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Syllabes pourpres

Song Cycle by Augusta Read Thomas (b. 1964)

View original-language texts alone: Purple Syllables

1.
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
The most triumphant Bird I ever knew or met
Embarked upon a twig today
And till Dominion set
I famish to behold so eminent a sight
And sang for nothing scrutable
But intimate Delight.
Retired, and resumed his transitive Estate --
To what delicious Accident
Does finest Glory fit!

Text Authorship:

  • by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title

Go to the general single-text view

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
1.
Language: French (Français) 
L'Oiseau le plus triomphant que j'ai jamais connu ou rencontré
A embarqué sur un Rameau Aujourd'hui
Et jusqu'à l'établissement de l'Empire
Je meurs d'envie de contempler un spectacle aussi remarquable
Et il a chanté pour rien de compréhensible
Si ce n'est un Plaisir intime.
Il se retira, et reprit son État éphémère --
À quel Accident délicieux
La plus belle gloire est-elle due !

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2010 by Guy Laffaille, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in English by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2010-07-21
Line count: 9
Word count: 62

Translation © by Guy Laffaille
2.
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
Of Being is a Bird
The likest to the Down
An Easy Breeze do put afloat
The General Heavens -- upon --

It soars -- and shifts -- and whirls --
And measures with the Clouds
In easy -- even -- dazzling pace --
No different the Birds --

Except a Wake of Music
Accompany their feet --
As did the Down emit a Tune --
For Ecstasy -- of it

Text Authorship:

  • by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title

Go to the general single-text view

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
2.
Language: French (Français) 
De l'Être est un Oiseau
Le plus semblable au Duvet
Qu'une Brise Légère fait flotter
Au-dessus - des Cieux Universels -

Il monte - et tourne - et tourbillonne -
Se mesure aux Nuages
D'une allure tranquille - régulière - éblouissante -
Les Oiseaux ne sont pas différents -

Sauf qu'un Sillage de Musique
Accompagne leurs pas -
Comme si le Duvet émettait un Air -
Pour l'Extase - de lui

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2010 by Guy Laffaille, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in English by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2010-07-21
Line count: 12
Word count: 59

Translation © by Guy Laffaille
3.
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
The Bird her punctual music brings
And lays it in its place --
Its place is in the Human Heart
And in the Heavenly Grace --
What respite from her thrilling toil
Did Beauty ever take --
But Work might be electric Rest
To those that Magic make --

Text Authorship:

  • by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title

Go to the general single-text view

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
3.
Language: French (Français) 
L'Oiseau apporte sa musique ponctuelle
Et la met à sa place -
Sa place est dans le Cœur Humain
Et dans la Grâce du Ciel -
Quel répit dans son labeur palpitant
La beauté a-t-elle jamais pris -
Mais le travail pourrait être un Repos Électrique
pour ceux qui font la Magie -

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2010 by Guy Laffaille, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in English by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2010-07-21
Line count: 8
Word count: 49

Translation © by Guy Laffaille
4.
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
It is a lonesome Glee --
Yet sanctifies the Mind --
With fair association --
Afar upon the Wind

A Bird to overhear
Delight without a Cause --
Arrestless as invisible --
A matter of the Skies.

Text Authorship:

  • by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title

Go to the general single-text view

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
4.
Language: French (Français) 
C'est une joie solitaire -
Pourtant elle sanctifie l'Esprit -
Avec une belle association -
Au loin avec le Vent

Un Oiseau à entendre -
Délice sans Cause -
Sans arrêt comme invisible -
Une Affaire des Cieux.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2010 by Guy Laffaille, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in English by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2010-07-21
Line count: 8
Word count: 32

Translation © by Guy Laffaille
5.
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
Out of sight? What of that?
See the Bird -- reach it!
Curve by Curve -- Sweep by Sweep --
Round the Steep Air --
Danger! What is that to Her?
Better 'tis to fail -- there --
Than debate -- here --

Blue is Blue -- the World through --
Amber -- Amber -- Dew -- Dew --
Seek -- Friend -- and see --
Heaven is shy of Earth -- that's all --
Bashful Heaven -- thy Lovers small --
Hide -- too -- from thee --

Text Authorship:

  • by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title

Go to the general single-text view

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
5.
Language: French (Français) 
Hors de vue ? Quoi ?
Regarde l'oiseau - atteins-le !
Courbe après Courbe - Descente après Descente -
Autour de l'Air Escarpé -
Le Danger ! Que lui importe !
C'est mieux d'échouer - là -
Que de discuter - ici -

Le Bleu est Bleu - à travers le Monde -
L'Ambre - Ambre - la Rosée - Rosée -
Cherche - Ami - et vois -
Le Ciel est intimidé par la Terre - c'est tout -
Ciel honteux - tes petits Amants -
Se cachent - aussi - de toi -

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2010 by Guy Laffaille, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in English by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2010-07-21
Line count: 13
Word count: 66

Translation © by Guy Laffaille
6.
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
At Half past Three, a single Bird
Unto a silent Sky
Propounded but a single term
Of cautious melody.

At Half past Four, Experiment
Had subjugated test
And lo, Her silver Principle
Supplanted all the rest.

At Half past Seven, Element
Nor Implement, be seen --
And Place was where the Presence was
Circumference between.

Text Authorship:

  • by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title

Go to the general single-text view

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
6.
Language: French (Français) 
À Trois heures et Demie, un Seul Oiseau
À un ciel silencieux
Proposa un seul mot
De Mélodie prudente.

À Quatre heures et Demie, l'Expérience
Avait soumis l'essai
Et voyez, son principe d'argent
Avait supplanté tout le reste.

À Sept heures et Demie, ni Élément
Ni outil n'étaient vus
Et l'Endroit était là où la Présence était
Avec la Circonférence entre eux

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2010 by Guy Laffaille, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in English by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2010-07-21
Line count: 12
Word count: 62

Translation © by Guy Laffaille
7.
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
Upon his Saddle sprung a Bird
And crossed a thousand Trees
Before a Fence without a Fare
His Fantasy did please
And then he lifted up his Throat
And squandered such a Note
A Universe that overheard
Is stricken by it yet --

Text Authorship:

  • by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title

See other settings of this text.

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
7.
Language: French (Français) 
Sur sa Selle un Oiseau bondit
Et traversa un millier d'Arbres
Devant une Barrière sans Péage
Sa Fantaisie lui plut
Et alors il remonta sa Gorge
Et lança une telle Note
Qu'un Univers qui l'entendit
En est encore frappé -

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2010 by Guy Laffaille, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in English by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2010-07-21
Line count: 8
Word count: 39

Translation © by Guy Laffaille
Gentle Reminder

This website began in 1995 as a personal project by Emily Ezust, who has been working on it full-time without a salary since 2008. Our research has never had any government or institutional funding, so if you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your help is greatly appreciated!
–Emily Ezust, Founder

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