English translation of Premier chant d'Ariel

by Arthur Honegger (1892 - 1955), "Premier chant d'Ariel", H. 48B no. 1 (1923), published 1925 [ medium voice and piano or orchestra ], from 2 Chants d'Ariel, no. 1

Note: this is a translation of one multi-text setting.

Venez jusqu'à ces sables d'or
et prenez vous les mains alors
après le baiser et la révérence
et les hautes vagues feront silence
légèrement ci et là danserez
puis doux esprits chanterez

Chut! chut! 
le chien de garde aboie
Chut! chut! 
j'entends de chantecler 
le cri strident.

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Au fond des eaux ton père repose
ses os seront du corail rose
ses yeux des perles devenus
de lui rien ne sera perdu
car l'eau marine bientôt le change
en une chose riche, étrange
Sonnez songlas nymphes marines
Chut! chut! 
écoutez-les!

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Author(s): Guy de Pourtalès (1881 - 1941)
Come to these golden sands 
and take each others' hands, 
after the kiss and the bow, 
and the high swells will be silent. 
Lightly here and there you will dance, 
then gentle spirits, you will sing. 

Shh! Shh! 
the guard dog is barking. 
Shh! Shh! 
I hear Chanticleer's 
strident cry.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2004 by Faith J. Cormier, (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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Your father rests at the bottom of the sea. 
His bones will become pink coral, 
his eyes pearls. 
Nothing of his shall be lost, 
for the seawater will soon change them 
into something rich and strange. 
Toll his knell, sea nymphs.
Shh! Shh! 
Listen to them!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2004 by Faith J. Cormier, (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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Translation © by Faith J. Cormier