Se, på vår tröskel står, vitklädd med ljus i hår, Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
This sentimental melody originated in 19th Century Naples as a barcarolle or ‘boatman’s song’ and was popularised in the 20th Century by the great Neapolitan Tenor, Caruso. For our Scandinavian, Baltic and Mediterranean neighbours (as well as Scandinavian communities around the world), it has become the anthem for the annual festival of light, marking the shortest day, which has taken place for many centuries.
The highlight of the modern Santa Lucia celebration is the procession of candle-bearing choristers, clad in white robes. Traditionally, the girl chosen to represent Santa Lucia leads the procession with a crown of burning candles (or lights) in her hair.Officially, Santa Lucia day is the 13th December and church services take place on the nearest Sunday.
For many Santa Lucia has become an integral part of the Christmas Season. In Sweden it is accompanied by delicious saffron buns (lussekatter), sweets for children (godis), pepper-cookies (peppar kakar), dancing and traditional folk songs. Anyone who has witnessed the Sankta Lucia procession and festivities will know what a magical time this is.
Då i vårt mörka hus, stiger med tända ljus, Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
To give our harp-playing Santa Lucia party animals time to prepare for the big occasion, here’s the tab and sound clip (played on a C major diatonic). To reproduce the melody more faithfully, you need the 5 hole overblow necessary to provide an F# on your C major harp. We have tabbed the overblow alternative in brackets for those that can.
As an alternative, a Lee Oskar Melody Maker in G would instantly overcome this problem. F# is now in 5 draw, and F natural becomes the 5 draw bend. No we haven’t gone nuts – the key labelled on Melody Makers is based on playing in Cross Harp (2nd position). We have tabbed everything out below. Listen to the sound clip to familiarise yourself with the melody, grab a candle and some white robes, and go for it! Har det så bra, as they say in the frozen north.
C major diatonic 1st position
6B 6B 7B..7B 7D..7D
5D 5D 6D..6D 6B..6B
5B 6D 6B..6B 5D..5D [5B 6D 6B..6B 5B+..5D]
5D 5B 4D..6D 6B
8B 8D 7B 7D..6D 8D
8D 7B 6D 6D..6B 7B [8D 7B 6D 5B+..6B 7B ]
8B 7B..7B 6B..6B 5B..5D 8D
8D 6D
7D 8D 7B
G major Lee Oskar Melody Maker 1st position
6B 6B 7B..7B 7D..7D
5D’ 5D’ 6D..6D 6B..6B
5B 6D 6B..6B 5D..5D’
5D’ 5B 4D..6D 6B
8B 8D 7B 7D..6D 8D
8D 7B 6D 5D..6B 7B
8B 7B..7B 6B..6B 5B..5D’ 8D
8D 6D
7D 8D 7B
If you have somebody to accompany you, here is the chord progression
C G7 G7 C
A7 Dm G7 C
C Dm
G7 C
C G7
G7 C
Go on girls – give it large..
