Pedro de Cristo
Considered to be the leading Portuguese composer of the late 16th century, Pedro de Cristo seems to be unknown to the city of Coimbra, the city of his birth, around 1540. Our example of his work, a Christmas villancico, does appear to betray the City’s gross ignorance. De Cristo spent most of his time there at the Santa Cruz Monastery and died there in 1618.
Es nascido, dinos quien?
Pedro de Cristo "Es nascido"
Es nascido, dinos quien.
El que Zacharias vido
Nasceria em Belem.
Las senhas del ninho
Dios son presepe i stablo
Por enganhar al diablo
I redemiros a vos
Sancto Dios i nascio ia,
I nasce en nuestra pobreza
Si por darnos su riqueza,
I quanto nel cielo a.
Es nascido . . .
Who is born, tell us who?
The one who Zacharias saw
Who is born in Bethlehem.
The child is born
In a manger in a stable
To confuse the devil
And to redeem your name,
Holy Lord, he was born there,
Born in our poverty
To bring us his wealth
And all of heaven’s blessings.
Who is born? . . .