by Claude Mckay (1890 - 1948)
Translation by Anna Siemsen
The Harlem Dancer
Language: English
Applauding youths laughed with young prostitutes And watched her perfect, half-clothed body sway; Her voice was like the sound of blended flutes Blown by black players upon a picnic day. She sang and danced on gracefully and calm, The light gauze hanging loose about her form; To me she seemed a proudly-swaying palm Grown lovelier for passing through a storm. Upon her swarthy neck black shiny curls Luxuriant fell; and tossing coins in praise, The wine-flushed, bold-eyed boys, and even the girls, Devoured her shape with eager, passionate gaze; But looking at her falsely-smiling face, I knew her self was not in that strange place.
Authorship:
- by Claude Mckay (1890 - 1948), "The Harlem Dancer" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "The Harlem Dancer", 2009 [medium voice and piano] [ sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anna Siemsen ; composed by Alexander Zemlinsky.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-04
Line count: 14
Word count: 105
Harlem Tänzerin
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English
Dirnen und Burschen hört' ich Beifall rasen, Als sie, halbnackt, den stolzen Körper wand, Und ihre Stimme war wie Flötenblasen Auf einer Fahrt ins sommerliche Land. Sanft und voll Anmut glitt im Tanz sie hin, Der dünne Flor barg ihren Körper nicht, Wie eine Palme schien sie meinem Sinn, Die stolzer nur im Sturm sich aufgericht'. Ihr glänzend Haar, ihr dunkler Nacken strahlte. Weinheiße Burschen schrien den Saal entlang Und warfen Geld, und neidbewundernd malt' Der Dirnen Blick, der gierig sie verschlang. Sie lächelte weit über uns ins Leere, Als ob sie fern, o fern und einsam wäre.
Authorship:
Based on:
- a text in English by Claude Mckay (1890 - 1948), "The Harlem Dancer"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Alexander Zemlinsky (1871 - 1942), "Harlem Tänzerin", op. 27 (Twelve songs: for soprano and piano) no. 8 (1937/8), published c1978 [ soprano and piano ], Hillsdale, N.Y. : Mobart Music Publications, [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-04
Line count: 14
Word count: 98