The Jade Flute

Translations © by Grant Hicks

Song Cycle by Andrée Marie Clémence Bonhomme (1905 - 1982)

View original-language texts alone: La flûte de Jade

1. Ngo Gay Ngy  [sung text not yet checked]

Subtitle: Tuin in maanlicht

Language: French (Français) 
Comme la lune dans le ciel bleu,
je suis seule dans ma chambre.
J'ai éteint la lampe, je pleure.
Je pleure parce que vous êtes loin de moi
et que vous ne saurez jamais
combien je vous aime.

Text Authorship:

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, page 88.


by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
1. Ngo Gay Ngy
Language: English 
Like the moon in the blue sky, 
I am alone in my room. 
I've put out the lamp; I am crying. 
I am crying because you are far away
and because you will never know 
how much I love you.

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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Translations of titles:
"Combien je vous aime" = "How Much I Love You"
"Ngo Gay Ngy" = "Ngo Gay Ngy"


This text was added to the website: 2026-04-12
Line count: 6
Word count: 40

Translation © by Grant Hicks
2. La tristesse précieuse  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
Assise sur la terrasse de sa demeure, elle attend son fiancé. 
Que la nuit a été longue ! 

Le vent du matin effeuille les glycines. 

Elle regarde ces gouttes d'aube 
qui tombent sur ses bras, et elle soupire.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade; poésies chinoises, Piazza, 1926, p.117.


by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
2. Precious Sadness
Language: English 
Seated on the terrace of her home, she awaits her betrothed. 
How long the night has been! 

The morning wind blows the petals from the wisteria. 

She gazes at these droplets of the dawn
that fall upon her arms, and she sighs.

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: 2026-04-17
Line count: 5
Word count: 42

Translation © by Grant Hicks
3. Le pavillon de la musique  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
Les musiciennes sont parties.
Tulipes qu'elles avaient mises dans les vases de jade
s'inclinent vers les luths et semblent écouter encore.

Text Authorship:

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade; poésies chinoises, Piazza, 1926, p. 24.


by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
3. The Music Pavilion
Language: English 
The musicians have gone away. 
Tulips that they had placed in vases of jade
bend towards the lutes and seem to listening still.

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: 2026-04-17
Line count: 3
Word count: 23

Translation © by Grant Hicks
4. La dernière promenade  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
Tu as laissé tomber dans la poussière
la tulipe rouge que je t'avais donnée.
Je l'ai ramassée.
Elle était devenue blanche.
En ce bref instant, il avait neigé sur notre amour.

Text Authorship:

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, page 23.


by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
4. The Last Stroll
Language: English 
You dropped in the dust
the red tulip I'd given you. 
I picked it back up. 
It had become white. 
In that brief instant, it had snowed on our love.

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: 

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Translations of titles:
"Dernière promenade" = "Last Stroll"
"La dernière promenade" = "The Last Stroll"


This text was added to the website: 2026-04-07
Line count: 5
Word count: 30

Translation © by Grant Hicks
5. Clair de lune  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
Sur un jardin fardé de lune, l'ombre noire d'un olivier s'arrondit. 
Sur la joue pâle d'une jeune fille, un amant a posé sa bouche. 
L'ombre de l'olivier tourne sur le jardin. 
La bouche de l'amant parcourt le visage de la jeune fille.

Text Authorship:

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, Paris: L'édition d'Art H. Piazza, 1921, p.56


by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
5. Moonlight
Language: English 
Over a garden painted with moonlight, the black shadow of an olive tree spreads. 
Over the pale cheek of a maiden, a lover has set his mouth. 
The shadow of the olive tree moves over the garden. 
The mouth of the lover traverses the face of the maiden.

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: 2026-02-25
Line count: 4
Word count: 48

Translation © by Grant Hicks
6. Une chanson  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français) 
Une chanson, là-bas... C'est un mendiant.
Puisqu’il chante, ce vieillard  qui n’a jamais rien possédé,
pourquoi gémis-tu, toi qui as de si beaux souvenirs ?

Text Authorship:

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, La flûte de jade : poésies chinoises, Paris: H. Piazza, 1920, page 82.


by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955)
6. A Song
Language: English 
A song, over there... It's a beggar.
Since he sings, this old man who has never possessed anything,
why do you moan, you who have such beautiful memories?

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:

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2026-04-12
Line count: 3
Word count: 28

Translation © by Grant Hicks