ALABARÉ

Composer: José Pagán

Composer: Manuel José Alonso

José Pagán-Lopez (b. Fortuna, Murcia, Spain, 1916) composed ALABARE in the style of a folk song; the short phrases, the singing in parallel thirds, and the rhythmic style are clearly Hispanic in flavor. Make use of the little echo phrases in the refrain. The accompaniment is for piano or guitar; hand clapping or other light percussion (tambourine) may be added on the refrain. Sing ALABARE at a joyful tempo, perhaps with solo or group on the fast-moving text of the stanzas, but with all on the refrain. English-speaking congregations can easily learn to sing (at least) the refrain in Spanish; "Alabaré" fits the melodic rhythm much better than "Alleluia." (Note: Be sure to warn unfamiliar singers that this song covers three pages in the Psalter Hymnal.)

Pagán-Lopez was professor of harmony at the Higher Royal Conservatory of Music of Madrid for eighteen years and cofounder of the Association for the Promotion of Religious Music, for which he served as national secretary and later, treasurer. He has composed music for the cinema and documentaries for television, directed several recording projects, and published a variety of compositions.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1987

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Sing and Rejoice!: new hymns for congregations (1979), p.4