Se Canta

Infobox Anthem
title = Se Canta
english_title = If it Sings
alt_title = Se Chanto
alt_title_2 = Aqueras Montanhas
alt_title_3 = Aqueras Montinas


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prefix = Regional
country = Occitania
author = Gaston III Fébus
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"Se Canta" (regional alternative titles: "Se Chanta"; "Se Chanto"; "Aqueras Montanhas"; "Aqueras Montinas") is an anthem associated with Occitania. It is also a very old popular song, known all over Occitania. It would have been written by Gaston III Fébus (1331-1391), Count of Foix and Bearn.

It has an official status in Aran Valley (a comarca in Spain) with the title "Aqueras Montanhas".

Se Canta is a very important part of Occitan culture and most Occitan people identify with it. As such it's often been regarded as the unofficial anthem of all Occitania and most people living in that region will know the occitan words to the first verse and chorus even if they are not native occitan speakers themselves.

Notable occasions on which it has been sung include the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin on 10 February 2006 (by L'Ange Gardien Chorus), and in the French National Assembly on 3 June 2003 (by Jean Lassalle, in protest at a perceived slight on the Pyrenean village of Urdos by Minister of the Interior Nicolas Sarkozy).

Lyrics

The lyrics of the song are in the Occitan language. Several versions of the anthem are attested; that presented here is among the oldest ones.

tandardized Occitan text with current spelling

Dejós ma fenèstra I a un auselon Tota la nuèch canta, Canta sa cançon	Outside my window There is a little bird Singing all night Singing its song.
Chorus Se canta, que cante, Canta pas per ieu, Canta per ma mia Qu'es al luènh de ieu.	If it sings, let it sing It's not singing for me It sings for my love Who's far away from me.
Aquelas montanhas Que tan nautas son, M'empachan de veire Mas amors ont son.	Those mountains That are so high Keep me from seeing Where my love has gone.
Baissatz-vos, montanhas Planas, auçatz-vos Per que pòsca veire Mas amors ont son.	Lay down, o mountains And rise up, o plains So I may see Where my love has gone.
Aquelas montanhas Tant s'abaissaràn, Que mas amoretas Se raprocharàn.	Those mountains Will lay down so low That my lost love Will get closer.

Uncodified Occitan version with a French-based writing

Debat ma fenestro At oun auselou Touto la ney canto, Canto sa cansou	Outside my window there is a little bird singing all night singing his song
Chorus Se canto que canto, Canto pas per you, Canto per ma mio Qu'ès alen de you.	He sings and he sings doesn't sing for me he sings for my love who's far away from me
Aqeros mountagnos Que tan hautes soun, M'empéchoun de beyre Mas amours oun soun.	Those mountains that are so high keep me from seeing where my love is gone
Bassasbous, mountagnos Planos, aoussasbous Per que posqui beyre Mas amour oun soun.	lay down mountains and rise up plains so i can see where my love is gone
Aqeros mountagnos Tan s'abacheran, Et mas amourettos Se rapproucharan.	these mountains down will lay and my lost love closer will get

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF01VE9yqlY Video with translated lyrics]
* [http://mtcn.free.fr/mtcn-traditional-music-midi-popular-song.php#se_canto Score, MIDI file and lyrics]