English translations of Шесть романсов = Shest' romansov (Six songs), opus 38

by Sergei Vasil'yevich Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943)

1. Ночью в саду у меня
 (Sung text)
by Sergei Vasil'yevich Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943), "Ночью в саду у меня", op. 38 (Шесть романсов = Shest' romansov (Six songs)) no. 1 (1916)
Language: Russian (Русский) 
Ночью в саду у меня
Плачет плакучая ива,
И безутешна она 
Ивушка, грустная ива.

Раннее утро блеснёт,
Нежная девушка-зорька
Ивушке, плачущей горько,
Слёзы кудрями сотрёт.

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by Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Blok (1880 - 1921)
1. At night in my garden
Language: English 
At night in my garden
the weeping willow weeps,
and she is inconsolable,
This dear Willow, mournful willow tree.

Early morning flashes;
The gentle maiden Dawn
From dear Willow, weeping bitterly,
Wipes away the tears with her curls.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Russian (Русский) to English copyright © 2020 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,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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This text was added to the website: 2020-02-10
Line count: 8
Word count: 38

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. К ней
 (Sung text)
by Sergei Vasil'yevich Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943), "К ней", op. 38 (Шесть романсов = Shest' romansov (Six songs)) no. 2 (1916)
Language: Russian (Русский) 
Травы одеты перлами.
Где-то приветы
Грустные слышу,
Приветы милые...
Милая, где ты,
Милая!

Вечера светы ясные, 
Вечера светы красные
Руки воздеты:
Жду тебя,
Милая, где ты,
Милая?

Руки воздеты:
Жду тебя,
В струях
Леты смытую
Бледными Леты
струями...
Милая, где ты,
Милая!

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by Boris Nikolayevich Bugayev (1880 - 1934), as Andrei Bely
2. To her
Language: English 
Pearls adorn the grass.
From somewhere 
I hear mournful greetings,
Cherished greetings...
Dear one, where are you?
Dear one!

The lights of evening are clear,
The lights of evening are red,
My arms raised,
I await you,
Dear one, where are you?
Dear one?

My arms raised,
I await you;
In the streams,
Lethe washes the years away,
Pale Lethe,
In the streams,
Dear one, where are you?
Dear one!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Russian (Русский) to English copyright © 2016 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,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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Note: in Greek mythology, Lethe is a river in the underworld whose water, when drunk, causes forgetfulness.



This text was added to the website: 2016-11-01
Line count: 20
Word count: 70

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Маргаритки
 (Sung text)
by Sergei Vasil'yevich Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943), "Маргаритки", op. 38 (Шесть романсов = Shest' romansov (Six songs)) no. 3 (1916)
Language: Russian (Русский) 
О, посмотри! как много маргариток —
    И там, и тут...
Они цветут; их много; их избыток;
    Они цветут.

Их лепестки трёхгранные — как крылья,
    Как белый шёлк...
В них лета мощ! В них радость изобилья!
В них слетлый полк.

Готовь, земля, цветам из рос напиток,
    Дай сок стеблю...
О, девушки! о, звезды маргариток!
    Я вас люблю...

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by Igor Vasil'yevich Lotaryov (1887 - 1941), as Igor Severyanin
3. Daisies
Language: English 
Oh, see how many daisies, 
  Here and there,
They blossom; they are plentiful; they are abundant.
  They blossom.

Their petals are three-edged, like wings,
  Like white silk;
[You are the summer's might! You are abundant joy,
  You are radiant multitude!]1

Earth prepares to flower with the dew’s draught,
  Giving sap to the stalks.
Oh maidens, Oh daisy stars,
  I love you!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Russian (Русский) to English copyright © 2017 by Elizabeth Wiles, (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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1 Rachmaninov: "In them the summer's might! In them abundant joy,/ In them radiant multitude."


This text was added to the website: 2017-08-01
Line count: 12
Word count: 61

Translation © by Elizabeth Wiles
4. Крысолов
 (Sung text)
by Sergei Vasil'yevich Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943), "Крысолов", op. 38 (Шесть романсов = Shest' romansov (Six songs)) no. 4 (1916)
Language: Russian (Русский) 
Я на дудочке играю,
Тра-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля,
И на дудочке играю,
Чьи-то души веселя.

Я иду вдоль тихой речки,
Тра-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля,
Дремлют тихия овечки,
Кротко зыблются поля.

Спите, овцы и барашки,
Тра-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля,
За лугами красной кашки
стройно встали тополя.

Малый домик там таится,
Тра-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля,
Милой девушке приснится,
Что ей душу отдал я.

И на нежный зов свирели,
Тра-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля,
Выйдет словно к светлой цели,
через сад, через поля.

И в лесу под дубом тёмным,
Тра-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля,
Будет ждать в бреду истомном,
В час, когда уснёт земля.

Встречу гостью дорогую,
Тра-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля,
Вплоть до утра зацелую,
Сердце лаской утоля.

И, сменившись с ней колечком,
Тра-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля,
Отпущу её к овечкам,
В сад, где стройны тополя.

Тра-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля-ля!

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by Valery Yakovlevich Bryusov (1873 - 1924)
4. The Pied Piper
Language: English 
I play a reed-pipe, 
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la, 
I play a reed-pipe, 
cheering up someone's soul.

I walk along a quiet river, 
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la, 
Timid sheep are asleep, 
the fields are gently rocking.

Sleep, sheep and lambs, 
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la, 
Beyond the fields of red clover 
stand slender poplars.

A little house is hidden there,  
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la, 
A pretty maiden will have a dream, 
That I gave her my soul. 

And to the tender call of the reed-pipe, 
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la, 
She will come, as if towards a bright dream, 
Through the garden, through the fields.

And in the forest under the dark oak, 
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la, 
She will wait in a languorous fever
At the hour when the earth falls asleep.

I will greet the dear guest, 
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la, 
And will kiss her away till dawn, 
Satisfying my heart with tenderness.

And, after we've exchanged rings, 
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la, 
I'll put her out with the sheep, 
Into the garden, where slender poplars stand! 

Tra-la-la-la-la-la-la!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Russian (Русский) to English copyright © 2011 by Sergey Rybin, (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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Note: The old tale of the Pied Piper of Hameln ("Der Rattenfänger von Hameln") has been retold in many versions including one by the Brothers Grimm and by Goethe, whose version adds that the Piper sometimes collected girls as well. This idea is expanded upon by Bryusov.



This text was added to the website: 2011-12-02
Line count: 33
Word count: 151

Translation © by Sergey Rybin
5. Сон
 (Sung text)
by Sergei Vasil'yevich Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943), "Сон", op. 38 (Шесть романсов = Shest' romansov (Six songs)) no. 5 (1916)
Language: Russian (Русский) 
В мире нет ничего 
Дожделеннее сна,
Чары есть у него, 
У него тишина,
У него на устах 
Ни печаль и ни смех,
И в бездонных очах
Много тайных утех.

У него широки, 
Широки два крыла,
И легки, так лёгки,
Как полночная мгла.
Не понять, как несёт,
И куда и на чем 
Он крылом не взмахнет
И не двинет плечом.

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by Fyodor Kuzmych Teternikov (1863 - 1927), as Fyodor Sologub
5. A dream
Language: English 
There is nothing 
more desirable
In the world than the dream.
It has magic stillness.
It has on its lips
No sadness, no laughter
And bottomless eyes,
and many hidden pleasures.

It has two immense wings,
as light as 
the shadow of midnight.
It's unfathomable 
how it carries them, 
and where and on what;
It will not beat its wings,
And it will not move its shoulder.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Russian (Русский) to English copyright © 2007 by Laura Claycomb and Peter Grunberg, (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: 2007-10-25
Line count: 16
Word count: 67

Translation © by Laura Claycomb, Peter Grunberg
6. Ау
 (Sung text)
by Sergei Vasil'yevich Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943), "Ау", op. 38 (Шесть романсов = Shest' romansov (Six songs)) no. 6 (1916)
Language: Russian (Русский) 
Твой нежный смех был сказкою изменчивою,
Он звал как в сон зовёт свирельный звон.
И вот венком, стихом тебя увенчиваю.
Уйдём, бежим вдвоем на горный склон.

Но где же ты? 
Лишь звон вершин позванивает
Цветку цветок средь дня зажег свечу.
И чей-то смех все в глубь меня заманивает.

Пою, ищу,
Ау!
Ау!
кричу.

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by Konstantin Dmitrevich Bal'mont (1867 - 1942)
6. A-oo!
Language: English 
Your tender laughter was a fickle fairytale,
It calls me out of the dream on pipe chimes.
Now my garland of poetry crowns you.
Let's go, let's run, both of us, to the mountainside!

But where are you? 
Only the pipes from the top chime...
One flower to another flower light the candle of midday.
And someone's laughter calls to me from the depths.

I sing, I search, 
"A-oo!"
"A-oo!"
I cry.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Russian (Русский) to English copyright © 2007 by Laura Claycomb and Peter Grunberg, (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: 2007-10-25
Line count: 12
Word count: 72

Translation © by Laura Claycomb, Peter Grunberg