Si Me Dan Pasteles analysis

Si Me Dan Pasteles
Puerto Rican folk song arranged by Alejandro Jimenez
Translation and Pronunciation
/si me dan pas-te-lez den me-los ka-lj´n-tes/
Si me dan pasteles dénmelos calientes.
If to me give pasteles
hot
/ke pas-te-les fri-os em-pa-tßan la xen-te/
Que pasteles fríos empachan la gente.
that pasteles cold make sick the people.
/si me dan a-‰oz no me den ku-tßa-‰a/
Si me dan arroz no me den cuchara.
If me give rice not me give spoon
/ke ma-ma me di-xo ke se lo je-∫e-‰a/
Que mamá me dijo que se lo llevara.
That mama me told that it bring back.
/es-ta ka-sa tje-ne las pwe‰-taz deí a se-ro/
Esta casa tiene las puertas de acero,
This house has the doors of steel,
/jel ke bi-∫en e-ja e sun ka-∫a-je-‰o/
y el que vive en ella es un caballero.
and the one that lives in it is a horseman.
/djoz ©wa‰-∂es-ta ka-sa i ©wa‰-∂e la fa-mi-lja/
Dios guarde esta casa, y guarde la familia,
God watch this house and watch the family,
/i ke lo san-tos ‰e-jes tam-bjen la ∫en-∂i-©an/
y que los Santos Reyes tambien la bendigan.
and that the holy kings also
it bless.
Verse 1
Si me dan pasteles
dénmelos calientes.
Que pasteles fríos
empachan la gente.
If you give me pasteles
Give them to me hot.
Cold pasteles
make people sick!
Verse 2
Si me dan arroz
no me den cuchara.
Que mamá me dijo
If you give me rice,
do not give me a spoon.
My mother told me
© Copyright 2015 Elizabeth Pauly. All rights reserved. que se lo llevara.
to bring it home.
Verse 3
Esta casa tiene
las puertas de acero,
y el que vive en ella
es un caballero.
This house has
iron doors,
and the person who lives within
is a gentleman.
Verse 4
Dios guarde esta casa,
y guarde la familia,
y que los Santos Reyes
tambien la bendigan.
God bless this house,
and bless the family,
and the three wise men (kings)
also bless the family.1
Background
"Si Me Dan Pasteles" is a very popular, traditional, non-religious song from the island
of Puerto Rico. It is sung during the Christmas season (Navidad), including the time
around January 6th, Three Kings Day, or the celebration of the Epiphany.
Early during the month of December the spirit of joy and anticipation of a celebration is
felt in the air. It is the time for the tradition of parrandas, or gaily strolling along caroling
from house to house. The owner of the house will customarily offer aguinaldo - a gift of
food, drink or holiday delicacies like pasteles. These are a homemade combination of
cooked plantain and some Spanish roots such as yautia made into a meat pie and wrapped
in plantain leaves. Arroz con coco dulce, rice pudding with coconut and raisins, is another
delicious treat a stroller might be given.
"Si Me Dan Pasteles" highlights a kind of exchange among people at that time of year:
food, drink, singing, talk, blessings and the spirit of celebration. It is very appropriate to
use it as a processional or recessional during a winter concert.2
Analysis
Key: Em
Structure: Strophic
SECTION
INTRO
MEASURE
1-4
Verses
5-12
1
2
EVENT AND SCORING
instrumental only, outlines the 4 measure harmony that
repeats throughout the song
Each verse is four measures, consisting of a pair of
antecedent and consequent phrases; in this arrangement,
two verses are sung back to back, followed by an interlude
based on the same harmonic structure;
Verses – upper voice sings melody; alto harmonizes; tenor
Jimenez, Alejandro, arr., Si Me Dan Pasteles, (Danbury: World Music Press 1986), 2.
ibid.
© Copyright 2015 Elizabeth Pauly. All rights reserved. Interlude
13-16
and bass sing an ostinato pattern on nonsense syllables
four measure ostinato – simply a repetition of what basses
and tenors sang to support melody
Suggestions for Ending the Song:
1. End by repeating either the piano introduction (with percussion) or the interlude.
2. Sing the first verse through once after the final interlude.
3. Sing the first verse more than once after the final interlude and gradually fade out,
as if the strollers are moving beyond earshot. 3
4. Repeat and fade the interlude
3
Jimenez, Alejandro, arr., Si Me Dan Pasteles, (Danbury: World Music Press 1986), 2.
© Copyright 2015 Elizabeth Pauly. All rights reserved.