Introduction to Smitty's Music Page

Smitty is a newcomer to music. Because of his involvement with the Spanish Hymnal Project at the First Unitarian Church in San José, California, he began taking music classes at Hartnell College in Salinas: including Music Fundamentals, Electronic Music, Piano, Harmony and Musicianship. He is still somewhat amazed that he has survived. In his First Year Harmony class with Dr. Christensen, he has had to compose some songs assigned as final projects or as class assignments (where he has harmonized figured bass).

• Pájaro, pájaro

  A Unitarian hymn in Spanish in which a bird symbolizes the freedom and boldness of the Spirit, a bird whose song may bring justice and peace. Smitty wrote both the words and the music. More verses need to be written before it is included in the Spanish hymnal.

• La muerte todo llena de agujeros

  For this song, Smitty has set to music a sonnet written by the Spanish poet Miguel Hernández (1910-1942). The music in C minor is intended to emphasize the poem's sad mood.

Efraín Herrera Hanson is the pseudonym Smitty has used as a translator of hymns for the Spanish Language Hymnal Project of the First Unitarian Church in San Jose. A complete list of the hymns in the Hymnal is available at the website Cantando la tradición viva. The specific hymns Efraín translated include:

7. De ti yo recibo is a translation of the hymn From You I Receive, To You I Givewas made in collaboration with Rev. Lilia Cuervo.
8. Hava Nashira The second verse is a Spanish translation of the original Hebrew of the first verse.
15. Madre esencia, padre esencia is a translation of the famous Czech Unitarian hymn Mother Spirit, Father Spirit. The version which appears here is a revised translation that will eventually replace the one presently in the San José Church's hymnal.
16. Busca calma is a translation of the Transylvanian hymn Find a Stillness.
17. Ha roto el alba is one of two different translations of Eleanor Farjeon's beautiful Morning Has Broken, in the Spanish hymnal.
19. Cantemos, sí: Reverend Lilia Cuervo and Efraín collaborated on this translation of Now Let Us Sing. The version which appears in the hymnal is entitled Cantemos ya; but it will be replaced by this revised translation.
22. Oh tierra, fuego, agua y aire is a translation of the very brief The Earth, Water, Fire, Air.
25. Día ya es is another very short song, Morning Has Come,which is meant to be sung as a round.
36. Kum ba yah was a very easy translation for Efraín to make, as he alternates between Africaans and Spanish.
39. Que nos abramos a esta luz is translated from the U.U. Musicians Network song May We Be Open to This Light.
42. De mares y albas de oro is the second version of Ralph Waldo Emerson's We Sing of Golden Mornings. It will eventually replace the one that now exists in the Spanish hymnal. The differences between the two versions are slight.
45. Nos hemos reunido is a translation of We Gather Together.
57. Unidos ya en el misterio de la hora: Efraín is particularly pleased that he was able to make this translation of Gathered Here. In order to make the Spanish version, he had to alter the music somewhat, and he would appreciate comments on this adaptation.
58. Llevé mi espíritu al mar is a translation of the hauntingly beautiful I Brought My Spirit to the Sea.
77. Decoremos con acebo is a Spanish adaptation of the old Welsh Yuletime carol Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly.
77. Lleva la llama is a translation of Carry the Flame.

Smitty's Music Links

• Hartnell College Music Department
• 3XR My classmate, Jose Garza, is in this Christian band. It's a pretty cool website, especially if you have flash and a fast connection.
• El Rincón Musical Peruano
• 10,000 Volkslieder, German and Other Folksongs
• Maná, el sitio oficial de Maná