SKU: A0.726138

Riu, Riu, Chiu is a villancico (carol) attributed to Mateo Flecha the Elder (1481-1553), a Catalonian composer and cathedral music director of the Renaissance era.

Flecha (Catalan: Mateu Flexta) was well-known for his ensaladas (literally, salads - works for four or five voices - and villancicos, a type of popular song in the vernacular (common language). Orignally a secular genre, villancicos gained popularity in the second half of the 16th century as a religious song form. Devotional villancicos, which were often intended to teach and reinforce theological principles, became very popular in the 17th century and continued in popularity until the decline of the genre in the 18th-19th centuries.

Riu, Riu, Chiu is a lesson in Catholic doctrine on the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary and the Incarnation of Christ the Redeemer.

This arrangement presents four of the carol's seven verses as well as the refrain that opens the song and is repeated between verses.

With engaging rhythms, clever harmonizations, and lively percussion, this arrangement is an ideal change-of-pace for any Christmas music program and a showcase for your ensemble.