Alepun - A Spanish Christmas Carol

December 9, 1992

Choral (more like this)

Unison Treble Choir and Organ

Organ

00:03:10

Moderately Easy

Advent, Christmas, Lessons and Carols

Spanish Carol, tr. Eleanor Walker

Alepun

English, with the Spanish refrain "alepun"

Unknown

Mary rides the mountain pathway, alepun.
Through the dark and mist of Judah's night, alepun.

Alepun, ale-alepun,
Alepun, ale-alepun,
Alepun, alepun!

Birds sing out in expectation, alepun.
While the sparkling waters ring with laughter, alepun.

Refrain

Good Saint Joseph guides the donkey, alepun.
While the infant sleeps 'neath Mary's heart, alepun.

Refrain

We are waiting for our Lady, alepun.
For the dawning of our Savior's birth, alepun.

Refrain

(Note: each line is sung twice.)

Text Copyright © Grail Singers, Loveland, Ohio, 45140.

The record, Grailville Sings, by the Grail Singers, Loveland, Ohio, 45140.

Choristers Guild

1993

CGA 657

In 2000, this anthem was published by SK-Gehrmans Musikförlag, Stockholm with a Swedish translation of the English text: SKS Körmusik NR 264.

For Eileen Farrell and the Children's Choirs of Saint Rita Catholic Community, Dallas, TX. Premiered December 15, 1992 at Saint Rita with the forces and conductor mentioned above and the composer at the organ.

This was composed for the Children's Choirs of Saint Rita Catholic Community, Dallas, TX, for our first Christmas Lessons and Carols with the new Bedient pipe organ. This was a very exciting time in the musical life of the parish, as well as in my own compositional activity — finally I had a pipe organ to inspire new music!

The accompaniment featured several of the colorful stops on the French-inspired instrument, including the Vox humana (listed in the published anthem as "Light Reed (Regal) 8' ", and the various Cornet combinations possible on the Grand Orgue division. Eileen Farrell — not the "famous" singer, but another great mezzo of note! — was directing our choirs that year, and brought me a hand-written transcription of the melody and text of this charming folksong from a very old LP entitled Grailville Sings, by the Grail Singers, Loveland, Ohio. While obtaining permission to use the text, I spoke to Janet Kalven at Grailville who told me that some student from Mexico had brought this and taught this to them and that it was later recorded on this early LP record — 1944.

The anthem works very well with multiple choirs, as the first singing of each line can be by a smaller group of choristers, with all repeating and singing the refrain. It is also fun to hear the character of the girls' and boys' voices separately. I indicated my preference for this manner of singing in the published score.

I originally used our Rossignol (bird song) stop for a few places in the piece ("Birds sing out…" and a couple refrains). The published version mentions using tambourine, but I'd rather not!

This is one of my best-selling anthems of all time, and I am always thrilled when some chorister comes up to me and says how much fun they had singing it.

By the way, no one really knows what "Alepun" means. I put the following note in the Choristers Guild octavo, which was derived from a note on the text sheet of the original LP:

"Alepun (pronounced Ah-le-POON) is a Spanish word of unknown origin and meaning whose repetition may suggest the trotting hoofs or jingling bells of the donkey as it made its way to Bethlehem."

In 2000, this anthem was published by SK-Gehrmans Musikförlag, Stockholm with a Swedish translation of the English text: SKS Körmusik NR 264.

"Joel Martinson's two unison carol settings are the best from Choristers Guild in this batch. Through the simple expedients of dividing children's voices by sex (boy/girl) and of writing imaginatively for the organ, fine effects are had by relatively inexperienced singers. Both are recommended."

— The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians, October 1995

"Here is a newly published composer on the rise! Mr. Martinson, Director of Music at Saint Rita Catholic Community in Dallas, sets this Spanish Christmas carol using only one Spanish word, Alepun. It is a word whose repetition may suggest the trotting hoofs or jingling bells of the donkey as it made its way to Bethlehem. The excellent translation by Eleanor Walker and the rhythmic, driving accompaniment make this piece an excellent addition to any choir library. The carol is in verse refrain form, with a simple melody. The anthem is part of a series entitled 'We Sing the World Round.' "

— Pastoral Music Notebook, published by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, July 1995