Sept chants pour soprano et quatuor à cordes

Translations © by Guy Laffaille

Song Cycle by Adolf Weiss (1891 - 1971)

View original-language texts alone: Seven Songs for Soprano and String Quartet

1. Poets  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
I reckon - when I count at all -
First Poets - then the Sun -
Then Summer - then the
Heaven of God -
And then - the list is done -

But - looking back - the first so seems
To comprehend the whole -
The others look a needless show -
So I write - Poets - All.

This summer lasts a solid year -
They can afford a Sun
The East would deem
Extravagant -
And if the final Heaven -

Be Beautiful as they disclose
To those who trust in them,
It is too difficult a Grace -
To justify the dream.

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
1. Poètes
Language: French (Français) 
Je classe -- quand je compte tout --
En premier -- les Poètes -- Puis le Soleil --
Puis l'Été -- puis
le Paradis de Dieu --
Et puis -- la Liste est terminée

Mais -- revenant en arrière - les Premiers semblent tant
Comprendre le Tout --
Que les Autres ont l'air d'inutiles Parades --
Aussi j'écris -- Poètes -- c'est Tout.

Leur Été -- dure une Année pleine --
Ils peuvent offrir un Soleil
Que l'Est -- estimerait
extravagant --
Et si le Paradis final --

Est beau comme ils le montrent
À Ceux qui croient en eux,
C'est une Grâce trop difficile --
Pour justifier le Rêve.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2016 by Guy Laffaille, (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: 2016-12-31
Line count: 18
Word count: 90

Translation © by Guy Laffaille
2. A cemetery  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
This quiet Dust was Gentlemen and Ladies,
And Lads and Girls;
Was laughter and ability and sighing,
And frocks and curls.

This passive place a Summer's nimble mansion,
Where Bloom and Bees
Fulfilled their Oriental Circuit,
Then ceased like these.

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
2. Un cimetière
Language: French (Français) 
Cette Poussière tranquille était des Messieurs et des Dames,
Et des Garçons et des Filles ;
Était rire et compétence et Soupirs,
Et Robes et Boucles.

Cet endroit inerte était un château agité d'Été
Où Fleurs et Abeilles
Vivent un Circuit Oriental
Puis cessent, comme eux --

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2016 by Guy Laffaille, (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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Translations of title(s):
"A cemetery" = "Un cimetière"
"This quiet Dust" = "Cette Poussière tranquille"



This text was added to the website: 2016-12-27
Line count: 8
Word count: 45

Translation © by Guy Laffaille
3. The railway train  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
I like to see it lap the miles,
And lick the valleys up,
And stop to feed itself at tanks;
And then, prodigious, step

Around a pile of mountains,
And, supercilious, peer
In shanties by the sides of roads;
And then a quarry pare

To fit its [sides]1, and crawl between,
Complaining all the while
In horrid, hooting stanza;
Then chase itself down hill

And neigh like Boanerges;
Then, punctual as a star,
Stop - docile and omnipotent -
At its own stable door.

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1 Getty, Perle: "ribs"

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
3. Le chemin de fer
Language: French (Français) 
J'aime le voir avaler les Miles --
Et lécher le fond des Vallées --
Et s'arrêter pour se nourrir aux Réservoirs --
Et puis -- prodigieusement aller

Autour d'un Tas de Montagnes --
Et dédaigneusement regarder
Les cabanes -- au bord des Routes --
Et puis peler une Carrière 

Pour s'ajuster à ses côtés et ramper à travers
Se plaignant tout le temps 
En un couplet horrible -- de son sifflet --
Puis se pourchasser lui-même en descendant la Colline --

Et hennir comme Boanergès --
Puis -- plus à l'heure qu'une Étoile
S'arrêter -- docile et tout puissant
À la porte de son étable --

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2016 by Guy Laffaille, (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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Translations of title(s):
"The railway train" = "Le chemin de fer"
"I like to see it lap the miles" = "J'aime le voir avaler les Miles"



This text was added to the website: 2016-12-31
Line count: 16
Word count: 92

Translation © by Guy Laffaille
4. Chartless  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
I never saw a moor,
I never saw the sea;
Yet know I how the heather looks,
And what a wave must be.

I never spoke with God,
Nor visited in heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were given.

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
4. Sans ticket
Language: French (Français) 
Je n'ai jamais vu une Lande.
Je n'ai jamais vu la Mer --
Pourtant je sais comment est faite la Bruyère
Et comment est une Vague.

Je n'ai jamais parlé avec Dieu,
Ni visité le Paradis --
Pourtant je suis certaine de cet endroit
Comme si le ticket était donné --

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2016 by Guy Laffaille, (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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Translations of title(s):
"Chartless" = "Sans ticket"
"I never saw a moor" = "Je n'ai jamais vu une Lande"
"Revelation" = "Révélation"



This text was added to the website: 2016-12-31
Line count: 8
Word count: 48

Translation © by Guy Laffaille
5. Mysteries  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
The murmur of a bee
A witchcraft yieldeth me.
If any ask me why,
'T were easier to die
Than tell.

The red upon the hill
Taketh away my will;
If anybody sneer,
Take care, for God is here,
That's all.

The breaking of the day
Addeth to my degree;
If any ask me how,
Artist, who drew me so,
Must tell!

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
5. Mystères
Language: French (Français) 
Le murmure de l'abeille --
De la sorcellerie, cela me semble.
Si quelqu'un me demande « Pourquoi » --
Ce serait plus facile de mourir
Que de le dire !

Le Rouge sur la Colline
Emporte ma volonté --
Si quelqu'un ricane,
Qu'il prenne garde -- car Dieu est proche --
C'est tout !

Le Lever du Jour --
Ajoute à mon Rang --
Si quelqu'un demande « comment » --
l'Artiste qui m'a dessinée ainsi --
Doit le dire !

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2016 by Guy Laffaille, (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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Translation of title "Mysteries" = "Mystères"


This text was added to the website: 2016-12-31
Line count: 15
Word count: 69

Translation © by Guy Laffaille
6. Elysium  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Elysium is as far as to
The very nearest room,
If in that room a friend await
Felicity or doom.

What fortitude the soul contains,
That it can so endure
The accent of a coming foot,
The opening of a door!

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
6. L'Élysée
Language: French (Français) 
L'Élysée est aussi éloigné
Que la Pièce la plus proche
Si dans cette Pièce un Ami attend
Félicité ou Ruine --

Quelle force contient l'Âme
Qui peut ainsi supporter
Le son de pieds qui arrivent --
D'ouverture d'une Porte --

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2016 by Guy Laffaille, (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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Translations of title(s):
"Elysium" = "L'Élysée"
"Elysium is as far" = "L'Élysée est aussi éloigné"



This text was added to the website: 2016-12-31
Line count: 8
Word count: 37

Translation © by Guy Laffaille
7. I taste a liquor  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
I taste a liquor never brewed,
From tankards scooped in pearl;
Not all the vats upon the Rhine
Yield such an alcohol!

Inebriate of air am I,
And debauchee of dew,
Reeling, through endless summer days,
From inns of molten blue.

When landlords turn the drunken bee
Out of the foxglove's door,
When butterflies renounce their drams,
I shall but drink the more!

Till seraphs swing their snowy hats,
And saints to windows run,
To see the little tippler
Leaning against the sun!

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
7. Je goûte une liqueur
Language: French (Français) 
Je goûte une liqueur jamais brassée --
Dans des Chopes creusées dans de la Perle --
Ce ne sont pas toutes les Cuves le long du Rhin
Qui donnent un tel Alcool !

Enivrée par l'air -- je suis --
Et débauchée de Rosée --
Titubant -- à travers des jours d'été sans fin --
À  la sortie d'auberges de Bleu fondu --

Quand les « Propriétaires » mettent l'abeille ivre
À la porte de la Digitale --
Quand les Papillons -- renoncent à leurs « petits verres » --
Je ne boirai que davantage !

Jusqu'à ce que les Séraphins secouent leurs Chapeaux de neige --
Et que les Saints -- courent à la fenêtre --
Pour voir la petite Picoleuse
Qui s'appuie contre le -- Soleil !

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2016 by Guy Laffaille, (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: 

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Translations of title(s):
"The little tippler" = "La petite Picoleuse"
"I taste a liquor never brewed" = "Je goûte une liqueur jamais brassée"
"I taste a liquor" = "Je goûte une liqueur "
"Intoxication" = "Ivresse"



This text was added to the website: 2016-12-31
Line count: 16
Word count: 111

Translation © by Guy Laffaille