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Classical Sprouts: Venezuelan Cow Milking Song

Cows standing in a grass field

Have you ever thought about what kind of music a cow might like to listen to when it’s being milked?

Perhaps the Venezuelan folk song, Tonadas de Ordeño? That means “milking tunes” in Spanish!

It’s originally by Venezuelan composer Simon Diaz and was famously performed by the Venezuelan singer, Soledad Bravo, and it’s meant to be sung when milking cows to calm them down!

Kate Botello performing 'Tonadas de Ordeño' on guitar

Our host, Kate has a special connection to it, and played her own version of it for us!

What's her connection to it?

Her father, Luis, used to sing it to her when she was a child as a lullaby!

But how did he first learn it?

When he was a child, he would help milk cows on his uncle's cattle ranch, and they'd sing this together when they were working!

As you listen to the lyrics of the song, try and pick out the names of some of the cows!

First, there’s the cow named Mariposa, which means butterfly, then there’s Nube de Agua, which means Water Cloud, and finally, the cow named Clavelito, which means little yellow flower.

'Tonadas de Ordeño' - Kate Botello

Watch and listen to Kate's performance, and listen to the full episode for the story behind the song, Luis telling us about working on his uncle's ranch, and more!

Tonadas de Ordeño - Kate Botello.mp4

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Classical Sprouts is produced by Emily Duncan Wilson.

Kate Botello is a host and producer at Classical IPR.
Emily Duncan Wilson is IPR's digital content manager and is the producer of "Classical Sprouts" and "Kids Commute".