Pedro de Cristo
Considered to be the leading Portuguese composer of the late 16th century, Pedro de Cristo is apparently unknown to the city of Coimbra, the city of his birth. “Es nascido”, the Christmas villancico heard here, exemplifies the “World class” quality of his work and makes one wonder how/why he would not be mentioned in the official promotional material emanating from the City. De Cristo lived most of his life in Coimbra, at the Santa Cruz Monastery. He was born in Coimbra in the 1540s and died there in 1618. He entered Orders at Santa Cruz monastery in 1571 and became Chapelmaster in 1597. His surviving works, numbering over 200, are contained in manuscripts originating from the Monastery.
Es nascido, dinos quien?
A Christmas villansico found in a ms. in the University library, Coimbra, originating from the Santa Cruz Monastery.
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? . . .