Nino Lindo for Flute, Marimba, Celtic (Lever) Harp, and Guitar

Niño Lindo ("Lovely Baby Boy") Christmas Folk Song of Venezuela Setting by James Siddons for Flute, Marimba, Celtic Harp, and Guitar (2025) The PDF file sold here has the full score and all four parts. "Niño Lindo" is a folk song of Venezuela that depicts the manger scene at Christmas. It may be translated as: Lovely baby boy, I kneel before you. You are my God. You have heavenly beauty, and are immaculate as God. I offer you my life and soul joyously as I kneel before you. Adios, dear little child. Adios, sweet One. Adios. Lovely baby boy, I kneel before you. You are my God. PROGRAM NOTE This setting of "Niño Lindo" interprets the words of the folk song and the actions of the children as suggested by the words. The program follows this narrative: It is Christmas in a quiet village. A guitar, marimba, and other instruments are heard making music in the square. Inside the nearby church, a manger scene is lit by candles. In the distance, children are heard singing, "Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo . . ." Soon all the village children are in the square, and then they enter the church to sing their praise and adoration to the Christ child. Ending with a farewell of "Adios," they leave the church. As they come outside, suddenly, a brilliant star shines over their heads with a burst of melody. The star fades, and the village is again quiet at Christmas time. PERFORMANCE NOTE As chamber music, no conductor is required, but is optional. Of the four instruments, the marimba sets the tempo and marks the beats. The glissandi in the marimba and harp parts should not be quick and zing-like but slow and mellow as possible. The sixteenth-notes in the concluding measures (86 to end) depict the stars on Christmas Eve. The speed of the guitar tremolos may vary as the performer sees fit. The technique is to pick the lower note of the tremolo once with the thumb, then pick repeatedly the upper note with three fingers. This composition is effective in candle-light services on Christmas Eve, or anytime in Advent and Epiphany, as well as recital performance. An earlier version of this work (without marimba) was performed by Shonda Roberts (flute). Susan Carol (Celtic harp), and Dr. Michael Brennan (guitar) in 2025.