One of the more interesting selections we'll be highlighting
during Christmastide is Quanno nascette ninno (When the babe was born) a
pastoral or shepherds' song in the Neapolitan dialect from southern
Italy. The melody is known in English as the Carol of the Bagpipers, and from its original use among the zampognari of southern Italy it has also become a favorite of Celtic bagpipers as well.
The lyrics were written by St. Alphonsus Liguori, who served as bishop of Naples, and the song served as the inspiration for the better-known Italian Christmas carol Tu scendi dalle stelle.
