Track 2 - Le Tre Sorelle

The field recording that inspired the arrangement:

This is a popular story that is found throughout Italy in many folk traditions (and even in France). Each region seems to have their own regional take with each region’s idiocentric characteristics shining through. The beginning half is the version found on the Lomax field recordings and the second half is a version that I found from an old LP that seems to have stood the test of time and become one of the more popular version around Italy.

This is one of the first compositions that was written for Alla Boara. It just so happens to be my daughter’s favorite. During my research we would listen to this one together often, singing it together. I used to sing it to her when she was little to help her fall asleep at night. I was so captivated by this beautifully simplistic melody and it’s unique form that I wanted to make sure that, throughout the composition, the innocence and whimsicalness of it was kept consistently throughout. The penultimate section goes into an 11/8 that features the percussive and textural work of the one and only Jamey Haddad.

Original Lyrics:

Erano tre sorelle, sulla riviera del mar

Rosina la più bella, si mise a navigar 2x

A navigando un giorno, sulla riviera del mar

levandosi le mani, l’anello cade nel mar 2x

Alzando,gli Occhi al Cielo vidi 'na stella brillar

bassando gl'occhi al cielo lei vid' un pescator 2x

O pescatore dell' Onda venitte qui a pescar 

pescate'il mio anello che mi'è caduto nel mar 2x

Se te lo troveria Che cosa doni a me? 

ti dono tre cento scudi nel borsa ricamà 2x

Non voglio tre cento scudi nel borsa ricamà 

Voglio un bacino d'amore se me lo vuoi dona 2x

Cosa diran la gente al veder noi baciar 

Diran che c'è l'amore l'amor l'ha fatto far 2x

Approximate translation:

There were three sisters along the seashore

Rosina, the most beautiful, went sailing 2x

And sailing one day, along the seashore,

She raised her hands and lost her ring in the sea 2x

Raising her eyes to heaven, she saw the star shining

lowering her eyes to the waves, she saw a fisherman 2x

Oh fisherman on the waters, come fish over here

fish up my ring that fell into the see 2x

If I fish it up for you what will you give me?

I’ll give you three hundred scudi from my purse 2x

I don’t want three hundred scudi from your purse

I want true love’s kiss if you would give it to me 2x

What will the people say when they see us kiss?

They will say that there is love, love made them do it 2x