Angelček varuh moj

English translation:

My little guardian angel,
watch over me tonight,
watch over me tonight,
my little angel.

For God is my creator,
He brought me into this world,
and God, please grant me too,
to live through this night.

You will stand beside me,
you will keep me safe,
while I will dream
quietly next to you.

(Holy Guardian Angel mine,
be with me at all times.
Stand beside me night and day,
keep all evil far away.
From my heart I pray to thee,
guide me, guard me, stay with me.
Amen.)

My little guardian angel,
watch over me tonight,
watch over me tonight,
my little angel.

Angelček varuh moj is a Slovenian folk song traditionally sung as a farewell song after social gatherings, most often performed in simple folk harmonies, with singers standing together in a circle. I arranged it for the special collaboration between Ingenium and VOCES8, experiencing one of the most emotional moments in my career.

In Slovenian folk singing tradition, one voice begins, a second joins in parallel thirds or sixths, and a third adds support with a simple bass line. This layering is reflected in both the opening and closing sections of this arrangement.

The second verse is sung by a male quartet, paying tribute to Slovenia’s rich tradition of male close-harmony singing. The third verse is entrusted to a soprano solo, continuing with alto in a duet, while the well-known bedtime prayer Sveti angel varuh moj (Angel of God) is gently recited in harmony by the lower voices. The final verse returns to the opening motif, expanded on a larger scale to bring the piece to its musical climax, before a simple reprise of the introduction provides a peceful, contemplative conclusion.