English translations of Drei Chorlieder nach Paul Verlaine für vierstimmigen Chor (SATB) und Horn, opus 345
by Klaus Miehling (b. 1963)
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1. En sourdine
by Klaus Miehling (b. 1963), "En sourdine", op. 345 (Drei Chorlieder nach Paul Verlaine für vierstimmigen Chor (SATB) und Horn) no. 1 (2022) [ SATB chorus and horn ]
Language: French (Français)
Calmes dans le demi-jour Que les branches hautes font, Pénétrons bien notre amour De ce silence profond. Fondons nos âmes, nos cœurs Et nos sens extasiés, Parmi les vagues langueurs Des pins et des arbousiers. Ferme tes yeux à demi, Croise tes bras sur ton sein, Et de ton cœur endormi Chasse à jamais tout dessein. Laissons-nous persuader Au souffle berceur et doux, Qui vient à tes pieds rider Les ondes des gazons roux. Et quand, solennel, le soir Des chênes noirs tombera, Voix de notre désespoir, Le rossignol chantera.
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "En sourdine", written 1868, appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 21, first published 1868
See other settings of this text.
Note: The ampersands (&) as appear in the first publication are changed to "et".
by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896)
1. Muted
Language: English
Calm in the half-day That the high branches make, Let us soak well our love In this profound silence. Let us mingle our souls, our hearts And our ecstatic senses Among the vague langours Of the pines and the bushes. Close your eyes halfway, Cross your arms on your breast, And from your sleeping heart Chase away forever all plans. Let us abandon ourselves To the breeze, rocking and soft, Which comes to your feet to wrinkle The waves of auburn lawns. And when, solemnly, the evening From the black oaks falls, The voice of our despair, The nightingale, will sing.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
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Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "En sourdine", written 1868, appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 21, first published 1868
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 101
Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Écoutez la chanson bien douce
by Klaus Miehling (b. 1963), "Écoutez la chanson bien douce", op. 345 (Drei Chorlieder nach Paul Verlaine für vierstimmigen Chor (SATB) und Horn) no. 2 (2022) [ SATB chorus and horn ]
Language: French (Français)
Écoutez la chanson bien douce Qui ne pleure que pour vous plaire, Elle est discrète, elle est légère : Un frisson d'eau sur de la mousse ! La voix vous fut connue (et chère ?) Mais à présent elle est voilée Comme une veuve désolée, Pourtant comme elle encore fière, Et dans les longs plis de son voile, Qui palpite aux brises d'automne. Cache et montre au cœur qui s'étonne La vérité comme une étoile. Elle dit, la voix reconnue, Que la bonté c'est notre vie, Que de la haine et de l'envie Rien ne reste, la mort venue. Elle parle aussi de la gloire D'être simple sans plus attendre, Et de noces d'or et du tendre Bonheur d'une paix sans victoire. Accueillez la voix qui persiste Dans son naïf épithalame. Allez, rien n'est meilleur à l'âme Que de faire une âme moins triste ! Elle est en peine et de passage, L'âme qui souffre sans colère, Et comme sa morale est claire !... Écoutez la chanson bien sage.
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, appears in Sagesse, in Sagesse I, no. 16, first published 1880
See other settings of this text.
by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896)
2.
Language: English
Listen to the very soft song that weeps solely to please you, it is discreet, it is delicate, a quivering of water over moss. That voice was known to you (and dear?) but at present it is veiled like a distressed widow, yet like her it is still proud. And in the long folds of its veil, which flutters in the autumn breezes, it hides and reveals to the astonished heart the truth like a shining star. It says, that recognised voice, that goodness is our very life, that nothing remains of hate and envy after death has come. It speaks also of the glory of being simple without expecting more, and of golden weddings and the tender happiness of peace without victory. Welcome that voice as it persists in its simple wedding-song. Yes, welcome it, nothing is better for the soul than to make a soul less sad! Suffering without anger, that soul is in trouble and in transit. And the voice's moral is so clear!... Listen to the very wise song.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2021 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, appears in Sagesse, in Sagesse I, no. 16, first published 1880
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2021-02-27
Line count: 28
Word count: 174
Translation © by Peter Low
3. Le son du cor s'afflige vers les bois
by Klaus Miehling (b. 1963), "Le son du cor s'afflige vers les bois", op. 345 (Drei Chorlieder nach Paul Verlaine für vierstimmigen Chor (SATB) und Horn) no. 3 (2022) [ SATB chorus and horn ]
Language: French (Français)
Le son du cor s'afflige vers les bois, D'une douleur on veut croire orpheline Qui vient mourir au bas de la colline, Parmi la bise errant en courts abois. L'âme du loup pleure dans cette voix, Qui monte avec le soleil, qui décline D'une agonie on veut croire câline, Et qui ravit et qui navre à la fois. Pour faire mieux cette plainte assoupie, La neige tombe à longs traits de charpie A travers le couchant sanguinolent, Et l'air a l'air d'être un soupir d'automne, Tant il fait doux par ce soir monotone, Où se dorlote un paysage lent.
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, appears in Sagesse, in Sagesse III, no. 9, first published 1880
See other settings of this text.
by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896)
3. The sound of the horn is wailing near the woods
Language: English
The sound of the horn is wailing near the woods with a sort of orphan-like grief which dies away at the foot of the hill where the north wind desperately roams. The soul of the wolf is weeping in that voice which rises with the sun that sinks with an agony that seems somehow soothing and gives simultaneous delight and distress. To enhance this drowsy lament the snow is falling as long strips of linen across the blood-red sunset, and the air seems to be an autumn sigh, so gentle is this monotonous evening in which a slow landscape coddles itself.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2000 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, appears in Sagesse, in Sagesse III, no. 9, first published 1880
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 101
Translation © by Peter Low