Tu scendi dalle stelle facts for kids
Tu scendi dalle stelle (which means "From Starry Skies Thou Comest" or "You Come Down from the Stars") is a famous Christmas carol from Italy. It was written in 1732 by Saint Alphonsus Liguori in a musical style called a pastorale.
This song is sung all over the world, but it is especially connected to the zampogna. This is a large type of Italian bagpipes.
History of the Song
The music and words for this hymn were created by Alphonsus Liguori. He was an important priest from Naples and a smart thinker. He later became a saint. Alphonsus Liguori also started a group of missionaries called the Redemptorists.
In 1732, he was staying in a small city called Deliceto in southeastern Italy. There, he wrote this Christmas song. He first wrote it in the Neapolitan language, calling it Quanno nascette Ninno (meaning "When the child was born"). People sometimes called this the "Carol of the Bagpipers."
After that, he wrote the Italian version, "You come down from the stars." This Italian song quickly became a very popular Christmas carol all over Italy.
English Versions
The song has been translated into English many times. Some translations sound like the old King James Bible. There are also more modern English versions.
Song Lyrics
Here are the first two parts of the song, in both Italian and English:
1. Tu scendi dalle stelle,
O Re del Cielo,
e vieni in una grotta,
al freddo e al gelo.
O Bambino mio Divino
Io ti vedo qui a tremar,
O Dio Beato
Ahi, quanto ti costò
l'avermi amato!
2. A te, che sei del mondo
il Creatore,
mancano panni e fuoco;
O mio Signore!
Caro eletto Pargoletto,
Quanto questa povertà
più mi innamora!
Giacché ti fece amor
povero ancora!
1. From starry skies descending,
Thou comest, glorious King,
A manger low Thy bed,
In winter's icy sting;
O my dearest Child most holy,
Shudd'ring, trembling in the cold!
Great God, Thou lovest me!
What suff'ring Thou didst bear,
That I near Thee might be!
2. Thou art the world's Creator,
God's own and true Word,
Yet here no robe, no fire
For Thee, Divine Lord.
Dearest, fairest, sweetest Infant,
Dire this state of poverty.
The more I care for Thee,
Since Thou, O Love Divine,
Will'st now so poor to be.
Different Music Versions
Many musicians have used or changed the tune of "Tu scendi dalle stelle."
- The famous composer Domenico Scarlatti used the tune in one of his sonatas.
- Ottorino Respighi also used it in his piece called Trittico botticelliano.
- Anthony Velona and Remo Capra created an English version called "O Bambino." Several singers recorded this version in the 1960s.
- Italian-American singer Sergio Franchi recorded the traditional Italian version. He also made a slightly updated version on his 1965 album The Heart of Christmas.
- Modern composers like Piero Niro and Ralph Woodward have also created their own versions of the carol.
See also
In Spanish: Tu scendi dalle stelle para niños
