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Voilà Sylvandre et Lycas et Myrtil [C'est aujourd'hui]1 fête chez Cydalise. [Enchantant l'air de son]2 parfum subtil, [Au clair de lune]3 où tout s'idéalise Avec la rose Aminthe rivalise. Philis, Eglé, qui suivent leurs amants, Cherchent l'ombrage [et les abris]4 charmants. Dans le soleil qui s'irrite et qui joue, Luttant d'orgueil avec les diamants, Sur le chemin, le Paon blanc fait la roue.
1 Debussy: "Car c'est ce soir"
2 Debussy: "Partout dans l'air court un"
3 Debussy: "Dans le grand parc"
4 Debussy: "en mille endroits"
Text Authorship:
- by Théodore Faullin de Banville (1823 - 1891), "Fête galante", appears in Les Cariatides, in Les Caprices - en dizains à la manière de Clément Marot, no. 3, first published 1842 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Georges Auric (1899 - 1983), "Fête galante", 1927, published 1928 [ medium voice and piano ], from Trois Caprices, no. 1, Paris, Heugel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Claude Achille Debussy (1862 - 1918), "Fête galante", L. 31/(23) (1882) [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Fête galante", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Auditorium du Louvre
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 67
Sylvandre, Lycas and Myrtil are [there. Cydalise hosts a party today. With her subtle perfume enchanting the air, Aminthe competes with the roses in the moonlight where all is perfection.]1 Philis and Eglé, following their lovers, seek shade [and the charming summerhouses]2. And in the sun, which is both annoyed and playful, proudly vying with the diamonds, there on the path, the white Peacock spreads his tail.
Translator's note: the title refers to a flirtatious outdoor party as seen in the 18th-century paintings of Watteau.
1 Debussy: "there,/ for Cydalise hosts a party this evening./ A subtle perfume fills the air/ in the great park where all is perfection./ Aminthe competes with the rose."2 Debussy: "in a thousand charming spots"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Peter Low, (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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Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Théodore Faullin de Banville (1823 - 1891), "Fête galante", appears in Les Cariatides, in Les Caprices - en dizains à la manière de Clément Marot, no. 3, first published 1842
This text was added to the website: 2025-04-21
Line count: 10
Word count: 70