Le collier
French source:
Olivier Messiaen
Ah! mon collier!
Ah! mon collier!
Petit soutien vivant de mes oreilles lasses,
Collier de renouveau, de sourire et de grâce,
Collier d'Orient, collier choisi, multicolore,
aux perles dures et cocasses!
Paysage courbe, épousant l'air frais du matin,
Ah! mon collier! Ah! mon collier!
Tes deux bras autour de mon cou, ce matin.
The necklace
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Ah! my necklace! Ah! my necklace!
Small living support of my weary ears,
Necklace of renewal, of smiles, of grace,
Oriental necklace, chosen, multicoloured
With hard, whimsical pearls!
Curving landscape, espousing the fresh morning air,
Ah! my necklace! Ah! my necklace!
Your two arms round my neck, this morning.
Translation © Richard Stokes, from A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
Le collier
French source:
Olivier Messiaen
The necklace
English source:
Richard Stokes
Printemps enchaîné, arc-en-ciel léger du matin,
Spring enchained, light rainbow of morning,
Ah! mon collier!
Ah! my necklace! Ah! my necklace!
Ah! mon collier!
Small living support of my weary ears,
Petit soutien vivant de mes oreilles lasses,
Necklace of renewal, of smiles, of grace,
Collier de renouveau, de sourire et de grâce,
Oriental necklace, chosen, multicoloured
Collier d'Orient, collier choisi, multicolore,
With hard, whimsical pearls!
aux perles dures et cocasses!
Curving landscape, espousing the fresh morning air,
Paysage courbe, épousant l'air frais du matin,
Ah! my necklace! Ah! my necklace!
Ah! mon collier! Ah! mon collier!
Your two arms round my neck, this morning.
Tes deux bras autour de mon cou, ce matin.
Composer
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen was a French composer, organist, and ornithologist. He wrote music for chamber ensembles and orchestra, vocal music, as well as for solo organ and piano, and also experimented with the use of novel electronic…
