To the Madonna | White madonna-statue our patroness

Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.

It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.

To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net

If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.

Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.

by (Paul) Jules Barbier (1825 - 1901)

Translation © by Laura (Pranada) Sylvis

À la Madone

Language: French (Français)

Our translations: ENG ENG

Blanche madone notre patronne,
Charmante reine des cieux,
Je veux de roses fraiches écloses,
Orner ton front gracieux!

Et pour ta fête que l'on apprete,
O madone, je veux encor
Parer ta grâce que rien n'efface
D'un manteau d'argent et d'or!

Sainte Marie, vierge chérie,
Aux blonds cheveux parfumés,
Comme une étoile, sous ton long voile,
Brille à nos regards charmés!

Jusqu'au pied même du roi suprême
Porte notre humble ferveur!
Que ta main blanche sur nous épanche
Le bienfait d'un Dieu sauveur!

Text Authorship:

by (Paul) Jules Barbier (1825 - 1901) [author's text not yet checked 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 Charles Gounod (1818 - 1893), "À la Madone", CG 9a (1867), published 1874, first performed 1867 [ voice and piano ], from opera Roméo et Juliette [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Faith J. Cormier) , "To the Madonna", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Laura (Pranada) Sylvis) , "To the Madonna", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 83

To the Madonna

Language: English after the French (Français)

White madonna-statue our patroness,
Charming Queen of Heaven,
I wish for freshly-bloomed roses
To adorn your graceful face!

And for your feast-day that we prepare,
O madonna-statue, I wish even more
To set out your undiminishable grace
With a cloak of silver and gold!

Holy Mary, cherished Virgin,
With fragrant blond hair,
Like a star, under your long veil,
Shine to our charmed gazes!

Even to the feet of the King of Kings
Bring our humble fervor!
Let your white hand place upon us
The blessing of a Saviour-God!

Text Authorship:

Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2004 by Laura (Pranada) Sylvis, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in French (Français) by (Paul) Jules Barbier (1825 - 1901)
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2004-11-02
Line count: 16
Word count: 89