English translations of Sept mélodies, opus 61

by Léon Orthel (1905 - 1985)

1. Un cygne avance sur l'eau
 (Sung text)
by Léon Orthel (1905 - 1985), "Un cygne avance sur l'eau", op. 61 (Sept mélodies) no. 1 (1972), published 1972 [ voice and piano ], Amsterdam, Ed. Donemus
Language: French (Français) 
Un cygne avance sur l'eau 
tout entouré de lui-même, 
comme un glissant tableau;
ainsi à certains instants
un être que l'on aime 
est tout un espace mouvant.

Il se rapproche, doublé, 
comme ce cygne qui nage,
sur notre âme troublée...
qui à cet être ajoute 
la tremblante image
de bonheur et de doute.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
1. A swan moves across the water
Language: English 
A swan moves over the water, 
surrounded by itself, 
like a gliding tableau.
Thus the beloved 
is sometimes
a moving space.
 
He draws near, duplicated 
like the swimming swan,
to our troubled soul ....
which adds 
the trembling image
of joy and doubt.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2000 by Faith J. Cormier, (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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 43

Translation © by Faith J. Cormier
2. La biche
 (Sung text)
by Léon Orthel (1905 - 1985), "La biche", op. 61 (Sept mélodies) no. 2 (1972), published 1972 [ medium voice and piano ], Amsterdam, Ed. Donemus
Language: French (Français) 
Ô la biche : quel bel intérieur
d'anciennes forêts dans tes yeux abonde ; 
combien de confiance ronde 
mêlée à combien de peur.

Tout cela, porté par la vive 
gracilité de tes bonds. 
Mais jamais rien n'arrive 
à cette impossessive 
ignorance de ton front.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
2. The doe
Language: English 
Oh, a doe: what beautiful interiors
of ancient forests abound in your eyes; 
drunk with so much confidence 
mixed with so much fear.

All this, supported by the strong 
slenderness of your leaps. 
But nothing ever happens 
to that docile 
ignorance of your brow.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (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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This text was added to the website: 2016-04-13
Line count: 9
Word count: 44

Translation © by Laura Prichard
3. En hiver  [sung text not yet checked]
by Léon Orthel (1905 - 1985), "En hiver", op. 61 (Sept mélodies) no. 3 (1972), published 1972 [ medium voice and piano ], Amsterdam, Ed. Donemus
Language: French (Français) 
En hiver, la mort meurtrière 
entre dans les maisons ;
elle cherche la sœur, le père,
et leur joue du violon.

Mais quand la terre remue
sous la bêche du printemps,
la mort court dans les rues
et salue les passants.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
3. In Winter
Language: English 
In Winter, murderous Death 
comes into the houses, 
seeks out sister and father 
and plays to them on the fiddle. 

But when the earth turns 
under Springtime's spade 
Death runs through the streets 
and greets the passers-by.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2001 by Grant Hicks, (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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Translations of titles:
"En hiver" = "In Winter"
"En hiver, la mort" = "In Winter, Death"
"En hiver, la mort meurtrière" = "In WInter, murderous Death"



This text was added to the website: 2025-05-06
Line count: 8
Word count: 37

Translation © by Grant Hicks
4. Puisque tout passe
 (Sung text)
by Léon Orthel (1905 - 1985), "Puisque tout passe", op. 61 (Sept mélodies) no. 4 (1972), published 1972 [ medium voice and piano ], Amsterdam, Ed. Donemus
Language: French (Français) 
Puisque tout passe, faisons
la mélodie passagère ;
celle qui nous désaltère,
aura de nous raison.

Chantons ce qui nous quitte
avec amour et art ;
soyons plus vite
que le rapide départ.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
4. Since all is passing
Language: English 
Since all is passing,
Let us make a passing melody.
The one that quenches our thirst
Will be right for us.

Let us sing what leaves us
With love and art;
Let us be quicker
Than the quick departure.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2010 by Thomas A. Gregg, (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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This text was added to the website: 2010-11-15
Line count: 8
Word count: 39

Translation © by Thomas A. Gregg
5. Qui vient finir le temple
 (Sung text)
by Léon Orthel (1905 - 1985), "Qui vient finir le temple", op. 61 (Sept mélodies) no. 5 (1972), published 1972 [ voice and piano ], Amsterdam, Ed. Donemus
Language: French (Français) 
Qui vient finir le temple de l'Amour ? 
Chacun en emporte une colonne ; 
et à la fin tout le monde s'étonne 
que le dieu à son tour 

de sa flèche brise l'enceinte. 
(Tel nous le connaissons.) 
Et sur ce mur d'abandon 
pousse la plainte.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
5.
[Translation not yet available]
6. N'est‑ce pas triste
 (Sung text)
by Léon Orthel (1905 - 1985), "N'est-ce pas triste", op. 61 (Sept mélodies) no. 6 (1972), published 1972 [ medium voice and piano ], Amsterdam, Ed. Donemus
Language: French (Français) 
N'est-ce pas triste que nos yeux se ferment ? 
On voudrait avoir les yeux toujours ouverts, 
pour avoir vu, avant le terme, 
tout ce que l'on perd. 

N'est-il pas terrible que nos dents brillent ? 
Il nous aurait fallu un charme plus discret 
pour vivre en famille 
en ce temps de paix. 

Mais n'est-ce pas le pire que nos mains se cramponnent, 
dures et gourmandes ? 
Faut-il que des mains soient simples et bonnes 
pour lever l'offrande !

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
6. Isn't it sad
Language: English 
Isn't it sad that our eyes close?
One would like to have one's eyes always open,
to have seen beforehand 
all that is being lost.

Isn't it terrible that our teeth shine?
We would have needed a discreeter charm
to live as family 
in this time of peace.

But isn't it the worst that our hands grasp,
hard and greedy?
Hands must be simple and good
to lift up the offering!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Grant Hicks, (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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Translations of titles:
"N'est-ce pas triste" = "Isn't it sad"
"N'est-ce pas triste que nos yeux se ferment ?" = "Isn't it sad that our eyes close?"



This text was added to the website: 2025-07-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Grant Hicks
7. Verger
 (Sung text)
by Léon Orthel (1905 - 1985), "Verger", op. 61 (Sept mélodies) no. 7 (1972), published 1972 [ high voice and piano ], Amsterdam, Ed. Donemus
Language: French (Français) 
Jamais la terre n'est plus réelle
que dans tes branches, ô verger blond,
ni plus flottante que dans la dentelle
que font les ombres sur le gazon.

Là se rencontre ce qui nous reste,
ce qui pèse et ce qui nourrit,
avec le passage manifeste
de la tendresse infinie.

Mais à ton centre, la calme fontaine,
presque dormant en son ancien rond,
de ce contraste parle à peine,
tant en elle il se confond.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
7. Orchard
Language: English 
Never is the earth more solid than 
in your branches, O fair orchard, 
Nor more buoyant than in the lacework 
the shadows make upon the grass. 

There we meet what remains to us, 
what has weight and nourishes us, 
along with the manifest passing 
of infinite tenderness. 

But at your heart the calm fountain, 
almost asleep in its ancient circle, 
speaks hardly at all of these contrasts, 
so much are they mixed up in it.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2001 by Grant Hicks, (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: 

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This text was added to the website: 2025-05-06
Line count: 12
Word count: 75

Translation © by Grant Hicks