- What Shall We Give? (El Noir de la Mare) for SATB Choir & Piano on Choirworks
- Also available on J.W. Pepper, Sheet Music Plus, & Sheet Music Direct
What shall we give the Christ Child? In this lively setting of the traditional Catalan Christmas carol El Noi de la Mare (“The Child of the Mother”), the answer comes in the form of raisins, figs, walnuts, olives, honey—and finally, a song of praise.
El Noi de la Mare is both a Christmas carol and a lullaby, and its history reaches back at least to the nineteenth century. The song was first collected in 1866 by Francesc Pelagi Briz in Cansons de la terra: Cants Populars Catalans, and was subsequently included by Manuel Milà i Fontanals in his Romancerillo catalán (1882), where it appeared under the title “Presentes al Niño Jesús.” In 1871, the poet Jacint Verdaguer published a revised version called Lo tam-pa-tan-tam, which became intertwined with the older traditional text. Like many traditional songs, El Noi de la Mare exists in numerous textual and melodic variants.
This setting shapes the traditional material into a compact three-verse choral narrative, beginning with the simple question, “What shall we give?” and unfolding through an increasingly colorful catalogue of gifts before turning, in the final verse, to music itself as an offering. Bright, rhythmic choral writing alternates with more lyrical, songful passages, while the piano provides harmonic support and much of the rhythmic character. Conductors can highlight the playful, conversational opening, the accumulating lists of gifts, and the more expansive declaration of the final verse; the Tampatamta passages are most effective when treated with rhythmic precision and lightness.
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The English text is a new translation and adaptation by M. Ryan Taylor, drawn directly from traditional Catalan versions. The first two verses retain the traditional imagery of raisins, figs, walnuts, olives, honey, and mató (a fresh Catalan cheese or curd). The third verse is entirely original, extending the traditional idea of offering gifts by asking what we might give when our gift is simply the music we can make.
Lyrics
I
What shall we give to the Son of our Mary?
What can we give that the Child will enjoy?
First, let us bring him a tray full of raisins,
Then let us offer sweet figs to the Boy,
Tampatamta, bring a tray full of raisins,
Tampatamta, and sweet figs to the Boy.
II
What can we give to the beautiful Child?
What can we give the Beloved of Mary?
Raisins and walnuts and olives and honey,
Sweetly ripe figs and fresh cheese that is mild.
Tampatamta, walnuts, olives and honey,
Tampatamta and fresh cheese that is mild.
III
What can we sing Him? A song of great beauty?
What if we sing as those angels above?
“Peace and goodwill to the sons of the morning,
Glory and praise to the Author of Love.”
Tampatamta, all ye sons of the morning,
Tampatamta, praise the Author of Love!
Tampatamta, praise the Author of Love!
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I would love to hear your choir perform this piece! Please consider sending me a recording, photos, a copy of your program, or a link to your performance at ryan@choirworks.com.
With your permission, I may share selected recordings, photos, or performance information through Choirworks’ website and social media to help introduce your ensemble to other singers and conductors—and to help other choirs discover this piece. Thank you for giving this work a life beyond the page!