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Riu, Riu, Chiu: the melody (soprano)

The melody of Riu, Riu, Chiu, sung by the soprano, in Ebm, from D4 to Bb4. Hear it on its own or with the others, then sing it and watch each note light up.

Sings the opening call and both verses alone and the tune in every refrain, on just six notes, most often on B-flat, its top note, which begins every line, and down to its low D, a D natural, only on the end of "nuestra" and the start of "cordera" in each refrain's last line.

Range
D4 to Bb4
Key
Ebm
Guide voice
The app's own voice

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How to learn the soprano part

  1. 01 · Your part

    Hear your part on its own until the tune of it is in your ear.

  2. 02 · With the others

    Hear it with the others, so you know where it sits in the chord.

  3. 03 · Sing it

    Sing it with the others under you and watch each note light up as you land it. The mic listens only while it plays, and nothing is recorded.

About Riu, Riu, Chiu

Words: anonymous, from Villancicos de diversos autores (Venice, 1556)

Tune: anonymous, from Villancicos de diversos autores (Venice, 1556); attributed by some to Mateo Flecha the Elder or Bartomeu Càrceres

Riu, Riu, Chiu is a Spanish Christmas villancico from Villancicos de diversos autores, a book printed in Venice in 1556 that names no composer for it. Rafael Mitjana came across the book in Uppsala University's library and believed it the only known copy; it is now called the Cancionero de Upsala, or the Cancionero del Duque de Calabria. The refrain sings that God kept the wolf from "nuestra cordera", our ewe-lamb, and verse 2 sees a thousand young lads, the angels, singing of glory in heaven and peace on earth. In the 1556 print the verses are the bass's alone: "solo las coblas". Our arrangement is the print's own four voices, a semitone higher, in E-flat minor, with the bass's solo call and verses sung by the soprano an octave up, the leading note raised at the cadences and a few closing notes changed so the last chords keep their third. This is the call and two verses, each followed by the refrain everyone sings, in old Spanish, for 2 to 4 singers.

All about Riu, Riu, Chiu More Christmas carols, part by part

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Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up.
  • A guide sings your partHear your line over the others, slow it down, then take your turn.
  • Your notes light upEach note shows where you landed, and a hint when to go up or down.
  • Record every part yourselfStack your takes in time until you're the whole choir.
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