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Galante Feste I
Translations © by Bertram Kottmann
Song Cycle by Claude Achille Debussy (1862 - 1918)
View original-language texts alone: Fêtes Galantes I
Calmes dans le demi-jour Que les branches hautes font, Pénétrons bien notre amour De ce silence profond. Fondons nos âmes, nos cœurs Et nos sens extasiés, Parmi les vagues langueurs Des pins et des arbousiers. Ferme tes yeux à demi, Croise tes bras sur ton sein, Et de ton cœur endormi Chasse à jamais tout dessein. Laissons-nous persuader Au souffle berceur et doux, Qui vient à tes pieds rider Les ondes des gazons roux. Et quand, solennel, le soir Des chênes noirs tombera, Voix de notre désespoir, Le rossignol chantera.
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "En sourdine", written 1868, appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 21, first published 1868
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Note: The ampersands (&) as appear in the first publication are changed to "et".
Lass uns still im Dämmerlicht unter hoher Bäume Zweigen in des Schweigens Angesicht unsre Liebe wohl erzeigen. Mög' uns Herz und Seel' zergehn und verzückter Sinne Träume bei dem sehnsuchtsvollen Wehn der Pinien und Erdbeerbäume. Schließe halb die Augen zu, leg die Hände in den Schoß, sage in des Herzens Ruh dich von allem Wollen los. Wiegen möge uns der Wind, der sich sanft und schmeichelnd regt und zu deinen Füßen lind kräuselnd mattes Gras bewegt. Wenn von schwarzer Eichen Rund ernst der Abend sinkt hernieder, wird unsre Verzweiflung kund in der Nachtigallen Lieder.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2011 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Bertram Kottmann. Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "En sourdine", written 1868, appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 21, first published 1868
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2011-03-15
Line count: 20
Word count: 94
Scaramouche et Pulcinella Qu'un mauvais dessein rassembla Gesticulent, noirs sous la lune. Cependant l'excellent docteur Bolonais cueille avec lenteur Des simples parmi l'herbe brune. Lors sa fille, piquant minois, Sous la charmille, en tapinois, Se glisse demi-nue, en quête De son beau pirate espagnol Dont un amoureux rossignol Clame la détresse à tue-tête.
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Fantoches", appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 11, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1869
See other settings of this text.
Note: All ampersands (&) as appear in the first publication are changed to "et".
Scaramouche und Pulcinella, übler Plan bracht’ sie zusammen, fuchteln schwarz im Mondenschein. Derweil sammelt der gelehrsam’ Doktor Balanzone langsam Heilkraut zwischen Gräsern ein. Püppchenschön auf leisen Sohlen unterm Laubengang verstohlen sucht sein Töchterchen, halbnackt, ihren spanischen Piraten dessen Liebespein und Taten Nachtigall lauthals beklagt.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2014 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Bertram Kottmann. Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Fantoches", appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 11, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1869
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 44
Votre âme est un paysage choisi Que vont charmant masques et bergamasques Jouant du luth et dansant et quasi Tristes sous leurs déguisements fantasques. Tout en chantant sur le mode mineur L'amour vainqueur et la vie opportune, Ils n'ont pas l'air de croire à leur bonheur Et leur chanson se mêle au clair de lune, Au calme clair de lune triste et beau, Qui fait rêver les oiseaux dans les arbres Et sangloter d'extase les jets d'eau, Les grands jets d'eau sveltes parmi les marbres.
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Clair de lune", written 1867, appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 1, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1867
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Note: All ampersands (&) as appear in the first publication are changed to "et".
Von eigner Art ist deine Seele, wie ein Gefild' , in dem Maskierte schreiten, die, tanzend und zur Lautenmelodie, gleichsam ihr Leid mit Masken kleiden. In Moll erklingen ihre Lieder von Amors Sieg und Glücklichsein. Doch ihre Mienen spiegeln Glück nicht wider und ihr Gesang geht in das Mondlicht ein, ins stille Mondlicht, schön und voll der Trauer, das Vögel träumen lässt, hoch in den Bäumen, und die Fontänen schluchzen lässt vor Schauer, Fontänen, schlank und hoch, in Marmorräumen.
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation from French (Français) to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2011 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Bertram Kottmann. Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Clair de lune", written 1867, appears in Fêtes galantes, no. 1, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1867
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2011-03-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 79