Songs

L'oiselet (after Chopin)

by Pauline Viardot

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Text & Translation

L'oiselet (after Chopin)
source: Louis Pomey

Le ciel est clair et l'air est doux,
Tout rit, tout jase autour de nous;
Toi seul, ô mon pauvre oiselet,
Toi seul languis triste et muet.

Le printemps qui tout ranime
De nos monts verdit la cime;
De la brise matinale
Un parfum d'amour s'exhale,
Aux champs, dans le secret des bois,
Tout ce qui vit dit à la fois
Le mot que la nuit dit au jour,
Le mot charmant, le mot d'amour.
Ah! Assise loin de son troupeau,
Et le suivant d'un oeil rêveur,
Chloé ne sait quel feu nouveau
Soudain s'allume dans son coeur.
Mais toi l'on ne peut te charmer,
Tu fuis le doux plaisir d'aimer.
Celui de qui tu plains les maux
Gémit captif sous les barreaux,
Adieu! l'amour et la gaîté
Pour qui n'a pas la liberté.

The bird (after Chopin)
English translation © Oxford Song

The sky is clear and the air is soft,
Everything laughs, everything chatters around us;
Only you, oh my poor little bird,
Only you languish, sad and mute.

Spring, which revives everything,
Greens the peaks of our mountains;
From the morning breeze
A scent of love exhales,
In the fields, in the secret of the woods,
Everything that lives says at once
The word that night says to day,
The charming word, the word of love.
Ah! Seated far from her flock,
And following it with a dreamy eye,
Chloé doesn't know what new fire
Suddenly ignites in her heart.
But you cannot be charmed,
You flee the sweet pleasure of love.
He whom you pity in his suffering
Laments as a captive behind bars,
Farewell! Love and joy
Are not for those who lack freedom.

L'oiselet (after Chopin)
source: Louis Pomey

The bird (after Chopin)
English source: Oxford Song

Le ciel est clair et l'air est doux,
The sky is clear and the air is soft,
Tout rit, tout jase autour de nous;
Everything laughs, everything chatters around us;
Toi seul, ô mon pauvre oiselet,
Only you, oh my poor little bird,
Toi seul languis triste et muet.
Only you languish, sad and mute.

Le printemps qui tout ranime
Spring, which revives everything,
De nos monts verdit la cime;
Greens the peaks of our mountains;
De la brise matinale
From the morning breeze
Un parfum d'amour s'exhale,
A scent of love exhales,
Aux champs, dans le secret des bois,
In the fields, in the secret of the woods,
Tout ce qui vit dit à la fois
Everything that lives says at once
Le mot que la nuit dit au jour,
The word that night says to day,
Le mot charmant, le mot d'amour.
The charming word, the word of love.
Ah! Assise loin de son troupeau,
Ah! Seated far from her flock,
Et le suivant d'un oeil rêveur,
And following it with a dreamy eye,
Chloé ne sait quel feu nouveau
Chloé doesn't know what new fire
Soudain s'allume dans son coeur.
Suddenly ignites in her heart.
Mais toi l'on ne peut te charmer,
But you cannot be charmed,
Tu fuis le doux plaisir d'aimer.
You flee the sweet pleasure of love.
Celui de qui tu plains les maux
He whom you pity in his suffering
Gémit captif sous les barreaux,
Laments as a captive behind bars,
Adieu! l'amour et la gaîté
Farewell! Love and joy
Pour qui n'a pas la liberté.
Are not for those who lack freedom.

Composer

Pauline Viardot

Pauline Viardot, née Garcia (1821-1910) was one of the most remarkable, accomplished musical professionals of the 19th century. Born into a family of music professionals, she wanted to be a pianist, but following the early death of her sister…

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