Song Translations
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I. C’est l’extase langoureuse
I. It is the languorous ecstasy
C'est l'extase langoureuse,
C'est la fatigue amoureuse,
C'est tous les frissons des bois
Parmi l'étreinte des brises,
C'est vers les ramures grises
Le choeur des petites voix.
It is the languorous ecstasy
It is the fatigue of love
It is all the rustling of the woods
In the embrace of the breezes
It is near the gray branches –
A chorus of tiny voices.
O le frêle et frais murmure!
Cela gazouille et susurre,
Cela ressemble au cri doux
Que l'herbe agitée expire...
Tu dirais,
sous l'eau qui vire,
Le roulis sourd des cailloux.
Oh the frail and fresh murmur!
It babbles and whispers
It resembles the sweet sound
That the waving grass exhales…
You could say it were,
under the bending stream,
the muffled sound of rolling pebbles.
Cette âme qui se lamente
En cette plainte dormante
C'est la nôtre, n'est-ce pas ?
La mienne, dis, et la tienne,
Dont s'exhale l'humble antienne
Par ce tiède soir, tout bas ?
This soul, which laments,
And this dormant moan,
It is ours, is it not?
It is mine, say, and yours,
Of which we exhale this humble anthem
On this mild evening, so very quietly?
II. Il pleure dans mon coeur
II. There is weeping in my heart
Il pleure dans mon coeur
Comme il pleut sur la ville ;
Quelle est cette langueur
Qui pénètre mon cœur ?
There is weeping in my heart
Like it rains on the village;
What is this languor
That penetrates my heart?
Ô bruit doux de la pluie,
Par terre et sur les toits!
Pour un cœur qui s'ennuie,
Ô le bruit de la pluie !
Oh sweet sound of the rain
On the roof and tiles!
For a heart so weary,
Oh, the sound of the rain.
Il pleure sans raison
Dans ce cœur qui s'écoeure.
Quoi! nulle trahison ? ...
Ce deuil est sans raison.
It weeps without reason
In this disheartened heart.
What? No treason…
This grief is without reason.
C'est bien la pire peine,
De ne savoir pourquoi
Sans amour et sans haine
Mon cœur a tant de peine!
It is quite the worst pain,
To not know why –
Without love, without hatred,
My heart has so much pain.
III. Chevaux de bois
III. Horses of wood
Tournez, tournez, bon chevaux de bois,
Tournez cent tours, tounez mille tours.
Tournez souvent et tournez toujours,
Tournez, tournez au son des hautbois.
Turn, turn, good horses of wood!
Turn a hundred times, turn a thousand times!
Turn often, turn always,
Turn, turn to the sound of the oboes.
L'enfant tout rouge et la mère blanche,
Le gars en noir et la fille en rose.
L'une à la chose et l'autre à la pose,
Chacun se paie un sou de dimanche.
The red-faced child, and his pale mother,
The boy in black, the girl in pink.
One pursuing, the other posing,
Each getting a penny’s worth of Sunday fun.
Tournez, tournez, chevaux de leur coeur,
Tandis qu'autour de tous vos tournois
Clignote l'oeil du filou sournois.
Tournez au son du piston vainqueur!
Turn, turn, horses of our hearts,
While all around your turning
Squints the eye of the sly pickpocket.
Turn to the sound of the cornet victorious!
C'est étonnant comme ça vous soûle,
D'aller ainsi dans ce cirque bête,
Rien dans le ventre
et mal dans la tête,
Du mal en masse et du bien en foule;
It is astonishing – how it intoxicates you!
To go around in this dumb circle,
Nothing in your stomach,
an ache in your head,
Very sick, and having lots of fun!
Tournez dadas, sans qu'il soit besoin
D'user jamais de nuls éperons
Pour commander à vos galops ronds.
Tournez, tournez, sans espoir de foin,
Turn, wooden horses, with no need
To use spurs
To command you to gallop around,
Turn, turn with no hope for hay.
Et dépêchez, chevaux de leur âme,
Déjà voici que sonne à la soupe
La nuit qui tombe et chasse la troupe
De gais buveurs, que leur soif affame.
And hurry, horses of their souls –
Already here is the bell for supper.
The night is falling and chasing the troop
Of merry drinkers, famished by their thirst.
Tournez, tournez! Le ciel en velours
D'astres en or se vêt lentement,
L'Eglise tinte un glas tristement.
Tournez au son joyeux des tambours, tournez.
Turn, turn! The sky of velvet
With stars of gold is slowly clothed.
The church bells toll sadly.
Turn to the happy sound of the drums, Turn.
IV. Green
IV. Green
Voici des fruits, des fleurs,
des feuilles et des branches
Et puis voici mon coeur
qui ne bat que pour vous.
Ne le déchirez pas
avec vos deux mains blanches
Et qu'à vos yeux si beaux
l'humble présent soit doux.
Here is some fruit, some flowers,
Leaves and some branches
And here – here is my heart
Which beats only for you.
Do not destroy it
With your two white hands
And in your beautiful eyes
May this humble present seem sweet.
J'arrive tout couvert encore de rosée
Que le vent du matin
vient glacer à mon front.
Souffrez que ma fatigue
à vos pieds reposée
Rêve des chers instants
qui la délasseront.
I arrive, all covered in blushing joy
That the wind of the morning
Has frozen on my face.
Suffer my fatigue
As I rest at your feet,
Dreaming of those dear moments
That will revive me.
Sur votre jeune sein
laissez rouler ma tête
Toute sonore encor
de vos derniers baisers ;
Laissez-la s'apaiser
de la bonne tempête,
Et que je dorme un peu
puisque vous reposez.
On your young breast
Let me rest my head,
All ringing still
With your last kisses.
Let it calm itself
After that pleasant tempest,
And let me sleep a while,
Since you are resting.
Special Thanks
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Silvia Roederer – For your four-plus years of guidance, inspiration, encouragement, and support as my
teacher. I have learned so much and will always cherish the knowledge and insight you have instilled in me as
a musician and as a person.
Karl Schrock – For your wonderful insight and knowledge in organ lessons, chamber coachings, life, and for
being on my honors thesis committee. Thank you for your guidance, friendship, and sharing your genuine,
caring spirit with me through thick and thin.
Keyboard faculty, past and present – Dr. Steve Zegree, Prof. Lori Sims, and Prof. Yu-Lien The. I greatly
appreciate your support and encouragement over the past four years at Western.
Phyllis Rappaport – For your insight and help in preparing for this recital. I gained a great deal from our work
together.
Molly Young – For taking the time out of your spring break and very busy schedule to reunite and collaborate
on this program. I deeply treasure your musicianship, friendship, and camaraderie, and I am so excited to be
performing with you again today!
Muzika Russe – It has been a pleasure and an honor collaborating with you these past two years. Thank you.
Adam Lenz – Thank you for introducing rare and exquisite music of Eastern Europe to me and for giving me
the opportunity to play in a high level ensemble such as this.
Larry Hammond – For your expertise in recording and videography. Thank you for your willingness to record
my recitals these past four years.
First Baptist, Felicia Ford, & Robert Jordan – Thank you for your help and flexibility in my recital preparation.
St. Thomas More Catholic Student Parish - For your support, encouragement, and loving spirit these past four
years. I have found a wonderful place of worship and a welcoming, inviting community.
Friends – I cannot thank you enough for your unending support and encouragement, your patience and
understanding, your time and energy, especially through my hectic recital preparations.
Mom, Dad, & Family – Thank you for your unconditional love, support, encouragement, and care as you have
watched me grow into the person I am today.
God – “For I the plans I have for you…” – Jeremiah 29:11. Need I say more?