José/Josep Ruiz de Samaniego (¿?-Zaragoza 1670)
"de esplendor se doran los ayres"
Villancico a la Virgen del Pilar (1666)
De esplendor se doran los ayres x2
y el christal del Hebro se argenta
que a media noche, un Sol su curso empieza. x2
Las luzes se abecinan,
se auyentan las tinieblas,
el prado ostenta flores,
el cielo esconde estrellas,
que a media noche un Sol x2
su curso empieza.
Y hoy a su Reina María,
Sol que a la noche hace día,
sobre un pilar que en su esfera
los quatro elementos la aplauden con fiesta. x4
Haze a las sombras desayre
la luz en el ayre.
Tristes horrores destierra
la flor en la tierra.
Descubre gozos que fragua
la risa en el agua.
Se hace lenguas sin sosiego
la llama en el fuego.
Alegres todos ostentan x4
luz y rissa, llama y flor,
ayre y agua, fuego y tierra,
que a media noche, un Sol su curso empieza. x2
un Sol su curso empieza
su curso empieza x2
De mármol sobre un pilar
vino la Reina del Cielo,
que a esta sagrada ciudad
no bino sin fundamento.
Vinieron ciento y la madre
de Dios, cuyos raios bellos,
siendo la noche cerrada,
a chasco de luz la abrieron.
Echaron por essos ayres
los ángeles que entendieron
era ese camino atajo,
siendo su jornada el Ebro.
De Jerusalen, la Virgen,
como suelen los Romeros,
vino a Santiago mostrando
ser peregrino portento.
Cogió el escuadrón bolante
a todos siete durmiendo,
que buen lanze para darles,
Santiago a no estar con ellos.
Que hiziesen una Capilla
mandó, cuyo timbre excelso
es un pilar que sustenta
a quien a Dios dió sustento.
De esplendor se doran los ayres...
Jose (Josep)Ruiz de Samaniego (¿born?-Saragosa, 1670)
choirmaster
The sky becomes golden with splendour
And the water of the Ebro (river which runs through Zaragoza) turns to silver,
For a midnight the Sun (In this case the Sun=Virgin. This villancico would be sung on October 12-feast of the Virgin del Pilar- at midnight, during matins) commences its course.
The lights approach,
The darkness disappears,
The meadow flaunts its flowers,
The sky hides its stars,
For at midnight the Sun commences its course.
Placed upon a pillar (The Pillar alludes to the Virgin del Pilar)
The four elements
Acclaim today
Their queen Mary,
The Sun which transforms the night into day.
The light in the sky
Plies insults on the shadows,
The carpet of flowers
Banishes sad horrors,
The babbling brooks
Unleash happiness.
The flames in the fire
Emit blazing tongues without cease.
All joyfully disport themselves,
Light and laughter, flame and flower,
Air and water, fire and earth,
For at midnight the Sun commences its course.
The Queen of Heaven
Appeared disguised above a pillar of marble,
For not without purposeful intention
Did she came to this sacred city. (The sacred city is Zaragoza)
With the mother of God they came a hundredfold
And their beautiful rays
Filled the darkness of the night
With their light.
Flying through these breezes
Came the angels who comprehended
That this short cut
Was the course of the Ebro.
The Virgin came,
Like the pilgrims themselves,
From Jesuralem to Santiago,
She was revealed as a wondrous pilgrim.
When she surprised that squadron of the sky,
All seven asleep, (Probably an allusion to the dragon with seven heads in the Apocalypse, otherwise the infernal beast which threaten the woman)
That would have caused a good fight
For Santiago (Santiago is Saint James the Greater, Spanish hero of the Reconquest, symbol of the victory in this battle)was not there to assist them.
She ordered that they
Should build for her a chapel,
Whose exalted crest would be a pillar,
That would sustain she who is the support of God.
The sky becomes golden with splendour...
Performers: Al Ayre Español
Pictures: The Basílica del Pilar (Saragosa)
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