dwsChorale: Music

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I first sang (as second alto) in this piece at a wonderful South American music workshop in Chester run by by Jeffrey Skidmore, who has since made a brilliant professional recording of the piece. This one-man amateur attempt of mine in no way tries to compete with the professionals, but it is fun!

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Following some research and discussions with various friend I have come to the conclusion that this allegorical song may be interpreted as follows:
The Bull is Satan and the Toreador is Christ.

Mi bien (my darling) represents the people whom Christ loves – he is concerned that the bull is chasing them instead of himself, who is intended to be the full final sacrifice.

Finally the bull does what has been ordained (i.e. a metaphorical interpretation of the crucifixion) and, following this atonement, the people will be able to go and inhabit the very stars. But meanwhile they must leave the bullring because Satan is still a danger at present.

What the bullring itself actually represents is still unclear in my mind – maybe the earth, the materialistic world….?




[chorus]

Salga el torillo hosquillo

Pero no, que se aguarde, que se espere, que se tenga

Mientras me pongo en cobro yo

Ho!

Let the little wild bull out

But no, hang on, let him wait and hold in his fury

While I find some cover

Ah!



[Solo]

Mas ay, que fiero

But wow, how fierce

El toro ligero corriendo salió

The agile bull came out running into the ring

Tras mi bien, pero no tras mi

Chasing after my darling instead of me!



[chorus]

Yo le vi al amado dueño mío

I see him, I look to my beloved Lord

Que le esta esperando el Niño

For whom the Christ child is waiting

Yo le vi tiritando

I see him shivering

No de miedo si no de frío

Not with fear but with with deathly cold



[solo]

Del vulgo de las nubes se despeja la plaza

Poblando las estrellas del cielo las ventanas

The bullring clears of the clouds of common people

They go to inhabit the very stars, which are heaven’s windows

A fuera todo el mundo

A fuera hagan plaza

Que el toro es un demonio

Segun muestra la ensaña

Out everybody
!
out, make room!

because the bull is a evil demon

that shows no mercy



[chorus]