Le vent dans la plaine
French source:
Paul Verlaine
C’est la fatigue amoureuse,
C’est tous les frissons des bois
Parmi l’étreinte des brises,
C’est, vers les ramures grises,
Le chœur des petites voix.
Ô le frêle et frais murmure!
Cela gazouille et susurre,
Cela ressemble au bruit doux
Que l’herbe agitée expire …
Tu dirais, sous l’eau qui vire,
Le roulis sourd des cailloux.
The wind on the plane
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
It is amorous fatigue,
It is all the tremors of the forest
In the breezes’ embrace,
It is, around the grey branches,
The choir of tiny voices.
O the delicate, fresh murmuring!
The warbling and whispering,
It is like the sweet sound
The ruffled grass gives out …
You might take it for the muffled sound
Of pebbles in the swirling stream.
Le vent dans la plaine
French source:
Paul Verlaine
The wind on the plane
English source:
Richard Stokes
C’est l’extase langoureuse,
It is languorous rapture,
C’est la fatigue amoureuse,
It is amorous fatigue,
C’est tous les frissons des bois
It is all the tremors of the forest
Parmi l’étreinte des brises,
In the breezes’ embrace,
C’est, vers les ramures grises,
It is, around the grey branches,
Le chœur des petites voix.
The choir of tiny voices.
Ô le frêle et frais murmure!
O the delicate, fresh murmuring!
Cela gazouille et susurre,
The warbling and whispering,
Cela ressemble au bruit doux
It is like the sweet sound
Que l’herbe agitée expire …
The ruffled grass gives out …
Tu dirais, sous l’eau qui vire,
You might take it for the muffled sound
Le roulis sourd des cailloux.
Of pebbles in the swirling stream.
Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French composer, organist, conductor, and pianist of the Romantic era. A musical prodigy, he gave his first concert at only 10 years old, before studying at the Paris Conservatoire. Information from Wikipedia.…
Poet
Paul Verlaine
Paul-Marie Verlaine was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry. Born in Metz, Verlaine was educated at the Lycée Impérial…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- 71. Carolyn Sampson, Joseph Middleton: A Verlaine Songbook 28 Oct 2022
- 08. Celebrating Saint-Saëns 09 Oct 2021