amor. Ticuri cui, cui, cu. Pobrecito tecolote, ya se cansa de volar. Tecolote of Guadaña, bird of the dawn. If I only had your wings to go and see my love. Coo coo. Poor little owl, you are tired from flying. Source: http://www.harmonium.org/prognote/200603.pdf This song was recorded by Cynthia Gooding as "El Tecolote." It's on her Elektra album titled Sings Spanish, Mexican, and Turkish Folk Songs. The lyrics are far more complicated, and I have no hope of transcribing it. HOWEVER, you will find several versions of songs titled "El Tecolote" in a book titled Estudio y clasificación de la música tradicional Hispánica de Nuevo México By Vicente T. Mendoza, Virginia R. R. de Mendoza. You will also find a number of versions of this song in a Mudcat thread titled Baby Owlet. Mudcatter "Q" did some terrific research on this song, and it's all in the "Owlet" thread. There's a recording titled Tecolote de Guadaña by Frank McCulloch y sus Amigos. You'll find it on Spotify, and it's a kick to listen to. |
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23 Jan 13 - 03:10 PM (#3470480) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Artful Codger Joe, is the last dyad in the harmony version supposed to be a unison, or does it actually end with what sounds like an minor VI, as in the posted MIDI? |
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23 Jan 13 - 08:51 PM (#3470604) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Joe Offer Hi, Artful Codger - you caught me. As printed, the end of the song was a third higher and was unresolved and sounded weird. I tried to put in a last note that resolved things. It didn't sound quite right either, but it was the best I could do. What would you suggest? -Joe- |
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26 Jan 13 - 05:58 PM (#3471811) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Q (Frank Staplin) Well-known in New Mexico; three versions in Digital Collections, University of New Mexico. Tecolote de Guadaña (Owl with a Scythe) 1 Tecolote de Guadaña, parjaro madrugador. (repeat first two lines) Quien tuviera tus alitas para ir a ver a mí amor. Coro: Ti curi curi, curi cu ti curi, curi curi cu, Ti curi, curi curi cu. Quien tuviera tus alitas para ir a ver a m&237; amor. 2 Tecolote, que haces ai arrimado a la pared? (Repeat these two lines) Esperando a mí tecolota (three times) que me traiga de comer. Coro: This version comes with a MS. musical score, and audio. Translation: Owl with a scythe early bird Oh, to have your wings To go see my love. Chorus: .... Oh, to have your wings To go see my love. 2 Owl, what are you up to, Sitting so near that wall? I'm waiting for my lady owl To bring me something to eat. # 2369. J. D. Robb: "Vicente, I understand that you knew Tecolote de Guadaña." Vicente Gallegos: "Oh, yes, it's an old favorite of mine when I was young and I kept singing it as I grew old. Now I've been teaching it to children in California." J. D. Robb: "Do you know anything about its origins? It's an old folk song." Vicente Gallegos: "No, I don't." http://econtent.unm.edu |
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26 Jan 13 - 06:22 PM (#3471817) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Q (Frank Staplin) At http://econtent.unm.edu, enter Tecolote de Guadana in "Search" and all three versions are linked. # 1965. Tecolote de Guadña Tecolote de Guadaña, pajaro madrugador (Repeat these two lines) que tuviera tus alitas que tuviera tus alitas par ir a ver mí amor. Coro y cu-i, cu-i, cu-i, cu-i, y cu-i, cu-i, cu-i, cu-i, y cu-i, cu-i, cu-i, cu-i, pobrecito tecolotito, ya se cansa de volar. Translation: Owl of Guadaña Bird of the morning, (Repeat these lines) Would that I had your wings, Would that I had your wings, To fly to my love. Chorus Y cu-i, cu-i, cu-i, cu-i, (three times) Poor little owl, It's tired of flying. With musical score and audio. |
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26 Jan 13 - 06:25 PM (#3471819) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Q (Frank Staplin) Guadaña !!! |
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27 Jan 13 - 01:40 PM (#3472108) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Q (Frank Staplin) guadaña means scythe in Spanish; it is not a location. |
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27 Jan 13 - 02:11 PM (#3472114) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Q (Frank Staplin) Darn, hit submit by accident. The town in Mexico is not meant in the lyrics; not in the New Mexican versions or this Mexican version, at any rate. A Mexican version by E. Rodriguez et al. translates the title as "guardian owl." Tecolote Traditional 1 Tecolote, de donde vienes? Vengo de la mar volando, en busca de mi tecolota que tambiín me anda buscando. 2 Tecolote, qué haces ahi, sentado en esa pared? Esperando a mi tecolota, que me traiga de comer. 3 Tecolote de Guadiana, sueño de la fantasia. Para que vuelas de noche, teniendo por tuyo el día? Translation: Owl, where do you come from? I come flying from across the sea. I am looking for my love Who is also looking for me. 2 Owl, what are you doing there Sitting on that stone wall? I am waiting for my love To bring me something to eat. 3 Guardian owl, Fantasy dream, Why do you fly only at night When you also have the day? Arrangement E. Rodriguez, D. Hidalgo, T. Mahal, F. Trujillo, L. Rodriguez. Album, American Horizon. http://www.loscenzontles.com/horizon/albumLyrics.php?Tecolote;Owl |
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23 May 14 - 08:45 AM (#3627793) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Monique There's a version of it in Spanish-American Folk-Songs collected by Eleanor Hague and published by The American Folk-Lore Society (1917). Something puzzles me: some sites mention the song as written by Alberto Domínguez Borrás who seems to be born either in 1907 or 1911 or 1913. He's supposed to have written it at age 6 (or 9!) which can only be if he was born in 1907 and he wrote it at 6. Then how could the song be collected around 2 years later? That is the question! Any idea anyone?
Here are two midis for Tecolote de guadaña, #1 is the midi for this version Cancionero infantil mexicano by Antonio Avitia Hernández, Selector, Mx, page 53), #2 is the one for the version in Spanish-American Folk-Songs collected by Eleanor Hague and published by The American Folk-Lore Society (1917) that I linked to on my 05/23/14 -8:45pm post.
Click to play [tecolote 1] (joeweb)
Click to play [tecolote 2] (joeweb) |
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23 May 14 - 12:25 PM (#3627825) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: GUEST,leeneia I've been looking at the mIDI for this song. (I think it would be nice for my recorder learners.) Some time ago, somebody asked Joe about the ending notes of the song. I suggest changing them from F and D to F and C. The song still floats at the end, but the F and C combo seems more natural. I am convinced that the bar lines of the chorus in the versions given above are in the wrong place. I've moved them, using the theory that stressed notes should match stressed syllables in the lyrics, and that measures and chords ought to co-operate with each other. I'll send the MIDI to Joe for musicians' consideration. Click to play (joeweb) |
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23 May 14 - 12:56 PM (#3627828) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Q (Frank Staplin) The song is traditional. Cancionero folklorica de Mexico, volume 1, Coplas del amor feliz, verse no. 2248, p. 297, provides one verse and in a footnote lists places of collection, publications (including Hague), and recordings. Borras is not mentioned. Tecolote de guadaña pajaro madrugador, quien tuviera alitas para ir ver a mi amor The various titles applied to the piece also are given. The first reference given is to a collection, Conc. Bajio. As "El tecolote," found in Oaxaca, Michoacán, Federal District, in oral tradition (Emphasis mine). Other collections are listed. As noted in a previous post, it is known in New Mexico and the SW U. S. SACM, the Mexican Society of authors and composers, gives his birth date as 21 April, 1907, a brief biography, and a list of 20 of his compositions. Of course he arranged many pieces, and El tecolote may have been one of them. The biography lists 20 of his compositions, none about the owl. Sorry about the lack of accents; I don't have my HTML symbols handy. |
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23 May 14 - 12:56 PM (#3627829) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Q (Frank Staplin) The song is traditional. Cancionero folklorica de Mexico, volume 1, Coplas del amor feliz, verse no. 2248, p. 297, provides one verse and in a footnote lists places of collection, publications (including Hague), and recordings. Borras is not mentioned. Tecolote de guadaña pajaro madrugador, quien tuviera alitas para ir ver a mi amor The various titles applied to the piece also are given. The first reference given is to a collection, Conc. Bajio. As "El tecolote," found in Oaxaca, Michoacán, Federal District, in oral tradition (Emphasis mine). Other collections are listed. As noted in a previous post, it is known in New Mexico and the SW U. S. SACM, the Mexican Society of authors and composers, gives his birth date as 21 April, 1907, a brief biography, and a list of 20 of his compositions. Of course he arranged many pieces, and El tecolote may have been one of them. The biography lists 20 of his compositions, none about the owl. Sorry about the lack of accents; I don't have my HTML symbols handy. |
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23 May 14 - 01:04 PM (#3627830) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Q (Frank Staplin) The five large volumes of folk songs, Cancionero folklorico de Mexico," Margit Frenk et al., published by El Colegio de Mexico, is the best single source of documented Mexican folk songs. |
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23 May 14 - 01:13 PM (#3627832) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Q (Frank Staplin) Double click, no accents, and unclosed brackets. Not a good morning for me. |
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23 May 14 - 02:29 PM (#3627847) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Monique Thanks! |
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24 May 14 - 02:43 AM (#3627907) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Joe Offer I've posted Leeneia's MIDI of "Little Owl" in G, but I am traveling and am unable to test the link. Does the MIDI play? Click to play (joeweb) |
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24 May 14 - 03:07 AM (#3627910) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Monique Yes Joe, it does. |
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24 May 14 - 10:19 AM (#3627968) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: GUEST,leeneia Joe, you're a splendid chap = travelling yet still posting music on the Mudcat for us. Thanks again. |
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26 May 14 - 10:58 PM (#3628421) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: Joe Offer I posted two MIDI files from Monique, to illustrate her post above (click) Click to play [tecolote 1] (joeweb)Click to play [tecolote 2] (joeweb) |
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27 May 14 - 11:05 AM (#3628539) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: GUEST,leeneia I dunno how this can be, but when I downloaded and opened the file I sent in, it isn't in G anymore, it's in F. Also, the ghostly gray notes for an imbedded percussion line are back. I had removed those. I don't know what to tell anybody looking for the song in G. ===== Thanks for the versions, Monique. |
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07 Jan 16 - 11:06 PM (#3763649) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: GUEST This song was on a record we had in the early 50s. It was a 45 I'm sure. The record, if I remember correctly, was "Songs of the United Nations". On the front cover was a smiling group of men of various nations in military uniforms. Other songs on the record that I recall, were "An Acre of Land", "Waltzing Matilda", "Now is the Hour," something with the words, "Jane, Jane, come to the glen; take good care of Johnny John boy", and others I don't now recall. How I would like to find that record. It must have been published during or just after WWII. The version of Tecolote de Guandana had different lyrics from any mentioned here, and there was an English translation on the jacket. Just a snatch I recall: Le respondo el armadillo (3x), en el concha me estas dando (The armadillo replied to him, you are knocking too hard on my shell). Loved the song, almost had it memorized in Spanish even though I knew not a word of Spanish at that age. Burl Ives and Joseph and Miranda were part of our meager record collection as well. I'm a member but don't have time to look up my ID right now. Haven't been on here for years. Just decided to try to find this song. -Andy |
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08 Jan 16 - 08:38 AM (#3763734) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: GUEST Same guest as above, here: meant to say it was a 78 record. Cheers. -Andy |
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21 Jun 20 - 06:36 PM (#4060642) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: GUEST My Father was born in 1929 in the mountain pueblo of Singuilucan, Hidalgo, Mexico. He sang this song to us when we were kids and to the grandchildren.I always thought that it was a Spanish translation of an Indigenous song because Tecolote comes from Nahuatl language. Some say it's a old Spanish song but Owl is Buho or Lechuza in Spanish. Anyway , I think this song traveled north throughout New Spain during the colonial period and reached as far as New Mexico and beyond. My Dad would tap the chorus with his knuckle on wood to provide a beat that lulled children to sleep. This song is very special to our family. |
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03 Jul 20 - 12:50 AM (#4062544) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Unhappy Owl / Tecolote de Guadana From: GUEST I am looking for a song THREADS from a music book used many years ago. Thanks |