La Paloma
Sebastián Iradier's habanera, published in Madrid in 1859, for 2 to 4 singers, sung in Spanish: the first verse and the refrain, the bass singing the habanera's rhythm on "dm" under the tune. A stretch song: its tune runs a little wider than a beginner's comfortable range, so take the high and low notes gently, or move the key.
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The parts
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The first verse
Words: Sebastián Iradier, as usually credited (the 1859 Madrid edition names him for the music)Tune: Sebastián Iradier (published in Madrid, 1859)
Cuando salí de la Habana ¡Válgame Dios!Nadie me ha visto salir, si no fui yo.Y una linda guachinanga Allá voy yo,Que se vino tras de mí Que sí, señor.
About La Paloma
La Paloma is Sebastián Iradier's habanera, in print in Madrid by 1859, which he called a "canción americana", an American song. Its words begin as a man leaves Havana. Our arrangement is read from a 1906 New York edition, checked against a Boston printing of 1887, in C as printed. This is the first verse and the refrain, sung in Spanish, for 2 to 4 singers. Under the tune the piano of the print plays the habanera rhythm all the way through, a long note, a short one, then two even ones, and here the bass sings it on "dm", while the alto and tenor sing the words.
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