"Padre Nuestro/The Lord's Prayer"

TITLE: "Padre Nuestro/The Lord's Prayer"
AUTHOR: Based on Matthew 6:9-13 (Spanish trans. Carlos Rosas; English adapt. Dean McIntyre)
TUNE: PADRE NUESTRO
COMPOSER: Carlos Rosas
SOURCE: Worship & Song, no. 3069
SOURCE: Mil Voces Para Celebrar: Himnario Metodista, no. 130
SOURCE: Upper Room Worshipbook, no. 456
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:9-13
TOPIC: Lord's Prayer; prayer; bread; daily bread; debts; eternal life; forgiveness; heaven; Kingdom of God

Background

Carlos Rosas is a pioneering expert in Hispanic sacred music. He was born in Linares, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, on November 4, 1939, and began studies in music and liturgy there at age twelve. He attended Seminario Arquidiocesano de Monterrey, Mexico (1951-58); Instituto de Liturgia, Musica y Arte Cardenal Dario Miranda, Mexico City; San Antonio College; and the Mexican American Cultural Center of San Antonio.

Rosas has directed choirs in Mexico and the United States, and he conducts music and worship workshops throughout the USA. His positions have included director of music and liturgy coordinator at the Mexican American Cultural Center, San Antonio (1976-80); choir director at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio; coordinator of base Christian communities for the Diocese of Phoenix; director of Hispanic ministry for the Diocese of Baker in Bend, Oregon; and director of music and liturgy coordinator for Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Laredo, Texas.

Rosas has said that two experiences inspire his music: biblical reflection and liturgical celebration. "The two go together," he says, "feeding and enhancing one another."

Rosas' song "Cantemos al Señor" and his original tune ROSAS are included at number 149 in The United Methodist Hymnal (1989). He lives with his wife Maria Teresa in San Antonio.

"Padre Nuestro/The Lord's Prayer" would be an excellent song to teach to the congregation and sing throughout Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15--October 15). Be sure to include the children and youth.

Words

The Spanish text is the composer's translation of the familiar words of the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, adapted back to English by Dean McIntyre.

Music

Rosas has set his version of The Lord's Prayer in a set of stanzas, using the opening of the prayer as a refrain between stanzas. While this structure may lend itself to a call-and-response or leader-people pattern, it is the nature of The Lord's Prayer that the people should sing throughout. There is wide variety in the number of syllables per phrase, both in the Spanish stanzas and between the Spanish and English, but none of them are difficult to learn or sing. The melody line is simple, as are the harmonies.

The simple and appealing version in the Worship & Song Accompaniment Edition is arranged by Raquel Mora Martinez. The accompaniment works equally well with guitar or keyboard and is greatly enhanced with the addition of shakers, claves, and other hand percussion instruments.

Guitar Friendly Chords

The entire song consists of the familiar I-vi-ii-V progression. Guitarists can use Capo 3 and the chords
D – Bm – Em7 – A7.

Sources

• Heartbeat Records website
• Young, Carlton. Companion to The United Methodist Hymnal. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1993.

See more Hymn Studies.