7
Something we can dance
Eleanor Peers
I would like to present Ríu, ríu Chíu, a sixteenth-century Spanish Christmas Carol attributed by some to Mateo Flecha.
One version of the words with an English translation is below the reflection, based on the translation here. Two verses from the recording are missed out, because I couldn’t find them, or their translation.
Ríu, ríu Chíu encapsulates both the horror and the surpassing joy of the Incarnation. There is the rabid wolf, longing to bite the tender lamb – but, as the chorus repeats exultantly, God has saved her. The rhythm in the words ríu, ríu chíu accentuates the rhythm in the music, which carries us through the incredible truth told in the cycle of verses. The rhythm also helps us feel the truth in the song’s words. It’s both the stab of sin – or the nails pinning Christ to the cross – and the rejoicing of the angels. The Incarnation becomes something we can dance.
The cyclical exchange between solo verse and chorus helps us appreciate the exchange God has offered humanity, described in the words. The song as a whole contains several forms of time – there’s the linear time of the song rushing to its close, co-existing with cycle of solo and chorus response, and the infinite relationship of death and eternal life. The constancy of the exchange between solo and chorus, and the victory over death they describe, is at odds with the ephemeral performance of the song, which is over in a flash. This contradiction leads us to the paradox of the Incarnation – of the infinite God making Himself finite – as the verses also double back on themselves, telling us that the answer we can give to God making Himself one of us is to give ourselves to Him. God’s victorious love is expressed in an exchange that goes on forever.
We can carry the rhythm of the song with us throughout the day, perhaps humming it as we do the washing up, or wait for the Zoom link to open. It can remind us of that eternal light – the Incarnation. The wolf snarling in the dark can never prevent us from joining the angels as they dance, just by re-living a song.
Riu, riu, chiu la guarda ribera Riu, riu, chiu, the riverbank protects it
Dios guardó el lobo de nuestra cordera God guards the wolf from our lamb.
El lobo rabioso la quiso morder The rabid wolf wanted to bite her
Mas Dios Poderoso la supo defender But Almighty God know how to defend her
Quizo la hacer que no pudiese pecar He decided to make Her who could not sin
Ni aun original esta virgen no tuviera. Even original sin this Virgin did not have.
Este que es nascido es El Gran Monarca This One who is born is the Grand Monarch
Cristo Patriarca de carne vestido The Patriarch Christ dressed in human flesh
Ha nos redimido con se hacer chiquito He has redeemed us by making Himself small
Aunque era infinito finito se hiciera. Although He is infinite He made Himself finite.
Yo vi mil Garzones que andavan cantando I saw thousands of Angels that were singing
Por aqui volando haciendo mil sones Flying around, making much music
Diciendo a gascones Gloria sea en el Cielo Telling the shepherds, Glory in the heavens
Y paz en el suelo pues Jesus nasciera. and Peace on earth for Jesus is born.
Este viene a dar a los muertos vida He comes to give life to those who were dead
Y viene a reparar de todos la caida And to repair the fall of all
Es la luz del dia aqueste Moçuelo This Child is the light of the day
Este es el Cordero que San Juan dijera. He is the Lamb of whom St John the Baptist spoke.
Pues que ya temenos lo que deseamos Now we have what we desired
Todos juntos vamos presentes llevemos Let us go together to present Him gifts
Todos le daremos nuestra voluntad Let each give his will to Him
Pues a se igualar con nosotros viniera. Because he became equal to us.