Air vif
French source:
Jean Moréas
Les fleurs des champs, des bois
éclatent de plaisir
Hélas! et sur leur tête le vent enfle sa voix.
Mais toi, noble océan
que l’assaut des tourmentes
Ne saurait ravager,
Certes plus dignement lorsque tu te lamentes
Tu te prends à songer.
Lively Air
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
The flowers of the field, of the woods
Burst forth with pleasure
Alas! and above their head the wind swells its voice.
But you, noble ocean whom the assault of storms
Cannot ravage,
You will assuredly, with more dignity,
Lose yourself in dreams when you lament.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
Air vif
French source:
Jean Moréas
Lively Air
English source:
Richard Stokes
Le trésor du verger et le jardin en fête,
The treasures of the orchard and the festive garden,
Les fleurs des champs, des bois
The flowers of the field, of the woods
éclatent de plaisir
Burst forth with pleasure
Hélas! et sur leur tête le vent enfle sa voix.
Alas! and above their head the wind swells its voice.
Mais toi, noble océan
But you, noble ocean whom the assault of storms
que l’assaut des tourmentes
Cannot ravage,
Ne saurait ravager,
You will assuredly, with more dignity,
Certes plus dignement lorsque tu te lamentes
Lose yourself in dreams when you lament.
Tu te prends à songer.
Composer
Francis Poulenc
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc (F7 January 1899 – 30 January 1963) was a French composer and pianist. His compositions include mélodies, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Read the full…
