Wednesday 23 December 2009
Tune of the Day: Fum, Fum, Fum
Traditional Catalan Christmas carol
This is a traditional Catalan Christmas carol that could date back to the Renaissance era. It is one of the few popular ones of Spanish origin in the English-speaking world.
One often speculates about what the “Fum, Fum, Fum” represents here. Some have asserted it is onomatopoeic in that it is the imitation of the strumming sound of a guitar, while some other mention a similarity to the tapping of a drum. Whether it represents the sound of a musical instrument or not, it does give a rhythmic and colorful character to this charming carol. The melody's lively, festive manner has even moved some to suggest that “Fum” in the text should be replaced by “Fun”, so spirited and joyful is the music.