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GALICIA traditional – A Belen Vinde Pastores (The Shepherds come to Bethlehem) – THREE CELLOS (easy)

Other Identification:
Galician Christmas carols, also called ‘panxoliñas’, are popular songs that are sung in Galicia (a large region of north-west Spain with its own language) during the Christmas season. These take place in groups or individually. Although there is evidence of their existence since the 15th century, the pieces today are only approximations that Galician musicians made throughout history. “A Belen Vinde, Pastores” (in English ‘The shepherds come to Bethlehem”) is, in fact, of anonymous origin.

Movements or sections:
In their day, such Christmas carols usually called for bagpipes or other instruments to accompany, but nowadays admit many more possibilities. Indeed, it is often sung unaccompanied (a capella) by choir, which makes for a good transcription for ensemble of cellos.

Instrumentation:
David Johnstone’s setting is for three cellos, but it is probably even more effective featuring a larger cello ensemble!

Downloads of 2 PDFs:
[1 – General Score
[2 – All individual parts

Approximate difficulty: EASY
The music can be classed as of ‘easy’ technical level (roughly Grades 2-3 of the British exam system, and well within ‘Grado Elemental’ for the Spanish system). Only the first part ventures out of first position but not farther than 4th position, though all voices have forward and backward finger extensions. All parts also have certain moments of melodic prominence.

Dedicatee of this presentation (if applicable): Dedication to the fine Galician cellist Virginia del Cura Miranda

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David Johnstone lives near Pamplona (Navarre, Spain) with his wife Rosa and their two “Spanglish” children, close to the Atlantic Pyrenees. The nearest international airport is Bilbao.

He is interested in world affairs, politics, animal rights, and most sports (including being a lifelong suffering Reading FC fan!). Also passionate about Celtic culture and genealogy, he has traced his ‘English’ family back to 1280, although Scotland and Ireland have also shaped his background. And yes — he is half-ashamed to admit it, he loves silly jokes!

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