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Connaissez-vous la blanche tombe, Où flotte avec un son plaintif L'ombre d'un if ? Sur l'if une pâle colombe, Triste et seule au soleil couchant, Chante son chant : ... On dirait que l'âme éveillée Pleure sous terre à l'unisson De la chanson, Et du malheur d'être oubliée Se plaint dans un roucoulement Bien doucement. ... Oh! jamais plus, près de la tombe, Je n'irai, quand descend le soir Au manteau noir, Écouter la pâle colombe Chanter sur la pointe de l'if Son chant plaintif !
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,6 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Henri Duparc (1848 - 1933), "Lamento", 1883, published 1895, stanzas 1,3,6 [ voice and piano ], Paris, Rouart, Lerolle & Cie (Salabert)
Score: IMSLP [external link]
Text Authorship:
- by Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Lamento", appears in La Comédie de la Mort, first published 1838
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Marike Lindhout) , "Lamento", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Lament", copyright ©
- ENG English (Kyle Gee) , "Lament", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Alberto Bonati) , copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2003-10-20
Line count: 36
Word count: 164
Do you know the white tomb Where floats with plaintive sound, The shadow of a yew? On the yew a pale dove, Sad and alone under the setting sun, Sings its song: ... One would say that an awakened soul Is weeping under the earth in unison With this song, And from the misfortune of being forgotten, Moans its sorrow in a cooing Quite soft. ... Oh! never again near the tomb Shall I go, when night lets fall Its black mantle, To hear the pale dove Sing on the limb of the yew Its plaintive song!
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,6 of the original text.
Berlioz's title could be translated "At the cemetery" or "To the cemetery"Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust, (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.
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Pierre-Jules-Théophile Gautier (1811 - 1872), "Lamento", appears in La Comédie de la Mort, first published 1838
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This text was added to the website: 2003-10-20
Line count: 36
Word count: 190