English translations of Deux chœurs, opus 68

by Charles Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 - 1921)

1. Calme des nuits
 (Sung text)
by Charles Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 - 1921), "Calme des nuits", op. 68 (Deux chœurs) no. 1 (1882), published 1883 [ SATB chorus and piano ad libitum ]
Language: French (Français) 
Calme des nuits, fraîcheur des soirs,
Vaste scintillement des mondes,
Grand silence des antres noirs
Vous charmez les âmes profondes.

L'éclat du soleil, la gaité,
Le bruit plaisent aux plus futiles;
Le poète seul est hanté
Par l'amour des choses tranquilles.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
1. Calm of the Night
Language: English 
Calm of the night, cool of the evening,
Vast scintillation of worlds,
Great silence of black caves,
You enchant profound souls.

Bright sunshine, gaiety,
Noise are pleasing to the more frivolous;
Only the poet is obsessed 
By the love of tranquil things.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 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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This text was added to the website: 2026-02-04
Line count: 8
Word count: 42

Translation © by Grant Hicks
2. Les fleurs et les arbres
 (Sung text)
by Charles Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 - 1921), "Les fleurs et les arbres", op. 68 (Deux chœurs) no. 2 (1882), published 1883 [ SATB chorus and piano ad libitum ]
Language: French (Français) 
Les fleurs et les arbres, 
Les bronzes, les marbres, 
Les ors, les émaux,
La mer, les fontaines,
Les monts et les plaines
Consolent nos maux.

Nature éternelle,
Tu semble plus belle 
Au sein des douleurs!
Et l'art nous domine,
Sa flamme illumine
Le rire et les pleurs.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
2. Flowers and Trees
Language: English 
Flowers and trees,
Bronzes, marbles,
Golds, enamels, 
The sea, fountains,
Mountains and plains
Console our ills.

Eternal nature,
You seem more beautiful 
In the bosom of pain!
And art overpowers us,
Its flame illuminates
Laughter and tears.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2026-02-04
Line count: 12
Word count: 37

Translation © by Grant Hicks