Title of piece: “Credo” from La Misa Campesina Nicaragüense

Date of composition: 1974; album first recorded 1977.

Composer/Lyricist: Carlos Mejía Godoy

Performer/Instruments: Carlos Mejía Godoy and Los de Palacagüina: voice, folk fiddle, accordion and

Form: verse and chorus

Tempo/meter: moderate tempo of the song form son nica (quick triple meter)

*Primitivist art was cultivated in Solentiname and spurred a similar movement throughout much of Latin America.

**Compañero can mean comrade, and in other contexts pal, associate, etc. The author chooses this word both to sneak a political reference past government censors and to view Christ as accompanying people in a personal way, and not above them out of reach.

What to Listen for

  • Slightly delayed second of three beats of the son nica rhythm
  • The "squeaky" high pitched violin de talalate a folk fiddle from the northern hill region made from
    local talalate wood. It is a clear marker of campesino culture found in small fairly isolated villages. It
    is deliberately played rough edged, sometimes out of tune, in contrast with the careful playing of
    guitars and accordion
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