Welcome

The purpose of this blog is to serve as a public accountability for a personal project. I seek to uncover and more deeply understand the struggle and sacrifice of my aunt, Nordia Esther González Hidalgo, during the Nicaraguan Revolution. I will be sharing my readings, research and reflections. This is my story of how I found hers.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Lost In Translation

As promised, an earnest attempt to properly translate the beautiful lyrics of La Misa Campesina to the not-so adequate English language.  Some animals, foods and cities just don't have good equivalents.  I'm still lacking info on the meaning of "Mikisito Lawana."  Bonus points to whoever finds me a Miskite-English or even Miskite-Spanish dictionary or translator.  Thanks!  Hopefully this does some justice to Carlos Mejía Godoy great compilation.

La Misa Campesina
The Peasant Mass


CANTO DE ENTRADA/SONG OF ENTRY

Vos sos el Dios de los pobres,
You are the God of the poor,
el Dios humano y sencillo,
the human and simple God,
el Dios que suda en la calle,
the God who sweats in the street,
el Dios de rostro curtido,
the God of a sunburnt face,
por eso es que te hablo yo
that's why I speak to you
así como habla mi pueblo,
as how my people speak
porque sos el Dios obrero,
because you are the laborer God,
el Cristo trabajador.
Christ, the worker.

Vos vas de la mano con mi gente,
You walk hand to hand with my people,
luchas en el campo y la ciudad
Struggling in the field and the city
haces fila allá en el campamento
You line up there in the camp
para que te paguen tu jornal.
So that they pay you your wages.

Vos comés raspado allá en el parquet
You eat snowcones there in the park
con Eusebio, Pancho y Juan José,
With Eusebio, Pancho and Juan José,
y hasta protestás por el sirope
and even complain about the syrup
cuando no te le echan mucha miel.
when they don’t give you enough honey.

(Coro)/(Chorus)

Yo te he visto en una pulpería
I've seen you in a grocery store
instalado en un caramanchel,
settled in your hut
te he visto vendiendo lotería
I've seen you selling lottery
sin que te avergüence ese papel.
without shame in that role.

Yo te he visto en las gasolineras
I've seen you at the gas station
chequeando las llantas de un camión,
checking the tires of a truck,
y hasta petroleando carreteras
and even paving the roads
con guantes de cuero y overol.
with leather gloves and overalls.

(Coro)/(Chorus)

KYRIE/KYRIE

Cristo, Cristo, Jesús,
Christ, Christ, Jesus,
identifícate con nosotros.
Identify with us.
Señor, Señor, mi Dios,
Lord, Lord, my God,
identifícate con nosotros.
Identify with us.

Cristo, Cristo, Jesús,
Christ, Christ, Jesus,
solidarízate,
build solidarity,
no con la clase opresora
not with the oppressor class
que exprime y devora
that squeezes and devours
la comunidad,
the community
sino con el oprimido
but with the oppressed
con el pueblo mío
with my people
sediento de paz
thirsting for peace.

GLORIA/GLORY

Con el más alegre son de mi pueblo vengo a cantar
With the happiest song of my people I come to sing
este “Gloria a Cristo” que en son de toros me gusta más,
this "Glory to Christ" of all the songs I like the most,
yo quiero cantar a Jesús que es líder de la verdad,
I want to sing to Jesus who is the leader of truth,
con el gozo desbordante y explosivo de los cohetes
with the overflowing joy of firecrackers
que iluminan nuestros cielos en la fiesta popular.
that illuminate our skies in this popular festival.

Gloria a Dios en Siuna, Jalapa y Cosigüina,
Glory to God in Siuna, Jalapa and Cosigüina
en Solentiname, Diriomo y Ticuantepe,
Solentiname, Diriomo and Ticuantepe
gloria a Dios en Tisma, Guaslala y yalagüina,
Glory to God in Tisma, Guaslala and Yalagüina,
en Totogalpa, Moyogalpa y Santa Cruz.
in Totogalpa, Moyogalpa and Santa Cruz.

Gloria al que sigue la luz del evangelio,
Glory to the one who follows the light of the gospel,
al que denuncia sin miedo la injusticia,
to the one who fearlessly denounces injustice,
gloria al que sufre la cárcel y el destierro
Glory to the one who suffers in jail and in exile
y da su vida combatiendo al opresor.
and gives his life fighting the oppressor.

Hoy te glorificamos Señor con las marimbas,
Today we glorify God with marimbas,
con violines de ñambar, sonajas y atabales,
With Ñambar violins, rattles and drums,
con chirimíias, quijongos  y sambubias,
with wooden flutes, single-string violins and sambubias,
con las danzas nativas de Sutiava y Monimbó
with native dances of Sutiava and Monimbó

CREDO/CREED

Creo señor firmemente que de tu pródiga mente todo este mundo nació,
Lord, I firmly believe that of your prodigal mind all this world was born,
que de tu mano de artista, de pintor primitivista, la belleza floreció.
that from your artist hand, of primitivist painter, beauty did blossom
las estrellas y la luna, las casitas, las lagunas,
the stars and the moon, the little houses, the ponds,
los barquitos navegando sobre el río rumbo al mar,
the little boats sailing on the river towards the sea,
los inmensos cafetales, los blancos algodonales
the vast coffee plantations, the white cotton fields
y los bosques mutilados por el hacha criminal.
and forests mutilated by the criminal ax.

Creo en vos, arquitecto, ingeniero,
I believe in you, architect, engineer,
artesano, carpintero, albañil y armador.
craftsman, carpenter, builder and assembler.
Creo en vos, constructor del pensamiento,
I believe in you, builder of thought,
de la música y el viento, de la paz y del amor.
of music and of the wind, of peace and of love.

Yo creo en vos Cristo obrero, luz de luz y verdadero unigénito de Dios,
I believe in you, Christ laborer, light from light, true only Son of God,
que para salvar al mundo en el vientre humilde y puro de María se encarnó.
that to save the world in the humble and pure womb of Mary became incarnate.

Creo que fuiste golpeado, con escarnio torturado,
I believe you were beaten, scornfully tortured,
en la cruz martirizado siendo Pilatos pretor,
martyred on the cross being Pilate the praetor,
el romano imperialista, puñetero y desalmado,
The imperialist Roman violent and heartless,
que lavándose las manos quiso borrar el error.
That washing his hands wished to erase his mistake.

(Coro)/(Chorus)

Yo creo en vos compañero, Cristo humano, Cristo obrero, de la muerte vencedor.
I believe in you companion, Christ human, Christ worker, conquerer of death.
Con tu sacrificio inmenso engendraste al hombre nuevo para la liberación.
With your immense sacrifice you beget the new man for our freedom

Vos estás resucitando en cada brazo que se alza
You are being resurrected in every arm that rises
para defender al pueblo del dominio explotador.
to defend the people of the exploitation.
Porque estás vivo en el rancho, en la fábrica, en la escuela,
Because you are alive at the ranch, at the factory, at the school,
creo en tu lucha sin tregua, creo en tu resurrección,
I believe your relentless struggle, I believe in your resurrection,

(Coro)/(Chorus)

OFERTORIO/ OFFERTORY

Yo te ofrezco Señor
I offer you, oh Lord
en esta misa,
in this mass,
el trajín de cada día,
the bustle of every day,
toda la energía
all the energy
que da mi sudor.
That my sweat produces

Yo te ofrezco Señor
I offer you, Lord
Nicaragua entero,
the entire Nicaragua
los bejucos de mis brazos
the vines of my arms
y el vivo entusiasmo
and the lively enthusiasm
de mi corazón.
of my heart.

Obreros y campesinos
Workers and peasants
con el pan y el vino
with bread and wine
te ofrecemos hoy
We offer today
los chilincocos y almendros
the chilincocos and almonds
que montaña adentro
that inside mountain
nuestra tierra dio.
our land gave.

Los caimitos bien morados,
The fine purple star apples,
los mangos pintados
The mangos painted
de luna y de sol,
by the moon and sun,
los pipianes, los ayotes
the pipianes, the ayotes
la miel de jicote,
jicote honey,
la chicha e coyol.
the coyol chicha.

(coro)/(chorus)

La clase trabajadora
The working class
que desde la aurora
from the dawn
busca su labor,
searches for their tasks,
desde el arado que canta,
from the plow that sings,
desde cada andamio
from each scaffold
y hasta del tractor.
and even from the tractor.

Albañiles, carpinteros,
Masons, carpenters,
sastres, jornaleros,
tailors, laborers,
todos por igual,
everyone the same,
herreros y estibadores
blacksmiths and stevedores
y los lustradores
and the shoe shiners
del Parque Central.
from Central Park.

(coro)/( chorus)

CANTO DE MEDITACIÓN/ SONG OF MEDITATION

Antes que nazca el día,
Before the birth of the day,
los pájaros del monte
the mountain birds
nos dan sus melodías,
give us their melodies,
los güises y cenzontes,
the Guises and cenzontes,
el picotear sonoro
the pecking sound
de un carpintero se oye,
of a woodpecker is heard,
que en la punta de un árbol
that at the top of a tree
su casa construye, donde va a vivir,
builds its home, where it will live,
y un gorrioncillo salta
and a sparrow jumps
de una rama a otra, muy cerca de allí.
from one branch to another, very near there.

Como estos pajarillos hoy te canto, Señor,
Like these birds I sing to you today, Lord,
pidiéndote nos unas en fuerza y amor,
asking you to unite us in strength and love,
te alabo por mil veces
I praise you for a thousand times
porque fuiste rebelde,
because you were rebellious,
luchando noche y día
fighting night and day
contra la injusticia de la humanidad.
against the injustice of humanity.

Mil campesinos unidos te cantamos,
Thousand peasants together we sing to you,
bajamos de los cerros
coming down from the hills
con nuestras alforjas repletas de amor,
with our backpacks filled of love,
por ser el pencón, el pencón,
because you are the strong one, the strong one
el guía y justiciero,
The vigilante, our guide
por ser el tayacán ,
because you are the strong leader,
el tayacán de mi pueblo entero,
the leader of my whole people,
por ser el tayacán,
as the strong leader,
el tayacán de mi pueblo entero.
the leader of my whole people,

Canten pijules, zanates y pocoyos,
Sing black birds, grackles and pocoyos,
vengan los chichilotes,
the yellow birds come,
los saltapiñuelas y el alcaraván
the saltapiñuelas and curlew
que cante el colibrí
sing the hummingbird
canarios y chocoyos
canaries and parakeets
juntos con el macuá , cua, cua, cua,
together with Macuá, cua, cua, cua,
canten felices todos,
sing happy all
juntos con el macuá, cua, cua, cua,
together with Macuá, cua, cua, cua,
canten felices todos,
everyone sings happy
juntos con el macuá, cua, cua, cua,
together with Macuá, cua, cua, cua,
canten felices todos
sing happily everyone
  
SANTO/HOLY

Por todos los caminos,
On all the roads,
veredas y cañadas
paths and streams
diviso, Jesucristo,
I see, Jesus Christ,
la luz de tu verdad.
the light of your truth.

Vos sos tres veces santo.
You are thrice holy
Vos sos tres veces justo;
You're three times fair
libéranos del yugo
free us from the yoke
danos la libertad.
give us freedom.

Vos sos el Dios parejo,
You're the fair God,
no andás con carambadas
You don’t give with nonsense
vos sos hombre de ñeques,
you are a man of strength,
el mero Tayacán.
the true teacher.

Vos sos tres veces santo.
You are thrice holy
Vos sos tres veces justo.
You're three times fair
libéranos del yugo
free us from the yoke
danos la libertad.
give us freedom.

MISKITO LAWANA

Miskito nani ba won dara walaia
Swak sakan storka na pain wali banwaia
Won aisa purara ai kuipa pihni ba
Miskito nesanka ban yami munisa.

Won dama Ebraham pain kasak luki kan
Ba mita witinra God bui brisata.
Miskito mani sin pain kasak luki ba
Won Aisa purara yamni won brisa na.

Won dama Ebraham God bui aisata
Ai waihla nanira sut pura luaia
God mita yawonra sim baku takam sa.
Won waihla nanira sut pura luisa.

Won Dama Ebraham God bui aisata
Aikyamka nani ba ailal ban takbia.
God Mita yawonra sim baku takan sa
Miskito nani ba ailal sin bara sa.

Miskito nani ba uan dara ualaia
suak sakan Storkana pain uali banuaia
uan ais apurara ai kupia Piniba Mismito
nesanka banyami munisa

COMUNIÓN/ COMMUNION

Vamos a la milpa,
Let’s go the cornfields,
a la milpa  del Señor,
to the cornfields of the Lord,
Jesucristo invita
Jesus Christ invites
a su cosecha de amor.
To His harvest of love.

Brillan los maizales
The cornfields shine
a la luz del sol.
From the sunlight.
Vamos a la milpa
Let’s go the cornfields
de la comunión.
Of Communion.

El pueblo se desborona
The people rush
alrededor del altar,
around the altar,
arrimadita a la hoguera
Snuggling around the fire
se reúne entera la comunidad.
The entire community meets.

Yo vengo de tierra adentro
I come from inland
más allá de Sacacli
beyond Sacacli
traigo bellas mazurquitas
I bring beautiful dances
y una tonadita
And a little tune
que la canto así:
That I sing like this:

(Coro)/(Chorus)

Los pescaditos del lago
The fishes from the Lake
nos quieren acompañar
want to accompany us
y brincan alborozados
and jump jubilantly
como encalichados
Like covered with
de fraternidad.
fraternity.

Laguneros  y robalos,
Harriers and snook,
el guapote  y el gaspar
The guapote and gaspar
las mojarras, las guabinas
cichlids, the guabinas
y hasta las sardinas
and even sardines
parecen cantar.
seem to sing.

(Coro)/ (Chorus)

La comunión no es un rito
Communion is not a ritual
intrascendente y banal.
inconsequential and banal.
Es compromiso y vivencia,
It's commitment and experience,
tomar conciencia
To become aware
de la cristiandad.
of Christianity.

Es comulgar con la lucha
It’s to unite with the fight
de la colectividad.
of the community.
Es decir yo soy cristiano
It’s to say that I am a Christian
y conmigo hermano
and with me, brother
vos podés contar.
you can count.

(Coro)/ (Chorus)

CANTO DE DESPEDIDA/ FAREWELL SONG

No hay cosa más bonita que mirar a un pueblo reunido
There is nothing more beautiful than to see the people gathered
que lucha cuando quiere mejorar porque está decidido.
That fights when they want to improve because they've made up their mind.
No hay cosa más bonita que escuchar en el canto de todos
There is nothing more beautiful to listen to the song of all
un solo grito inmenso de fraternidad.
an immense cry of immense fraternity.

No es chiche decir adiós cuando la alegría es tanta,
It’s not easy to say goodbye when joy is so,
aquí siento un torozón en mitad de la garganta,
here I feel a pain in the middle of the throat,
pero toda esta cabanga  va a ser pronto una sonrisa,
but all this nostalgia will soon be a smile,
cuando todos regresemos a la misa campesina.
when we all return to the peasant mass.

Qué cosa más bonita contemplar a la Chenta Calero
What a beautiful thing to behold, Chenta Calero
con sus cuatro chigüines y Gaspar, su alegre compañero.
with her four young kids and Gaspar, her joyful companion
De aquí puedo mirar al pescador Presentación Ortiz
From here I can see the fisherman Presentation Ortiz
con toda su familia cantando feliz.
with his family singing happily.

(Coro)/(Chorus)

Hoy siento nuevecito el corazón, lo siento macanudo,
Today I feel my heart brand new, I feel full force,
igual que la semilla e´marañón cuando ya está de punto.
Just like the seed and cashew when they are ready.
Ahora que regrese a mi lugar repleto de alegría
Now come back to my place full of joy
voy a limpiar mi huerta con más devoción.
I'll clean my garden with more devotion.

(Coro) /(Chorus)

Al golpe de las palmas la canción va agarrando más fuerza
To the beat of the palms, the song is building up strength
para que en todos vibre la emoción y se haga más intensa.
So that in everyone excitement builds and it becomes more intense.
Al golpe de las palmas se sabrá que somos mucha gente
At the beat of the palms be it known that we are many people
y si estamos unidos nadie nos moverá.
and if we are united no one will move us.

(Coro) /(Chorus)

Juntemos nuestras manos para estar fundidos nuevamente
Let us join our hands to become newly fused
en este enorme lazo de hermandad de amor nicaragüense.
in this huge bond of brotherhood of Nicaraguan love.
Juntemos nuestras manos para hacer una muralla fuerte
Let us join our hands to make a strong wall
que defienda por siempre la comunidad.
That will forever defend the community.

(Coro) /(Chorus)

Friday, September 27, 2013

No Es Chiche

Though it was in my interest to further study the lyrics of Carlos Mejía Godoy's Misa Campesina, it was a family friend who helped trigger putting this into action after reading my earlier entry.  She initiated the idea of having a study-jam session and I followed her up on it.  With guitars, flute, and the help of the internet for chords and translation, we spent an afternoon exploring the intricacies of these songs.  It was more challenging than any of us expected but well worth it to even just appreciate this collection a little more deeply.

Firstly, the musical composition itself was not that easy to follow.  The style is not the same as the typical latin jazz rhythms or Cuban or Mexican beats.  Nicaraguan music has its own unique sound.  There may be some similarities, but its variances lends to its identity.  Use of the marimba is especially characteristic to its distinct flavor.  I had done some online searching for marimbas before our session and I realized it was going to be hard to come by. (Listen here)

The lyrics themselves also presented some challenges using unique words from Nicaragua and the indigenous tribes.  Basic Spanish-English translators were not up to the task.  I fortunately found a blog that had footnotes to the lyrics helping non-Nicaraguans Spanish speakers understand the words better. I had to translate from Spanish to Spanish and then to English.  I had replace the richness with simplicity for Google to handle.  Unfortunately, I have still be unable to find a way to translate the Meskite song.  I can't find its meaning in any form.  Even though the English version is a mere shadow of its former self, the power within Godoy's words are enough to transcend language barriers.

Canto de Entrada
Godoy opens his Peasants Mass very strongly in calling God the God of the poor and of the workers.  He see God in all people, in the store clerk, at the gasoline station, checking tires and paving roads.  The central american use of "vos" is prevalent throughout the song.  I particularly like the image of a wrinkled, sunburnt God sweating in the streets in overalls not ashamed of his work and waiting in line among the rest of us to receive his wages.  We must see the presence of God is all His people.  "Vos vas de la mano con mi gente, luchas en el campo y la ciudad."  Wherever we are, God holds our hand and is in our struggle.

In the Kyrie, I was struck by word, "solidarízate."  In Spanish, there is actually a verb form of solidarity.  I heard the English noun toss around a lot in college and still see it pop up online today but often people don't really understand it.  And even if they get it that doesn't mean they live it.  There is often time more talk than action.  Solidarity is a beautiful theory that remains a noun.  In Spanish, it finds action in the verb y el verbo se hizo carne.  It is action, it is a command, it is work, it is real.  A lot the songs in the Misa Campesina joyfully cheer on this unity of God's people, the community of the church.  The Gloria mentions all the different Nicaraguan cities that join in giving God praise and the various instruments used.  All participate.  Within its inclusive opportunity to give glory to God, the song remembers also those suffer injustice and fight the oppressor.

Gloria al que sigue la luz del evangelio, al que denuncia sin miedo la injusticia, gloria al que sufre la cárcel y el destierro y da su vida combatiendo al opresor. 
The other major theme that pops up in all the songs is the constant fight for social justice.  Godoy ties in both community and struggle into his lyrics.  The Credo sees God as everyone, the architect, engineer, craftsman and carpenter who built thought, music and love.  The passion is brutally realized and Pilate is described as a heartless imperialist washing away his guilt.  However, Christ triumphs over death as we will find victory in the sacrifice for liberation.
Vos estás resucitando en cada brazo que se alza para defender al pueblo del dominio explotador. Porque estás vivo en el rancho, en la fábrica, en la escuela, creo en tu lucha sin tregua, creo en tu resurrección.
In the Ofertorio, not only is the bread and wine brought to the altar, but the people offer up their entire selves.  All the energy, sweat, fruits of their hands and fruit of the earth takes part in the heavenly sacrifice.  Unique Nicaraguan foods get attention in this song, while the indigenous birds get a moment in the Canto de Meditación.  With a really slow, passionate intro the lyrics paint a picture of praising God in the same manner of the melodious birds of the trees.  It later transitions into a jubilant explosion.  I particularly love the last phrase before the switch, in which God is depicted as a rebel fighting night and day against the injustice of humanity.  Fruits and birds may be described in unfamiliar terms to non-Nicaraguans, but in the Santo Godoy even refers to God with striking use of tayacán, which means teacher.  He showcases an array of colorful vocabulary to fully illustrate the vibrancy of Nicaragua.

Comunión
I personally love the imagery rendered the Communion song.  We are all called to go together to the Lord's cornfields.  Jesus himself is inviting us to the harvest.  It's very inclusive, active and energetic.  Even the fishes seem to want to join in the celebration.  There is a great sense of community and joy.  For how happy the song appears, it still has its moment to offer us some depth in its lyrics.

La comunión no es un rito intrascendente y banal.
Es compromiso y vivencia, tomar conciencia de la cristiandad.
Es comulgar con la lucha de la colectividad.
Es decir yo soy cristiano y conmigo hermano vos podés contar. 
It takes the time to remind us of the significance of the Eucharist.  It is not an inconsequential ritual; it is a profound, conscious commitment of our faith, uniting us together.

Canto de Despedida
After sharing in such a transformative liturgy as this, the final song has to leave the people on a high note, with hope and promise.  The closing song takes a moment to soak in the beauty of a town gathered together in prayer and action.  It reminds us that we are all singing together in one voice.  The fraternity among families holds firmly.  Separation is painful and the chorus points out how hard it is to say good-bye when our joy is so strong.  Imagine how it would be like if people were really too sad to leave after mass?  How often do the pews empty up before the final blessing as people race to the parking lot?  If we could fully appreciate the true glory of the Eucharistic liturgy we should never want to leave.  We'd stay behind and absorb the presence of Christ and his community as long as possible.  Unfortunately though, we do have to leave but now we take with us renewed hearts.  The song sends us forth with an intense, vibrant excitement to face the world with greater devotion.  Fear is tossed aside and strength renewed.  Although we go separate ways, we remain united.  A cheerful reminder in the refrain points out that we will only have to nostalgically recall the mass temporarily until we come together again.  The pain of leaving will be transformed into a smile as we return to the Misa Campesina.


It truly was a joy to explore this music deeply in our study-jam session.  Saying good-bye was as sad as the song suggests.  A part of me would like to help bring this music to the United States.  I do think it will help make mass more meaningful.  It would be a huge undertaking to try to generate a decent English or even Spanglish cover that maintains the integrity and beauty of the original Nicaraguan composition.  I will post a simple, direct translation in a later post after I've worked out all the internet dictionary kinks.  For now, I joyfully await the time until I once again revisit La Misa Campesina.