Orchards

Translations © by Grant Hicks

Song Cycle by Mario Zafred (1922 - 1987)

View original-language texts alone: Vergers

1. Ce soir mon coeur fait chanter  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
Ce soir mon cœur fait chanter
des anges qui se souviennent...
Une voix, presque mienne,
par trop de silence tentée,

monte et se décide
à ne plus revenir ;
tendre et intrépide,
à quoi va-t-elle s'unir ?

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
1.
Language: English 
Tonight my heart makes
angels sing, who remember....
A voice, almost my own,
tempted by too much silence,

rises and decides
never to return;
tender and undaunted,
with what will it unite?

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:
"Ce soir" = "Tonight"
"Ce soir mon cœur" = "Tonight My Heart"
"Ce soir mon cœur fait chanter" = "Tonight My Heart Makes Sing"
"Ce soir mon cœur fait chanter des anges" = "Tonight My Heart Makes Angels Sing"
"Mon coeur fait chanter des anges" = "My Heart Makes Angels Sing"
"souviennent" = "Remember"



This text was added to the website: 2025-08-29
Line count: 8
Word count: 32

Translation © by Grant Hicks
2. Tel cheval qui boit à la fontaine  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
Tel cheval qui boit à la fontaine,
telle feuille qui en tombant nous touche,
telle main vide, ou telle bouche
qui nous voudrait parler et qui ose à peine -,

autant de variations de la vie qui s'apaise,
autant de rêves de la douleur qui somnole:
ô que celui dont le coeur est à l'aise,
cherche la créature et la console.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
2. The horse that drinks at the fountain
Language: English 
The horse that drinks at the fountain,
the leaf that touches us in falling,
the empty hand, or the mouth
that would speak to us but hardly dares—

so many variations of subsiding life,
so many dreams of slumbering pain:
O that he whose heart is at ease 
would seek out the creation and console it.

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.
    Contact: 

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Translations of titles:
"Tel cheval qui boit à la fontaine" = "The horse that drinks at the fountain"



This text was added to the website: 2025-08-11
Line count: 8
Word count: 56

Translation © by Grant Hicks
3. En hiver, la mort meurtrière  [sung text not yet checked]
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, murderous Death
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.
    Contact: 

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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. Arrêtons‑nous un peu, causons  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
Arrêtons-nous un peu, causons. 
C'est encore moi, ce soir, qui m'arrête, 
c'est encore vous qui m'écoutez. 

Un peu plus tard d'autres joueront 
aux voisins [sur]1 la route
sous ces beaux arbres que l'on se prête.

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1 Durey: "de"

by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
4. Let's stop awhile, and chat
Language: English 
Let's stop awhile, and chat.
Once more, this evening, I'm the one who stops;
once more, you're the one who listens.

A while later, others will play
neighbors on the road
under these lovely trees that we lend ourselves.

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.
    Contact: 

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Translations of titles:
"Arrêtons-nous" = "Let's stop"
"Arrêtons-nous un peu, causons" = "Let's stop awhile, and chat"



This text was added to the website: 2025-07-08
Line count: 6
Word count: 39

Translation © by Grant Hicks