Text & Translation
Duša moja mračna. Skorej, pevec, skorej! ('Hebrew Melody')
Russian source:
Mikhail Lermontov
Vot arfa zolotaja:
Puskaj persty tvoi, promčavšisja po nej,
Probudjat v strunach zvuki raja.
I esli ne navek nadeždy rok unës,
Oni v grudi moej prosnutsja,
I esli est' v očach zastyvšich kaplja slëz -
Oni rastajut i prol'jutsja.
Pust' budet pesn' tvoja dika. Kak moj venec,
Mne tjagostny vesel'ja zvuki!
JA govorju tebe: ja slëz choču, pevec,
Il' razorvëtsja grud' ot muki.
Stradan'jami upitana ona,
Tomilas' dolgo i bezmolvno; i groznyj
Čas nastal - teper' ona polna,
Kak kubok smerti, jada polnyj.
My soul is dark
English translation ©
George Gordon, Lord Byron
The harp I yet can brook to hear;
And let thy gentle fingers fling
Its melting murmurs o'er mine ear. --
If in this heart a hope be dear,
That sound shall charm it forth again --
If in these eyes there lurk a tear,
'Twill flow -- and cease to burn my brain --
But bid the strain be wild and deep,
Nor let thy notes of joy be first:
I tell thee -- Minstrel! I must weep,
Or else this heavy heart will burst --
For it hath been by sorrow nurst,
And ached in sleepless silence long] --
And now 'tis doom'd to know the worst,
And break at once -- or yield to song.
Adaptation of I Samuel 16:14-23
Duša moja mračna. Skorej, pevec, skorej! ('Hebrew Melody')
Russian source:
Mikhail Lermontov
My soul is dark
English source:
George Gordon, Lord Byron
Duša moja mračna. Skorej, pevec, skorej!
My soul is dark - Oh! quickly string
Vot arfa zolotaja:
The harp I yet can brook to hear;
Puskaj persty tvoi, promčavšisja po nej,
And let thy gentle fingers fling
Probudjat v strunach zvuki raja.
Its melting murmurs o'er mine ear. --
I esli ne navek nadeždy rok unës,
If in this heart a hope be dear,
Oni v grudi moej prosnutsja,
That sound shall charm it forth again --
I esli est' v očach zastyvšich kaplja slëz -
If in these eyes there lurk a tear,
Oni rastajut i prol'jutsja.
'Twill flow -- and cease to burn my brain --
Pust' budet pesn' tvoja dika. Kak moj venec,
But bid the strain be wild and deep,
Mne tjagostny vesel'ja zvuki!
Nor let thy notes of joy be first:
JA govorju tebe: ja slëz choču, pevec,
I tell thee -- Minstrel! I must weep,
Il' razorvëtsja grud' ot muki.
Or else this heavy heart will burst --
Stradan'jami upitana ona,
For it hath been by sorrow nurst,
Tomilas' dolgo i bezmolvno; i groznyj
And ached in sleepless silence long] --
Čas nastal - teper' ona polna,
And now 'tis doom'd to know the worst,
Kak kubok smerti, jada polnyj.
And break at once -- or yield to song.
Composer
Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev
Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. He is primarily known for promoting musical nationalism and encouraging better-known composers, most notably Tchaikovsky. Read more here.
