This song was what kindled my love of medieval music. Some friends had the album but it was around 1968 & I couldn't find another copy of it. Years later, I was rummaging through a record store's sales bin. I picked up an album with the back facing me and saw a song listed as Riu Riu. I decided to take a chance and buy it since it was so cheap. It was the song I loved, all right, but the album was "Medieval Roots" by Pro Musica and I fell in love with the rest of the songs on it.
Wow, this tune must have really been making the rounds of medieval Spain.
If you do a YouTube search for the title "Fa La La Lan", you'll hear a secular version in the Ladino dialect (spoken by the Sephardim, i.e. the Jews of Spain) about a shepherd boy.
@windsingerbard - thanks, wings! I'll look for that version. Myuploads here are generally for use in articles for my blog, and I have some great versions on this song there. If you do a Google search for "Comparative Video 101 riu riu chiu" you'll find it - and I'll add "Fa La La lan" if I can find it.
I knew this song many years before I heard anyone else sing it. Love the album cover with bassist David "Buck" Wheat looking jealous with his Arkansas flyer while the Trio is going around the world! The liner notes say it is a 15th century villancico in archaic Spanish.
This song was what kindled my love of medieval music. Some friends had the album but it was around 1968 & I couldn't find another copy of it. Years later, I was rummaging through a record store's sales bin. I picked up an album with the back facing me and saw a song listed as Riu Riu. I decided to take a chance and buy it since it was so cheap. It was the song I loved, all right, but the album was "Medieval Roots" by Pro Musica and I fell in love with the rest of the songs on it.
PeggyPScott 2 days ago
Wow, this tune must have really been making the rounds of medieval Spain.
If you do a YouTube search for the title "Fa La La Lan", you'll hear a secular version in the Ladino dialect (spoken by the Sephardim, i.e. the Jews of Spain) about a shepherd boy.
I recommend any version sung by Owain Phyfe. :)
windsingerbard 2 months ago
@windsingerbard - thanks, wings! I'll look for that version. Myuploads here are generally for use in articles for my blog, and I have some great versions on this song there. If you do a Google search for "Comparative Video 101 riu riu chiu" you'll find it - and I'll add "Fa La La lan" if I can find it.
CompVid101 2 months ago
I knew this song many years before I heard anyone else sing it. Love the album cover with bassist David "Buck" Wheat looking jealous with his Arkansas flyer while the Trio is going around the world! The liner notes say it is a 15th century villancico in archaic Spanish.
HeartoftheDragonColo 6 months ago
Also don't by big KT fans "MFQ" and "The Monkees",yes, A Capella by THOSE Monkees!
ThorStafford 7 months ago
Sang this once in a Christmas concert in a church choir. Like the KT's version a lot better!
ChicagoBeth1945 2 years ago
Brings back the memories. I have several recordings of this song; this is the most melodic of them.
XMLarry 2 years ago 3