Pastourelles of the XVth century

Song Cycle by Emma-Laure-Esther Guilbert (1865 - 1944), as Yvette Guilbert

This collection contains a prefatory note by Jean Richepin titled "Une Lettre":

Qu'elle chante du bon, du mauvais,
ou du médiocre, cela n'a aucune importance.
Le texte, paroles et musique, n'est ici en
effet qu'un prétexte. pour elle, à commentaires ;
pour vous, à évocations. Commentaires et
évocations uniquement créés par elle, son
geste, sa physionomie, sa voix. Et avec unе
puissance de suggestion d'autant plus magique
et inattendue, que c'est son geste qui parle,
sa physionomie qui vocalise et sa voix qui gesticule. 
Ecoutez-la plutôt en vous bouchant les yeux, 
ou regardez-la en vous bouchant les oreilles! 
Il semble alors que les aveugles doivent la voir 
en l'entendant, et les sourds l'entendre en la voyant. 
Ce qui est, j'en suis sûr.
— Mais cette Yvete est donc une artiste miraculeuse?
— N'en doutez pas.


The following translation appears on the following page:


Whether what she is singing is good, bad or mediocre,
is of no importance at all. The text, words and music,
is in fact here a pretext only-to her for comments, to you
for evocations. Comments and evocations created by her, by
her gesture, by her physiognomy, by her voice. And created
with a power of suggestion all the more magic and unexpected, 
as it is her gesture which speaks, her physiognomy
which vocalizes and her voice which gesticulates! Listen to
her rather with eyes shut, or look at her with deafened ears!
Then it would seem that the blind can see her by listening
to her, and the deaf hear by looking at her. And that is what
happens, I am sure.
— But then this Yvette is a miraculous artist!
— Do not doubt it.

1. C'était la plus belle des trois

Quand revenais du bois l'autre hier / D'écouter le doux chant des oiseaux
 . . . . . . . . . .

— The rest of this text is not
currently in the database but will be
added as soon as we obtain it. —

1. She was the fairest of the three

As I was wending homeward thro' the glad
 . . . . . . . . . .

— The rest of this text is not
currently in the database but will be
added as soon as we obtain it. —