This charming song, Trongkon Niyok, is written and sung by Daniel De Leon Guerrero. Set to the lovely tune of a båtsu (the Chamorro waltz), he sings to us the Chamorro legend of the coconut tree. If you aren’t familiar with the båtsu, it essentially follows the same tempo and step pattern of the Viennese waltz. But what makes it slightly different is that it includes the up and down motion that we find in the “regular” waltz. Our Saturday evening practice group listened to this song a few weeks ago – I’m definitely behind on posting our songs, and I blame the changing weather and migraines! As always, Chamorro lyrics and an English translation are included in this post. Happy listening (and dancing)!
Continue reading “Kåntan Chamoru: Trongkon Niyok”Tag: Beginner Songs
Kåntan Chamoru: Dies Pasu Guatu
Our Saturday evening practice group listened to this last weekend, and our friend Dabit was on fire with his listening comprehension. Meanwhile with my listening comprehension, it was as though my ears were plugged up with cotton! Listening comprehension is always and forever my weakest skill, which is why I appreciate our Saturday evening practice sessions that focus entirely on listening. If this song sounds familiar to you, that’s because it’s a cover of “Ten Feet Away” by Keith Whitley. As always, Chamorro lyrics and an English translation are included in this post for the song “Dies Pasu Guatu” by the Castro Boyz. Happy listening!
Continue reading “Kåntan Chamoru: Dies Pasu Guatu”Kåntan Chamoru: I Flores Gi Hatdin-hu
Here is a song by the Hofschneider Brothers that has been a recent favorite of mine, and since our Saturday evening praktika was cancelled this past weekend I decided to sit down and transcribe this song for my own practice. We actually got to meet Siñot Julian a couple of months ago at a fundraiser, which was so lovely. He was playing music with the band, and I kept looking at him and wondering why he looked so familiar. When we started chatting, I realized he was from the Hofschneider Brothers, and I was recognizing his face from the cover of their Christmas album. 🙂 This song is from another of their albums, Rekuetdon Familia…(Putfin!). As always, Chamorro lyrics and an English translation are included in this post. I did have some trouble making out a couple of words, which are in bold. If you hear something different from me, please let me know in the comments. Happy listening!
Continue reading “Kåntan Chamoru: I Flores Gi Hatdin-hu”Kåntan Chamoru: Gaige gi fi’on-mu
This past Saturday Jay started his evening practice group again, and it was just three of us – we forgot to send out a reminder until we were already in the room! A newer learner who just started on their learning journey at the end of last year joined, so we had her listen to and transcribe the song Kirida by Joe Garrido. And she did such a great job! It has been really cool to see her push herself in her learning, and to see her progress over these last few months. 🙂 Since I already put that song on my blog, my new song for this week is Gaige gi fi’on-mu by JJ Concepcion. It’s sung at an easy pace and is a good song for beginners. This post includes the Chamorro lyrics and an English translation. Happy listening!
Continue reading “Kåntan Chamoru: Gaige gi fi’on-mu”Latte Stone Ceremony Chant by Brant Songsong and Elyssa Santos
Jay, my cousin Chachaga’ and I went to FestPac in Hawai’i this June, which was amazing. We spent quality time with family and took in as much as we could from the different events and workshops. One event we attended was the Micronesia Festival at the Bishop Museum on June 15th, which opened with a Latte Stone Ceremony to honor the latte stones at the museum that were taken from the Marianas. In this post is the chant, composed by Brant Songsong and Elyssa Santos, that was sung to honor the latte stones at the ceremony. The tune and composition was done by Elyssa Santos – she researched the Kåntan Chamorrita tune that is featured in this chant, and added her own stylistic inflections in the singing based upon how she was taught to sing the Kåntan Chamorrita. She also offered her words and ideas for the lyrics, and Brant Songsong completed the translation. The result is a beautiful chant, distinctly Chamorro in its sound with a modern feel.
In this post, the Chamorro and English lyrics are included, with an audio recording of Elyssa Santos singing the chant in Chamorro. I have also included photos, provided by Elyssa Santos, of their practice sessions so we can celebrate everybody involved in making this chant happen at the ceremony. For those who could not be there in person, please consider this a piece of the ceremony that we can all share. Happy listening 🙂
Continue reading “Latte Stone Ceremony Chant by Brant Songsong and Elyssa Santos”
Lengguahi-ta 