Le tam-tam
French source:
Fatou Ndiaye Sow
Le tam-tam du jour de fête,
Le tam-tam qui appelle les génies,
Le tam-tam du lutteur ruisselant de sueur,
Le tam-tam de la mort.
Connais-tu le langage du tam-tam?
C’est le secret de la forêt.
The drum
English translation ©
Janis A. Mayes
The drum of the day of celebration,
The drum that calls the spirits,
The drum of the wrestler dripping with sweat,
The drum of death.
Do you know the language of the drum?
It’s the secret of the forest.
Le tam-tam
French source:
Fatou Ndiaye Sow
The drum
English source:
Janis A. Mayes
Connais-tu le langage du tam-tam?
Do you know the language of the drum?
Le tam-tam du jour de fête,
The drum of the day of celebration,
Le tam-tam qui appelle les génies,
The drum that calls the spirits,
Le tam-tam du lutteur ruisselant de sueur,
The drum of the wrestler dripping with sweat,
Le tam-tam de la mort.
The drum of death.
Connais-tu le langage du tam-tam?
Do you know the language of the drum?
C’est le secret de la forêt.
It’s the secret of the forest.
Composer
Judith Weir
Judith Weir was born into a Scottish family in 1954, but grew up near London. She was an oboe player, performing with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and studied composition with John Tavener during her schooldays. She went on to…