Santa Lucia is a traditional Neapolitan song. It was transcribed by Teodoro Cottrau (1827–1879) and published by the Cottrau firm, as a "barcarolla", at Naples in 1849. Cottrau translated it from Napuletano into Italian during the first stage of the Risorgimento, the first Neapolitan song to be given Italian lyrics. Its transcriber, who is very often credited as its composer, was the son of the French-born Italian composer and collector of songs Guillaume Louis Cottrau (1797–1847).
The Neapolitan lyrics of "Santa Lucia" celebrate the picturesque waterfront district, Borgo Santa Lucia, in the Bay of Naples, in the invitation of a boatman to take a turn in his boat, to better enjoy the cool of the evening.
In the United States, an early edition of the song, with an English translation by Thomas Oliphant, was published by M. McCaffrey, Baltimore. Perhaps the definitive 20th century recording of the song was that of Enrico Caruso, the great Neapolitan opera singer.
The song has also been recorded by Elvis Presley on the 1965 album Elvis for Everyone.
In Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway, "Santa Lucia" has been given various lyrics to accommodate it to the winter-light festival of Saint Lucy, at the darkest time of the year. The three most famous lyrics versions in Swedish are Luciasången, aka Sankta Lucia, ljusklara hägring (“Saint Lucy, bright illusion”), Natten går tunga fjät (“The night walks with heavy steps”) and the 1970s "Kindergarten" version Ute är mörkt och kallt (“Outside it’s dark and cold”).
In the Czech Republic (or former Czechoslovakia), it was made famous with the words Krásná je Neapol sung by Waldemar Matuška.
In Thailand a Thai translation, Silpakorn Niyom (ศิลปากรนิยม), is the anthem of Silpakorn University; the founder of the university, Silpa Bhirasri, was Italian.
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Lyrics [link]
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
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<poem>Sul mare luccica l’astro d’argento. Placida è l’onda, prospero è il vento. Sul mare luccica l’astro d’argento. Placida è l’onda, prospero è il vento. Venite all’agile barchetta mia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Venite all’agile barchetta mia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Con questo zeffiro, così soave, Oh, com’è bello star sulla nave! Con questo zeffiro, così soave, Oh, com’è bello star sulla nave! Su passegieri, venite via! Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Su passegieri, venite via! Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! In fra le tende, bandir la cena In una sera così serena, In fra le tende, bandir la cena In una sera così serena, Chi non dimanda, chi non desia. Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Chi non dimanda, chi non desia. Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Mare sì placida, vento sì caro, Scordar fa i triboli al marinaro, Mare sì placida, vento sì caro, Scordar fa i triboli al marinaro, E va gridando con allegria, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! E va gridando con allegria, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! O dolce Napoli, a suol beato, Ove sorridere volle il creato, O dolce Napoli, a suol beato, Ove sorridere volle il creato, Tu sei l'impero dell’armonia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Tu sei l'impero dell’armonia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Or che tardate? Bella è la sera. Spira un’auretta fresca e leggiera. Or che tardate? Bella è la sera. Spira un’auretta fresca e leggiera. Venite all’agile barchetta mia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Venite all’agile barchetta mia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!</poem> |
<poem>On the sea glitters the silver star Gentle the waves, favorable the winds. On the sea glitters the silver star Gentle the waves, favorable the winds. Come into my nimble little boat, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Come into my nimble little boat, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! With this breeze, so gentle, Oh, how beautiful to be on the ship! With this breeze, so gentle, Oh, how beautiful to be on the ship! Its passengers, come on! Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Its passengers, come on! Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! In between the tents, dinner invitations On such a quiet evening, In between the tents, dinner invitations On such a quiet evening, Who does not demands, desires to those who do not. Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Who does not demands, desires to those who do not. Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Sea so calm, the wind so dear, Forget makes the thistles in marine Sea so calm, the wind so dear, Forget makes the thistles in marine It should be shouting with joy, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! It should be shouting with joy, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! O sweet Naples, upon blessed soil, Where all creation revolves around a smile, O sweet Naples, upon blessed soil, Where all creation revolves around a smile, You are the kingdom of harmony, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! You are the kingdom of harmony, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Or to be late? The evening is beautiful. A little breeze blows fresh and light. Or to be late? The evening is beautiful. A little breeze blows fresh and light. Come quickly my boat, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Come quickly my boat, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!</poem> |
Other performers [link]
Sergio Franchi, (Italian Tenor 1926-1990), recorded this song in 1963 on his RCA Victor Red Seal album, Our Man From Italy. One of the notable versions of this song is the one by Hayley Westenra in her album Treasure (Hayley Westenra album).
Use in films and television [link]
The song has been sung in several films. It was performed by Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas. It can be heard in the Marx Brothers film A Night at the Opera. The end of the song is chanted by David Kessler and Jack Goodman as they are walking in the rain in the English countryside in An American Werewolf in London.
On television, an off-key rendition by Don Knotts as Barney Fife was performed on The Andy Griffith Show, in the episode "The Song Festers" as the feature song of the Mayberry choir "sent off to New York" for its annual spring concert. In the Tom and Jerry episode "Cat and Dupli-cat," Tom is singing this song in the beginning of the cartoon.
External links [link]
- "Santa Lucia" sung by Enrico Caruso
- "Santa Lucia" free Sheet Music for piano
- Choral Public Domain Library
https://wn.com/Santa_Lucia
Santa Lucía, Tucumán
Santa Lucía (Tucumán) is a settlement in Tucumán Province in northern Argentina.
Coordinates: 27°06′S 65°31′W / 27.100°S 65.517°W
Santa Lucia, Parma
Santa Lucia is a Baroque-style Roman Catholic church located on Strada Cavour in central Parma, region of Emilia Romagna, Italy.
History
A church on the site called San Michele in Canale is first mentioned in documents from 1223. The present building was erected by the Confraternity of San Carlo Borromeo in 1615. The structure was enlarged and facade designed by the architect Mauro Oddi and in 1697, reconsecrated and named Santa Lucia.
The facade sculptures of Saints Ilario and Agatha and the façade medallion were completed by Giacomo Barbieri.
The main altar has a canvas depicting the Last Communion and Martyrdom of St Lucy by the Venetian painter Sebastiano Ricci. The ceiling quadratura frescoes were painted by Alessandro Baratta (painter). The church also has paintings by Giulio Cesare Amidano and Antonio Ligori. The cupola frescoes were painted by the Theatine priest Filippo Maria Galletti.
References
Coordinates: 44°48′9.07″N 10°19′43.95″E / 44.8025194°N 10.3288750°E
Podcasts:
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by Mario Lanza
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by Brujeria
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by Hayley Westenra
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by Yahir
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by Perry Como
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Santa Lucia
by: Manuel CarrascoSANTA, SANTA LUCÍA
SOÑARÉ CADA NOCHE QUE ME QUIERES IGUAL QUE AYER,
Y UNA LÁGRIMA FRÍA NACERÁ AL AMANECER…
EN EL MAR QUE NOS SEPARA REFLEJADA SIEMPRE ESTÁS, TÚ
SANTA, SANTA LUCÍA, ERES MI VIDA, REINA DE LA ALEGRÍA,
SANTA, SANTA LUCÍA, ALMA DE NIÑA, DUEÑA Y AMANTE MÍA,
SANTA, SANTA LUCÍA, ERES MI VIDA, REINA DE LA ALEGRÍA,
SANTA, SANTA LUCÍA, ALMA DE NIÑA, DUEÑA Y AMANTE MÍA,
EN LA ETERNA DISTANCIA QUE ALEJA NUESTRO AMOR,
SIEMPRE HAY UNA ESTRELLA QUE ILUMINA MI CORAZÓN…
EN EL MAR QUE NOS SEPARA REFLEJADA SIEMPRE ESTÁS TÚ
SANTA, SANTA LUCÍA, ERES MI VIDA, REINA DE LA ALEGRÍA,
SANTA, SANTA LUCÍA, ALMA DE NIÑA, DUEÑA Y AMANTE MÍA,
SANTA, SANTA LUCÍA, ERES MI VIDA, REINA DE LA ALEGRÍA,
SANTA, SANTA LUCÍA, ALMA DE NIÑA, DUEÑA Y AMANTE MÍA,
DAME, DAME TU MAGIA, DAMELA, SANTA LUCÍA
DAME, DAME TU HECHIZO, DAMELO YA
SANTA, SANTA LUCÍA, ERES MI VIDA, SANTA LUCÍA
SANTA, SANTA LUCÍA, SANTA LUCÍA
SANTA, SANTA LUCÍA, ERES MI VIDA, REINA DE LA ALEGRÍA,
SANTA, SANTA LUCÍA, ALMA DE NIÑA, DUEÑA Y AMANTE MÍA,
SANTA, SANTA LUCÍA