PRESENTS

QUANNO NASCETTE NINNO:

CHRISTMAS IN SOUTHERN ITALY

DECEMBER 21 & 22, 2022 @ 8:00PM

HELICONIAN HALL

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 Cari amici, Quanno nascette ninno:
Thank you so much for being with us tonight.
Christmas in Southern Italy

We founded Vesuvius Ensemble from our belief that Southern Italian mu-
sical and cultural traditions constitute a heritage that should be preserved.
By bringing attention to some of these traditions here in Canada, we hope Francesco Pellegrino, voice & chitarra battente
to be playing at least some small role in perpetuating them. Lucas Harris, archlute, guitars & colascione
with
There is no better example than the tradition of shepherds playing the Louis Simão, accordion & colascione
zampogne (Italian bagpipes) during the novena, or the nine days leading up and special guest
to Christmas. Italian bagpipe music has a long history with roots in an- Tommaso Sollazzo, zampogna, guitars & mandolin
cient Greece, and some still believe today that the zampognari play the very PROGRAM
music that was heard when Christ was born. We’re grateful once again that Novena di Natale Traditional (Campania)
our zampogna specialist Tommaso Sollazzo was able to travel here all the
La notti di Natali Traditional (Sicily)
way from his home in Vallo della Lucania. By now his visit has become a
Christmas tradition for the Italian community here in Toronto. Introduzione et Pastorale Bernardo Pasquini (1637-1710)
Ninna Nanna de lu mare Traditional (Campania)
We wish all of you a safe and joyous Christmas season, and we look for- Ninna nanna ri la Rosa Traditional (Sicily)
ward to presenting you with some exciting new concerts in 2023.
Ninna Nanna Portoghese Traditional (Portugal)
Sincerely, Sonata del Pollino Traditional (Lucania)
Stella d’argiento Carlo Faiello (b.1958)
Francesco & Lucas Astro del Cielo Traditional

Intermission

‘O zampugnaro ‘nnammurato (1918) Armando Gill (1877-1945)

O veni sonne di la muntagnella Traditional (Calabria)
Ciaccona Mariona alla vera Spagnola Alessandro Piccinini (1566-1638)
A passo di Strada Traditional (Campania)
La ‘nferta Traditional (Procida)
Canzone di Razzullo Roberto De Simone (b.1933)
Allegro “La Zampogna” Giuseppe Clemente dall’Abaco (1709-1805)
Diu vi manna l’ambasciata Traditional (Sicily)
Cover artwork by Emanuele Luzzati (1921-2007) Novena di Natale Traditional (Campania)

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 Texts & Translations
A la notti di Natali
A la notti di Natali
c’è na festa principali
e nascì lu Bambineddu
‘nmezzu lu voi e l’asineddu.
Pipituni senza sali
c’avviniri a vinnignari?
cu lu pattu ca ti fazzu
ca racina un ti n’ha mangiari.
E susi pasturi nun dormiri chiù
lu vidi ca è natu Bambinu Gesù.
A la notti di Natali . . .
Aspettatimi tanticchiedda
quantu arrivu a lu pagliaru
mi scurdai la puddastredda
l’acidduzzu dintra u panaru
la racina dintra u cufinu
pi purtarla a Gesù Bambinu.
E susi pasturi nun dormiri chiù
lu vidi ca è natu Bambinu Gesù
Ninna nanna de lu mare
Vi quando e` bella ll’aria de lu mare
Nun me ne dice core de partire
C’e` sta nu ninno ca nun vo` durmire
Tanto che e` bello ca me fa murire
La notte me ‘nce cocco a core a core
Ca chistu figlio mio e` perla d’oro
O veni sonni e pigliate stu figlio
Non me lo dare fino a dimane a matina
Duorme nennillo mio dorme e reposa
Mamma t’ha fatto nu lietto de rose
Lietto de rosa e de rosamarina
Duorme e fa la nonna, ninno mio
Tu si’ la mamma de lu Salvatore :
Tu si’ la mamma de Gesu` Bammino.
Quanno la Mamma parturì’ ‘sta gioia :
Tutte li Sante ièvano ‘ncunziglio
E fa la nonna che fece Maria,
Cu’ ll’uocchie chiuse a cu’ la mento a Dio
La ment’ a Dio e la ment’ a li sante,
‘Sto figlio mia adduòrmel’ a la mamma.
Vesuvius - Xmas booklet 2022.indd 4-5
On Christmas Eve
On Christmas eve,
there is a major feast day,
for the little Child was born
between an ox and a donkey.
Pipituni with no salt between your ears,
Are you coming to the market?
With the bet I made with you,
you won’t have to eat only grapes!
And rise up, shepherd, don’t sleep anymore,
don’t you see that baby Jesus is born!
On Christmas eve . . .
Hold on a minute!
when I come to the manger,
I forgot to bring the hen,
the bird in the carrier,
the grapes in a basket,
to baby Jesus.
And rise up, shepherd, don’t sleep anymore,
don’t you see that baby Jesus is born!
Lullaby of the Sea
How beautiful the sea air is,
do not tell me to leave, O my heart.
There is a child who does not want to sleep,
he is so beautiful it makes me want to die.
At night I fall asleep heart to heart,
for this son of mine is a golden pearl.
O come, sleep, come and take this child,
and don’t return him until tomorrow morning.
Sleep my little one, sleep and rest,
I made you a bed of roses,
a bed of roses and rosemary,
sleep and lullaby, my little one.
You are the mother of the Savior,
you are the mother of baby Jesus.
When his mother gave birth to this joy,
all the Saints were told about it.
Fall asleep like the Madonna did,
with eyes closed and thoughts on God,
your thoughts on God and on the saints,
my son will also make his mother fall asleep.
Ninna nanna ri la Rosa
Duormi riposa sutta a ‘na rosa
alla susuta di rugnu na cosa
ti vuogghiu beni, ti vuogghiu beni
chiuri l’ucciddi ca ‘u sunnuzzu veni.
T’ha quitari, t’ha quitari
comu si queta l’unna ru mari
comu agghia a ddiri, comu agghia a ddiri
l’occhiu ti joca e a ‘ucca t’arriri.
Quantu si ruci, quantu si ruci
pasta ri zuccaru, pasta ri nuci.
Chi hai ca cianci, a naca ti cunzai
miezu aranci, chi hai ca sempri cianci.
Stella d’argiento
‘O sole quanno nasce nasce a Oriente
si dice ca llà sta ‘na terra santa
addò ‘nu tiempo arrivaje da luntano
‘na stella argiento
p’ accuntenta’ tutta ‘sta gente
Quanta misteri m’ hanno raccuntato
attuorno a ‘stu paese turmentato
mò pare ca ‘ncopp’ a ‘sti prete Cristo
nun ce maje passato
mentre si dice ca lloco è nato
Nuje quanno vene Natale
ce sentimmo tutti cchiù carnale
quando ‘a gente aspetta ‘a sera
pure ‘o friddo se fa cchiù liggero
è primmavera…è primmavera
tutto pare ca è overo.
Quanno tramonta ‘o sole all’ orizzonte
so’ ancora ‘nfuse ‘ll’ uocchie ‘e ‘sti
viandante
‘nmiez’ ‘a ‘sta guerra chi cerca
‘nu riparo trova sulo viento
mille diavule, e quacche santo.
Nuje quanno vene Natale
ce sentimmo tutti quanti eguali
e lassamme ‘e porte aperte
rimanimmo tutt’ ‘a notte allerta
è primmavera, è primmavera
tutto pare ca è overo.
Lullaby of the Rose
Go to sleep, sleep beneath a rose,
when you wake I’ll give you something nice.
I love you, I love you,
close your little eyes, then sleep will come.
You must calm down, you must calm down
like waves in the sea calm down.
Whay can I say, what can I say, when you have
a twinkle in your eyes and a smile on your lips?
How sweet you are, how sweet,
like sugar paste or walnuts.
Why are you crying? I put your cradle among the
orange trees, what is it, why do you always cry?
Silver Star
When the sun rises, it rises in the East,
they say there is a sacred land there,
where once upon a time,
a silver star appeared
to bring happiness to all these people.
How many mysteries they’ve told me
about these troubled lands,
but now it seems that Christ
never walked upon these stones
even while they say that he was born there.
When Christmas comes
all of us all feel more in our flesh
when the people wait for the evening,
whether it’s cold or mild.
It’s Spring, it’s Spring,
everything seems to be true.
When the sun sets on the horizon
my eyes are still moist that wayfarers seeking
shelter
in the middle of this war
will find only wind,
a thousand devils, and just a few saints.
When Christmas comes
we all feel the same,
and we leave our doors open,
and we stay awake all night.
It’s Spring, it’s Spring,
everything seems to be true.
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 Astro del Ciel
Astro del Ciel, pargol divin
Mite agnello, Redentor
Tu che i vati da lungi sognar
Tu che angeliche voci annunziar
Luce dona alle menti
Pace infondi nei cuor
Astro del Ciel, pargol divin
Mite agnello, Redentor
Tu di stirpe regale decor
Tu virgineo, mistico fior
Luce dona alle menti
Pace infondi nei cuor
Astro del Ciel, pargol divin
Mite agnello, Redentor
Tu disceso a scontare l’error
Tu sol nato a parlare d’amor
Luce dona alle menti
Pace infondi nei cuor
‘O zampugnaro ‘nnammurato
Nu bellu figliulillo zampugnaro
Che a Napule nun c’era stato ancora
Comme chiagneva, ‘nnante a lu pagliaro
Quanno lassaje la ‘nnammurata fora
E a mezanotte, ‘ncopp’a nu traíno
Pe’ Napule partette da Avellino
Ullèro, ullèro
Buono e sincero
Da lu paese, a Napule arrevato
Nce cammenava comm’a nu stunato.
E succedette ca, na bella sera
Jette a suná a la casa ‘e na signora
Tappéte, luce, pavimente a cera
Ricchezze maje nun viste anfin’a allora!
Ma se ‘ncantaje,
cchiù assaje de sti rricchezze
Pe’ ll’uocchie d”a signora e de li ttrezze
Ullèro, ullèro
Fuje nu mistero
Quanno jette pe’ vasá â signora ‘e mmane
Zitto, sentette ‘e dí,
viene dimane!
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Star of the Sky
Star of the Sky, divine little one,
gentle lamb, Redeemer,
you, of whom prophets dreamed long ago,
you who were announced by angelic voices,
illuminate minds,
instill peace within hearts.
Star of the Sky, divine little one,
gentle lamb, Redeemer,
you of regal descent,
you virginal, mystical flower
illuminate minds,
instill peace within hearts.
Star of the Sky, divine little one,
gentle lamb, Redeemer,
you descended to correct the error,
you were born only to speak of love,
illuminate minds,
instill peace within hearts.
The Amorous Bagpiper
A nice young bagpiper,
who had never been to Naples before,
oh, how he cried, departing his village,
sitting on hay, leaving his beloved
at midnight, on a train
from Avellino to Naples.
Ullero - Ullero,
good and honest
from the countryside to Naples
he went distractedly.
It happened one beautiful night,
he went to play the bagpipe at a lady’s house.
Carpets, chandeliers, polished floor,
what riches that he’d never seen before!
But his fascination
was not with all the luxury,
but rather with the lady’s eyes and hair.
Ullero, ullero,
it was a mystery why,
when he went over to kiss the lady’s hand,
she said to him softly:
“Come back tomorrow!”
Cielo, e comme fuje doce ‘sta nuvena
Ca ll’attaccaje cu n’ata passione!
E se scurdaje ‘e ll’ammore ‘e Filumena
Ch’era fatecatora e bona bona
Ma ll’urdema jurnata ca turnaje
Chella signora, â casa, ‘un ce ‘a truvaje
Ullèro, ullèro
Sturduto overo
Avette ciento lire e ‘sta ‘mmasciata
Scurdatavella, chella è mmaretata
Na casarella ‘mmiez’a li mmuntagne,
nu fucularo cu nu cippo ‘e pigne…
‘A neve sciocca e na figliola chiagne:
Chis stu lietto ‘e sposa si se ‘ncigna
P’’a strada sulitaria d’Avellino
nun sta passanno manco nu trano.
Ullèro, ullèro
«Cagna penziero…»
Sta sotto a nu barcone appuntunato
Poveru zampugnaro ‘nnammurato.
O vèni sonne di la muntagnella
O vèni sonne di la muntagnella
lu lupo si mangiàu la picurella
o mammà o la ninna vo’ fa
O vèni sonne di la landa mia
lu mio figghiolu muta mi vorrìa
o mammà o la ninna vo’ fa
Armando Gill
Heavens, what a sweet novena it was,
for it made him find a new passion!
And he forgot his love for Filomena
who was a good hard-working girl.
But on the last day when he returned to the
lady, she was not at home.
Ullero – ullero,
he was stunned!
He got one hundred lire and this note:
“Forget about her — she’s married!”
A little house in the mountains,
a fireplace filled with pine logs,
the snow is falling, a girl is crying,
as she makes up her marriage bed.
On the lonely road to Avellino
there’s no horse-cart.
Ullero- ullero,
he lost his reason.
He’s stuck hiding under the balcony,
the poor amorous bagpiper.
Oh come, sleep of the little mountain!
O come, sleep of the little mountain!
The wolf has eaten the little lamb.
O Mother, you want to sing a lullaby.
O come, sleep from my homeland!
My son would like me to be silent.
O Mother, you want to sing a lullaby.
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 La ‘nferta The Offering Chiagnenno appena nato int’a ‘stu lietto, Crying as soon as he was born in this bed,
cercaie da mammélla ‘a zizza ‘mpietto. He tried to nurse at my breast.
Che ‘nferta mi farraie cara signora What will you offer me, dear lady, Ma zuca che te zuca ‘stu nennillo che te pesca? But as he suckles, what does he get?
Si ciente vota allora te chiammaria if a hundred times an hour we call upon Maria, Da chella zizza ‘o llatte era From this breast the milk
Vergine bella e Madre di Dio? Beautiful Virgin and Mother of God? comma ll’acqua fresca! flowed like fresh water.
Cchiù zuca ca te zuca But the longer he suckled,
Vulesse ca chiuvesse maccarune I wish it would rain macaroni, that the cobble- e cchillu pietto cchiù s’arrogna, the more the breast emptied,
e prete della via case rattate stones would become grated cheese, zucanno me ‘mparaie a ssunare la zampogna. and thus I learned how to play the zampogna.
E l’acqua de lu mare, vino annevate and that the sea water would become wine.
Mamme la nferta e Mamme la bona Mother of charity, blessed Mother, Nuvena, nuvena, Natale mo vene Noel, noel, Christmas is coming,
ca Dio ce la perdona may God forgive us. ma cu ‘sta nuvena cchiù famme me vene, But with this noel comes more hunger,
verenn’ ‘o mmagna’ pe chi tene ‘e quattrine, and I see the rich eating well
ce la perdona a nuie a tutti quanti Forgive us, one and all: verennolo sulo adderet’ ê vvetrine, from the other side of their windows.
Primma li piccirille a poi a li grandi first the little ones and then the older ones. e allora me cocco cu tutt’ ‘e calzine So I go to bed wearing all my socks,
Si ce la fai de noce e castagne If you give us some walnuts and chestnuts, may e â notte me sonno ca nasce un bambino and I dream that a baby is born
Che puozza fa nu figlio Re di Spagna you have a son that becomes the King of Spain! che nasce ‘e rimpetto a ‘na bella cantina, in front of a nice cantina,
cu addore ‘e suffritto, cu tre litr’ ‘e vino, with the smell of a stir-fry, three litres of wine,
Si nce la fai de noce e pignuole If you don’t give us walnuts and pine nuts, n’appesa ‘e sacicce, nu bellu capone, sausages hanging alongside a nice chicken,
Che puozza fa nu figlio mariuolo may you have a son that becomes a thief! anguille ammescate cu lu capitone, different types of eel,
Mamme la nferta e Mamme la bona Mother of charity, blessed Mother, castagne r’ ‘o prevete, noce e nnucelle, the priest’s chestnuts, walnuts and hazelnuts,
ca Dio ce la perdona may God forgive us. ‘nzalata ‘e rinforzo cu lu susamiello. a rinforzo salad plus susamiello pastries!
ce la perdona a nuie a tutti quanti Forgive us, one and all, Ma senza renare, But without any money
stienne lu ravulone e fatte annante let’s set the long table and line up! ‘a nott’ ‘e Natale, on Christmas Eve,
me fummo ‘na pippa I’ll just smoke a pipe
e me vaco a cuccà. And go to bed.”
Canzone di Razzullo Razzullo’s song
Andrea Perrucci, La cantata dei pastori (1698)
Quann’io nascette ninno ‘a cuorpo a When I was a baby born
mmamma, from mother’s womb,
a Nnapule nascette muorto ‘e famma. another starving wretch was born in Naples.
E muorto ‘e famma nun appena nato, I was starving just as soon as I came out,
mammella mia dicette: and mother said,
”È nato un altro sventurato”. “Another unlucky one is born.”
E arravugliato rint’a ‘na mappina She wrapped me up
me ‘nfasciaje, in some rags,
e dint’a nu spurtone And after putting me in a bag,
‘sta nuvena me cantaie: she sang this song:
Nuvena, nuvena, mammella era prena “Noel, noel, your mother was already expecting;
appriesso a ‘nu figlio già n’ato ne vene. just after a son is born, another will come.
Facette ‘o primmo e nascette cecato I made the first one who was born blind,
mò cerc’ ‘a lemmosena pe ‘mmiez’ ‘e strate. and now he begs in the street.
Facette ‘o sicondo chiammato Pascale, The second one is named Pasquale,
ca sta carcerato a Ppuceriale, and he’s now imprisoned in Poggio Reale.*
e aroppo ‘o cchiù bello ‘o chiammaie The one after is the best looking, I called him
Gennaro, Gennaro**:
c’ ‘abbascio ‘a Duchesca mo fa ‘o ricuttaro. he now makes ricotta for the duchess.
E mo pe cumpleto, sgravannose ‘e chisto, To complete the scene, I gave birth to this one,
ha fatto un altro povero Cristo. and created yet another poor Jesus Christ.

*Poggio Reale: a famous prison in Naples

**San Gennaro: patron saint of Naples
Filippo Bonanni, Il gabinetto armonico, 1723

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Diu vi manna l’ambasciata
Diu vi manna l’ambasciata
fu di l’angilu purtata:
Ah ca lu figghiu, lu figliu di Diu Patri
e Maria fu fatta matri.
Vergine e casta fusti Maria
iu mi cunsolu assai ccu tia.
E pi la gioia partistivu ccu fretta
p’annunziarlu a Santa Elisabetta.
E San Giuanni ancora unn’era natu
fu ppi vui santificatu.
Vergine e casta . . .
Chi bellu fruttu Maria aviti a fari
lu Verbu eternu incarnatu ccu vui
Tu parturisci comu na gran signura
senza aviri né dogli e né dulura
Vergine e casta . . .
Vesuvius - Xmas booklet 2022.indd 10-11
God sends you a messenger
God sends you a messenger - the news
was from the angel of the Annunciation.
Ah, that son, the son of God the Father -
and Mary was made his mother.
Virgin and chaste were you, Mary,
what a great solace you have been to me.
Happily, your labour went quickly,
and it was announced to Saint Elizabeth.
Though St. John was not yet born
He was sanctified for you.
Virgin and chaste, etc.
What a fine fruit you produced,
the Eternal Word embodied within you.
You bore him like a great lady
without having any pains or sorrows.
Virgin and chaste, etc.
Upcoming 2023 concerts at Heliconian Hall
Tickets available at bemusednetwork.com
January 16
“SOLA IN VIAGGIO”
A NIGHT WITH ELISA CITTERIO
MUSIC BY MATTEIS, ROMAN,
BACH, TARTINI, MONTANARI
Elisa Citterio, Baroque violin
_______________________________________
February 23
NINNA NANNA E BUONANOTTE
Francesco Pellegrino, voice & chitarra battente
Lucas Harris, lute & guitar
Louis Simão, accordion & colascione
Mothers have always rocked their children into the world of
sleep and dreams with lullabies, soothing melodies which
emerge from popular tradition. This concert’s title comes
directly from one of Southern Italy’s many exquisite lullabies
which will be featured in this concert. Between these delicate
melodies, short texts will be read by Romina di Gasbarro.
________________________________________
May 17
SO YOU WANNA BE AMERICANO?
INTRO TO ITALIAN SWING
Francesco Pellegrino, voice
Lucas Harris, guitar
Andrew Downing, double bass
Louis Simão, accordion & piano
As Southern Italy became Americanized in the years following World War II, this traditional
rural society saw their young people playing baseball, smoking Camel cigarettes, and drinking
whisky & sodas. The infectious rhythms of swing and early rock & roll penetrated the music
scene in the Old Country. Parents’ hair turned gray as their children danced to a new beat!
Music by the renowned swing master Renato Carosone among others.
2022-12-15 1:19:13 PM
 The Vesuvius Ensemble gratefully acknowledges the
support of our generous season sponsors.

Presenting Sponsors:

First Capital GREYBROOK REALTY PARTNERS

Patrons:

John & Angela Caliendo

Paul & Rebecca Elia
Paul Golini

Donors:

Tony Boccitto
Nico Bock
Mary & Chris Chalmers
John Donald & Linda Chu
Al & Jane Forest
Patrick Luciani
Tony Galliano
Corrado Paina
Rocco Vessio

Biscotti provided by
www.altatrading.ca
Alta Trading inc

Tommaso Sollazzo is
partially sponsored by www.travelpoint.ca
Travelpoint Enterprises Inc.

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