Three songs

Translations © by Michael P Rosewall

Song Cycle by Manuel de Falla (1876 - 1946)

View original-language texts alone: Trois mélodies

1. Les Colombes
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Sur le coteau, là-bas où sont les tombes,
Un beau palmier, comme un panache vert
Dresse sa tête, où le soir les colombes
Viennent nicher et se mettre à couvert.

Mais le matin elles quittent les branches;
Comme un collier qui s'égrène, on les voit
S'éparpiller dans l'air bleu, toutes blanches,
Et se poser plus loin sur quelque toit.

Mon âme est l'arbre où tous les soirs comme elles,
De blancs essaims de folles visions
Tombent des cieux, en palpitant des ailes,
Pour s'envoler dès les premiers rayons.

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First appeared under the title "Ghazel" in Le Figaro, February 1, 1838, and then under the title "Les Colombes" in La Comédie de la Mort, Éd. Desessart, Paris, 1838.

by Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872)
1. The Doves
Language: English 
There, on the hill, where there are tombs,
A beautiful palm tree, like a green plume,
Lifts its head, where at night the doves
Make their nests and seek shelter.

But, in the morning, they leave its branches;
Like a necklace unstrung, one sees them
Scattering in the blue air, all white,
And alighting far off upon a roof.

My soul is the tree where every night, as they,
White swarms of wild visions come
Falling from the heavens, fluttering their wings,
Only to fly away at morning’s first rays.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2020 by Michael P Rosewall, (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
"Les Colombes" = "The Doves"
"Ghazel" = "Ghazal"



This text was added to the website: 2020-11-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 90

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
2. Chinoiserie
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Ce n'est pas vous, non, madame, que j'aime,
Ni vous non plus, Juliette, ni vous, 
Ophélia, ni Bétrix, ni même 
Laure la blonde, avec ses grands yeux doux.

Celle que j'aime à présent, est en Chine ;
Elle demeure, avec ses vieux parents,
Dans une tour de porcelain fine,
Au fleuve Jaune, où sont les cormorans ;

Elle a des yeux retroussés vers les tempes,
Un pied petit, à tenir dans la main,
Le teint plus clair que le cuivre des lampes,
Les ongles longs et rougis de carmin ;

Par son treillis elle passe sa tête,
Que l'hirondelle, en volant, vient toucher,
Et, chaque soir, aussi bien qu'un poëte,
Chante le saule et la fleur du pêcher.

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by Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872)
2. In the style of the Chinese
Language: English 
It is not you, no, madam, that I like.
Nor you, Juliette, nor you,
Ophelia, nor Beatrice, nor yet
Blonde Laura, with those big, soft eyes.

The one that I love right now is in China;
She lives, with her aging parents,
Within a tower of fine porcelain.
By the Yellow River, where there are cormorants;

She with her eyes turned upward,
A foot tiny enough to hold in one’s hand,
A complexion brighter than a copper lamp,
With nails, long and carmine red;

Through the grate she bows her head,
So the swallow, in flight, might brush it,
And each night, as beautifully as a poet,
Sing the willow and the flowering peach.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2020 by Michael P Rosewall, (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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Translation of title "Chinoiserie" = "In the style of the Chinese"


This text was added to the website: 2020-11-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 114

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
3. Séguidille
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Un jupon serré sur les hanches,
Un peigne énorme à son chignon,
Jambe nerveuse et pied mignon,
Œil de feu, teint pâle et dents blanches :
          Alza ! olà !
             Voilà
La véritable Manola.

Gestes hardis, libre parole,
Sel et piment à pleine main,
Oubli parfait du lendemain,
Amour fantasque et grâce folle :
          Alza ! olà !
             Voilà
La véritable Manola.

Chanter, danser aux castagnettes,
Et, dans les courses de taureaux,
Juger les coups des toreros,
Tout en fumant des cigarettes :
          Alza ! olà !
             Voilà
La véritable Manola.

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by Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872)
3. Seguidilla
Language: English 
A snug petticoat on her hips,
An enormous comb in her coiffure,
Quivering leg and dainty foot,
Fiery eye, pale complexion and sparkling teeth:
Aha! Olé! 
Behold
The true carefree Spanish woman.

Gesturing boldly, speaking freely,
A handful of salt and pepper,
Perfect forgetfulness the next day,
Whimsical love and elaborate grace:
Aha! Olé! 
Behold
The true carefree Spanish woman.

Sing, dance to the castanets,
And, in the running of the bulls,
Judge the skill of the toreadors,
All while smoking cigarettes:
Aha! Olé! 
Behold
The true carefree Spanish woman.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2020 by Michael P Rosewall, (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

Translation of title "Séguidille" = "Seguidilla"


This text was added to the website: 2020-11-11
Line count: 21
Word count: 90

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall