English translations of Cinq mélodies, opus 5
by Charles Koechlin (1867 - 1950)
1. Promenade galante
by Charles Koechlin (1867 - 1950), "Promenade galante", op. 5 (Cinq mélodies) no. 1 (1893) [ voice and piano or orchestra ]
Language: French (Français)
Dans le parc au noble dessin Où s'égarent les Cydalises Parmi les fontaines surprises Dans le marbre du clair bassin, Iris, que suit un jeune essaim, Philis, Eglé, nymphes éprises, Avec leurs plumes indécises, En manteau court, montrant leur sein, Lycaste, Myrtil et Sylvandre Vont parmi la verdure tendre Vers les grands feuillages dormants. Ils errent dans le matin blême, Tous vêtus de satin, charmants Et tristes comme l'Amour même.
Text Authorship:
- by Théodore Faullin de Banville (1823 - 1891), "Promenade galante, à Edmond Morin", written 1868, appears in Rimes dorées, no. 8, appears in Nouvelles odes funambulesques, Paris, Éd. Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1869
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First published in Nouvelles odes funambulesques (Paris, Éd. Alphonse Lemerre, 1869), then published in Rimes dorées, (Paris, Éd. Alphonse Lemerre, 1875).
by Théodore Faullin de Banville (1823 - 1891)
1. Promenade galante
Language: English
In the park of noble design, Where the Cydalises wander Amid the surprised fountains In the stone bed of the clear pond, Iris, whom a young swarm follows, Philis, Eglé, infatuated nymphs, With their indecisive feathers, In short coats, showing their breasts, Lycaste, Myrtil and Sylvandre Come amid the tender greenery Toward the tall sleeping foliage. They wander in the pale morning, All dressed in satin, charming And sad like Love himself.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2012 by Adam Ewing, (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 Théodore Faullin de Banville (1823 - 1891), "Promenade galante, à Edmond Morin", written 1868, appears in Rimes dorées, no. 8, appears in Nouvelles odes funambulesques, Paris, Éd. Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1869
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2012-04-02
Line count: 14
Word count: 72
Translation © by Adam Ewing
2. Moisson prochaine
by Charles Koechlin (1867 - 1950), "Moisson prochaine", op. 5 (Cinq mélodies) no. 2 (1893-97) [ voice and piano ], Éd. E. Baudoux & Cie
Language: French (Français)
O vierge! ta beauté semble un champ de blés mûrs Dont le vent fait rouler les vagues inquiètes! Parmi les brins serrés, passant leurs folles têtes, Brillent le pavot rouge et le bluet d'azur; Au zénith éclatant pas un nuage obscur; L'aube seule aux épis suspend ses gouttelettes; Mille désirs charmants, comme des alouettes, Volent par les sillons et poussent leur cri pur. Vierge! voici le temps qu'on va lier les gerbes; Bientôt retentiront les chansons dans les herbes, Et les rondes, le soir, sous les cieux étoilés, Car, sur ses larges reins attachant sa ceinture, Demain, le moissonneur à la brune figure Va promener sa faux dans l'épaisseur des blés.
Text Authorship:
- by Louis Hyacinthe Bouilhet (1822 - 1869), "Puberté", written 1859, appears in Festons et astragales, Paris, Éd. Librairie nouvelle, first published 1859
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by Louis Hyacinthe Bouilhet (1822 - 1869)
2. Near harvest
Language: English
Oh virgin! your beauty is like a field of ripe wheat In which the wind makes vague worries roll! Amid the dense strands, between their full heads, Shine the red poppy and the azure blueberry; In the bright sky, not a dark cloud; The dawn alone hangs its droplets in the ears; A thousand charming desires like larks, Fly by the furrows and sound their pure cry. Oh virgin! Now is the time to go binding the sheaves; Soon songs will ring out in the grasses, And rounds, in the evening, under the starry sky, For, tying his belt on his broad back, Tomorrow, the harvester with his brown face Will go to carry his scythe in the thickness of the wheat.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2012 by Adam Ewing, (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 Louis Hyacinthe Bouilhet (1822 - 1869), "Puberté", written 1859, appears in Festons et astragales, Paris, Éd. Librairie nouvelle, first published 1859
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2012-04-02
Line count: 14
Word count: 122
Translation © by Adam Ewing
3. Chanson d'amour
by Charles Koechlin (1867 - 1950), "Chanson d'amour", op. 5 (Cinq mélodies) no. 3 (1893-97) [ voice and piano ]
Language: French (Français)
Allez au pays de Chine, Et sur ma table apportez Le papier de toile fine Plein de reflets argentés! Pour encre et pour écritoire, Allez prendre à l'Alhambra Le sang d'une mûre noire Et l'écorce d'un cédrat! Au fond des vertes savanes Ou l'oiseau pousse son cri, Ramassez dans les lianes La plume d'un colibri! Puis, pour sécher l'écriture, Par les près et par les sillons Recueillez la poudre pure Qui tombe des papillons! -- Alors, de ma main fidèle Peut-ètre, oserai-je, un jour, Tracer le doux nom de celle Qui me fait languir d'amour.
Text Authorship:
- by Louis Hyacinthe Bouilhet (1822 - 1869), "Chanson d'amour", appears in Festons et astragales, Paris, Éd. Librairie nouvelle, first published 1859
See other settings of this text.
by Louis Hyacinthe Bouilhet (1822 - 1869)
3. Love song
Language: English
Come to the land of China, And to my table bring The fine cloth paper Full of silvery gleams! For ink and for writing case, Come take from the Alhambra The blood of a blackberry And the peel of a citron! At the bottom of the green savannahs Where the bird gives his cry, Gather in the creepers The feather of a hummingbird! Then, to dry the writing, By the meadows and by the furrows Collect the pure dust That falls from the butterflies! Then, by my faithful hand Perhaps I will dare, one day, To trace the sweet name of the one Who makes me languish with love.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2012 by Adam Ewing, (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 Louis Hyacinthe Bouilhet (1822 - 1869), "Chanson d'amour", appears in Festons et astragales, Paris, Éd. Librairie nouvelle, first published 1859
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2012-04-02
Line count: 20
Word count: 109
Translation © by Adam Ewing
4. Menuet
by Charles Koechlin (1867 - 1950), "Menuet", op. 5 (Cinq mélodies) no. 4 (1893-97) [ voice and piano ]
Language: French (Français)
La tristesse des menuets Fait chanter mes désirs muets Et je pleure, D'entendre frémir cette voix Qui vient de si loin, d'autrefois, Et qui pleure. Chansons frêles du clavecin, Notes grêles, fuyant essaim Qui s'efface, Vous êtes un pastel d'antan Qui s'anime, rit un instant, Puis, s'efface. Ô chants troublés de pleurs secrets, Chagrins qu'on ignore, les vrais, Pudeur tendre, Sanglots que l'on cache, au départ Et qui n'osent s'avouer, par Orgueil tendre. Ah ! comme vous broyez les cœrs De vos airs charmants et moqueurs Et si tristes ! Menuets à peine entendus, Sanglots légers, rires fondus, Baisers tristes !
Text Authorship:
- by Fernand Gregh (1873 - 1960), "Menuet", written 1892, appears in La Maison de l'Enfance, in 9. Musique, no. 3, Paris, Éd. Calmann-Lévy, first published 1897
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by Fernand Gregh (1873 - 1960)
4. Minuet
Language: English
The sadness of minuets Makes my mute desires sing, And I cry To hear this voice tremble Which comes from so far, from long ago, And which cries. Frail songs of the harpsichord, Thin notes, fleeing swarm Which dissolves, You are a pastel of yesteryear That comes to life, laughs a moment, Then dissolves! Oh troubled songs of secret tears, Sorrows that one knows not, truths, Tender reserve, Sobs that one hides at the start And which dare not confess themselves, by Tender pride, Ah! how you crush hearts With your airs charming and mocking And so sad, Minuets barely heard, Weak sobs, melted laughter, Sad kisses...
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2012 by Adam Ewing, (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 Fernand Gregh (1873 - 1960), "Menuet", written 1892, appears in La Maison de l'Enfance, in 9. Musique, no. 3, Paris, Éd. Calmann-Lévy, first published 1897
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2012-04-02
Line count: 24
Word count: 107
Translation © by Adam Ewing
5. Si tu le veux
by Charles Koechlin (1867 - 1950), "Si tu le veux", op. 5 (Cinq mélodies) no. 5 (1894), published 1947 [ high voice and piano ], Éd. Salabert
Language: French (Français)
Si tu le veux, ô mon amour, Ce soir dès que la fin du jour Sera venue, Quand les étoiles surgiront, Et mettront des clous d'or au fond Bleu de la nue, Nous partirons seuls tous les deux Dans la nuit brune en amoureux, Sans qu'on nous voie, Et tendrement je te dirai Un chant d'amour où je mettrai Toute ma joie. Mais quand tu rentreras chez toi, Si l'on te demande pourquoi, Mignonne fée, Tes cheveux sont plus fous qu'avant, Tu répondras que seul le vent T'a décoiffée, Si tu le veux, ô mon amour.
by Maurice de Marsan (1852 - 1929)
5. If you like
Language: English
If you like, oh my love, This evening, when the end of day Has come, When the stars surge out And place golden nails in the blue firmament Of the sky We will go out, just us two, Amorously into the dark night, Without being seen, And tenderly I will give you A song of love, where I will place All of my joy! But, when you return home, If anyone asks you why, Little fairy, Your hair is more mussed than before, You can say that only the wind Has mussed it, If you like, oh my love.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2012 by Adam Ewing, (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 Maurice de Marsan (1852 - 1929)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2012-04-02
Line count: 19
Word count: 99
Translation © by Adam Ewing