Santo (Tanguillos) from the Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco Peña’s 1991 album Misa Flamenca (English: a Flamenco Mass), which contains Peña’s compositions and his original concept for a flamenco Mass sprang from the desire to unite the Catholic perception of the religious Mass to flamenco musical tradition.

Paco Peña – Misa Flamenca – 06 – Santo (Tanguillos)

From Paco Peña’s web site:

Paco Peña’s original concept for a flamenco Mass sprang from the desire to unite the Catholic perception of the religious Mass to flamenco musical tradition: a flamenco artist is raised with both, and both evoke the same intangible sentiments within the artist. On one hand, the Mass is a vehicle for people to reach God and places them in a spiritual state that helps them to achieve communion with Him; it is a spiritual act and is also highly emotional.”

On the other hand, flamenco is also an art form, charged with emotional content which, in a genuine delivery, goes beyond the merely physical action of singing and touches “spiritual” levels. Therefore, these two expressions of religious Mass and flamenco singing have the potential of achieving a very powerful emotional experience (almost touching a trance-like state).

Paco’s initial approach to the composition of the Mass was to adapt the Spanish Catholic Mass set texts, which he took to the Bishop of Córdoba whose approval was received for the new version.

Paco then used his vast knowledge of flamenco tradition and flamenco forms in order to choose the most effective and appropriate settings for the words. The flamenco elements in the Mass are, in some instances, given a classical treatment, thus achieving a musical effect that can be appreciated by a broader spectrum of listeners.

In addition to a basic group of flamenco artists (male and female singers, guitarists, and a percussionist) the Mass includes a choir of a minimum of 20 voices. It has also been performed with a male dancer in concert.

This emotional mixture of the Catholic mass and the different flamenco forms, joined by a classical choir, took the musical world by storm.

Santo Lyrics

In Spanish “santo” means literally saint, from Late Latin sanctus.

Spanish

Santo, santo
santo es el Señor,
ay, ay, ay.
Santo, santo
santo es el Señor.

Dios del universo
Dios del cielo
que llenos están los cielos
y la tierra de tu gloria
hosanna en el cielo
santo es el Señor.

[refrain] x2

Hosanna en el cielo
hosanna en el cielo
bendito sea el que viene
en el nombre del Señor
hosanna en el cielo
santo es el Señor.

[refrain] x3

English translation (Google translate)

Holy, holy
holy Lord,
ay, ay, ay.
Holy, holy
holy is the Lord.

God of the universe
God of heaven
that the heavens are filled
and the land of thy glory
hosanna in the sky
holy is the Lord.

[refrain] x2

Hosanna in the sky
hosanna in the sky
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord
hosanna in the sky
holy is the Lord.

[refrain] x3

M. Özgür Nevres

Published by M. Özgür Nevres

I am Özgür Nevres, a software engineer, a former road racing cyclist, and also an amateur musician. I opened andantemoderato.com to share my favorite music. I also take care of stray cats & dogs. This website's all income goes directly to our furry friends. Please consider supporting me on Patreon, so I can help more animals!

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