Santa Lucia
Encyclopedia
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.
Use in films and televisionThe 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. The song is performed 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.
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, o suol beato,
Ove sorridere volle il creato,
O dolce Napoli, o 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!
On the sea shimmers the silver star.
The wave is peaceful, prosperous is the wind.
On the sea shimmers the silver star.
The wave is peaceful, prosperous is the wind.
Come quickly my boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
Come quickly my boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
With this breeze, so gentle,
Oh, how beautiful star on the ship!
With this breeze, so gentle,
Oh, how beautiful star 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, or wont blessed
Where would smile creation,
O sweet Naples, or wont blessed
Where would smile creation,
You are the empire of harmony,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
You are the empire 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!
in her album Treasure (Hayley Westenra album)
.
Canzone Napoletana
Canzone Napoletana, sometimes referred to as Neapolitan song, is a generic term for a traditional form of music sung in the Neapolitan language, ordinarily for the male voice singing solo, although well-represented by female soloists as well, and expressed in familiar genres such as the lover's...
. 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
Neapolitan language
Neapolitan is the language of the city and region of Naples , and Campania. On October 14, 2008 a law by the Region of Campania stated that the Neapolitan language had to be protected....
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
Borgo Santa Lucia
Borgo Santa Lucia is an historical rione of Naples, Italy. The area rises around the street of the same name and takes that name from the parish sanctuary of Santa Lucia a mare, of which the presence is attested since the 9th century, on the river of the sea, in spite of legend that would have it...
, 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
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
on the 1965 album Elvis for Everyone
Elvis for Everyone
Elvis for Everyone! is the twenty-third album by Elvis Presley, issued on RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 3450, in August 1965. Recording sessions took place over a ten-year span at Sun Studio in Memphis, RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, and Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California...
.
In Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, "Santa Lucia" has been given various lyrics to accommodate it to the winter-light festival of Saint Lucy
Saint Lucy
Saint Lucy , also known as Saint Lucia, was a wealthy young Christian martyr who is venerated as a saint by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Orthodox Christians. Her feast day in the West is 13 December; with a name derived from lux, lucis "light", she is the patron saint of those who are...
, at the darkest time of the year. The three most famous lyrics versions in Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
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
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
" version Ute är mörkt och kallt (“Outside it’s dark and cold”).
In the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
(or former Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
), it was made famous with the words Krásná je Neapol sung by Waldemar Matuška
Waldemar Matuška
Waldemar Matuška was a Czech singer who became popular in his homeland during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1986, he emigrated to the United States.-Early career:...
.
In Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
a Thai
Thai language
Thai , also known as Central Thai and Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people, Thailand's dominant ethnic group. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family. Historical linguists have been unable to definitively...
translation, Silpakorn Niyom (ศิลปากรนิยม), is the anthem of Silpakorn University
Silpakorn University
Silpakorn University is a well-known public university in Thailand. The university was founded in Bangkok in 1943 by Italian-born art professor Corrado Feroci, who took the Thai name Silpa Bhirasri when he became a Thai citizen. It is the leading Thai university in the fine arts and archaeology,...
; the founder of the university, Silpa Bhirasri
Silpa Bhirasri
Silpa Bhirasri , born Corrado Feroci was an Italian-born sculptor who worked mainly in Thailand. He is considered the father of modern art in Thailand and was instrumental in the founding of today's Silpakorn University....
, was Italian.
Use in films and televisionThe 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. The song is performed 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.
Original Italian lyrics
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, o suol beato,
Ove sorridere volle il creato,
O dolce Napoli, o 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!
English translation
On the sea shimmers the silver star.
The wave is peaceful, prosperous is the wind.
On the sea shimmers the silver star.
The wave is peaceful, prosperous is the wind.
Come quickly my boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
Come quickly my boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
With this breeze, so gentle,
Oh, how beautiful star on the ship!
With this breeze, so gentle,
Oh, how beautiful star 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, or wont blessed
Where would smile creation,
O sweet Naples, or wont blessed
Where would smile creation,
You are the empire of harmony,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
You are the empire 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!
Other performers
One of the notable versions of this song is the one by Hayley WestenraHayley Westenra
Hayley Dee Westenra is a New Zealand soprano, classical crossover artist, songwriter and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No. 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide...
in her album Treasure (Hayley Westenra album)
Treasure (Hayley Westenra album)
Treasure is the third internationally released album by Christchurch, New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra, released in 2007...
.
External links
- "Santa Lucia" sung by Enrico Caruso
- "Santa Lucia" free Sheet Music for piano
- Choral Public Domain Library