Songs

Ostrovok

by Sergei Rachmaninov From Twelve Romances (1896) Op. 14

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Text & Translation

Ostrovok
Russian source: Konstantin Balmont

Iz morya smotrit ostrovok,
Ego zeleny'e uklony'
Ukrasil trav gusty'x venok,
Fialki, anemony'.
Nad nim spletayutsya listy',
Vokrug nego chut` pleshhut volny'.
Derev`ya grustny', kak mechty',
Kak statui, bezmolvny'.
Zdes` ele dy'shit veterok,
Syuda groza ne doletaet,
I bezmyatezhny'j ostrovok
Vsyo dremlet, zasy'paet.

The Little Island

There was a little lawny islet
By anemone and violet,
Like mosaic paven:
And its roof was flowers and leaves
Which the summer's breath enweaves,
Where nor sun nor showers nor breeze
Pierce the pines and tallest trees,
Each a gem engraves; -
Girt by many an azure wave
With which the clouds and mountains pave
A lake's blue chasm.

Ostrovok
Russian source: Konstantin Balmont

The Little Island

Iz morya smotrit ostrovok,
There was a little lawny islet
Ego zeleny'e uklony'
By anemone and violet,
Ukrasil trav gusty'x venok,
Like mosaic paven:
Fialki, anemony'.
And its roof was flowers and leaves
Nad nim spletayutsya listy',
Which the summer's breath enweaves,
Vokrug nego chut` pleshhut volny'.
Where nor sun nor showers nor breeze
Derev`ya grustny', kak mechty',
Pierce the pines and tallest trees,
Kak statui, bezmolvny'.
Each a gem engraves; -
Zdes` ele dy'shit veterok,
Girt by many an azure wave
Syuda groza ne doletaet,
With which the clouds and mountains pave
I bezmyatezhny'j ostrovok
A lake's blue chasm.
Vsyo dremlet, zasy'paet.

Composer

Sergei Rachmaninov

Sergei Rachmaninov was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor of the late Romantic period.

Poet

Konstantin Balmont

Konstantin Dmitriyevich Balmont was a Russian symbolist poet and translator. 

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