Fleeting songs

Translations © by Thomas A. Gregg

Song Cycle by Samuel Barber (1910 - 1981)

View original-language texts alone: Mélodies passagères

1. Puisque tout passe
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Puisque tout passe, faisons
la mélodie passagère ;
celle qui nous désaltère,
aura de nous raison.

Chantons ce qui nous quitte
avec amour et art ;
soyons plus vite
que le rapide départ.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
1. Since all is passing
Language: English 
Since all is passing,
Let us make a passing melody.
The one that quenches our thirst
Will be right for us.

Let us sing what leaves us
With love and art;
Let us be quicker
Than the quick departure.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2010 by Thomas A. Gregg, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2010-11-15
Line count: 8
Word count: 39

Translation © by Thomas A. Gregg
2. Un cygne
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Un cygne avance sur l'eau 
tout entouré de lui-même, 
comme un glissant tableau;
ainsi à certains instants
un être que l'on aime 
est tout un espace mouvant.

Il se rapproche, doublé, 
comme ce cygne qui nage,
sur notre âme troublée...
qui à cet être ajoute 
la tremblante image
de bonheur et de doute.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
2.
[Translation not yet available]
3. Tombeau dans un parc
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Dors au fond de l'allée,
tendre enfant, sous la dalle,
on fera le chant de l'été
autour de ton intervalle.

Si une blanche colombe
passait au vol là-haut,
je n'offrirais à ton tombeau
que son ombre qui tombe.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
3. Grave in a park
Language: English 
    (in a park)
Sleep at the end of the avenue,
Tender child, under the flagstone,
one will make a song of summer
around your interval.

If a white dove
passes in flight above,
I would offer upon your tomb
only his shadow that falls.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2010 by Thomas A. Gregg, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2010-11-15
Line count: 9
Word count: 47

Translation © by Thomas A. Gregg
4. Le clocher chante
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Mieux qu'une tour profane,
je me chauffe pour mûrir mon carillon.
Qu'il soit doux, qu'il soit bon
aux Valaisannes.

Chaque dimanche, ton par ton,
je leur jette ma manne;
qu'il soit bon, mon carillon,
aux Valaisannes.

Qu'il soit doux, qu'il soit bon;
samedi soir dans les channes
tombe en gouttes mon carillon
aux Valaisans des Valaisannes.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
4. The bell tower sings
Language: English 
Better than a secular tower,
I warm myself to ripen my carillon.
May it be sweet, may it be good
for the Valais girls.

Every Sunday, tone by tone,
I throw them my manna;
may it be good, my carillon
for the Valais girls.

May it be sweet, may it be good;
Saturday night into their beers
my carillon falls drop by drop
to the Valais boys of the Valais girls.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2010 by Thomas A. Gregg, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2010-11-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Thomas A. Gregg
5. Départ
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Mon amie, il faut que je parte.
Voulez-vous voir
l'endroit sur la carte?
C'est un point noir.
En moi, si la chose
bien me réussit, ce sera
un point rose 
dans un vert pays.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
5. Departure
Language: English 
My dear one, I must leave.
Do you want to see
the place on the map?
It is a black point.
In me, if the thing
succeeds, it will be
a red point
in a green land.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2010 by Thomas A. Gregg, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2010-11-15
Line count: 8
Word count: 37

Translation © by Thomas A. Gregg