Songs

Paganini

by Francis Poulenc From Métamorphoses (1943) FP121

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Text & Translation

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Paganini
French source: Louise de Vilmorin

Violon hippocampe et sirène
Berceau des coeurs coeur et berceau
Larmes de Marie-Madeleine
Soupir d’une Reine
Écho

Violon orgueil des mains légères
Départ à cheval sur les eaux
Amour chevauchant le mystère
Voleur en prière
Oiseau

Violon femme morganatique
Chat botté courant la forêt
Puits des vérités lunatiques
Confession publique
Corset

Violon alcool de l’âme en peine
Préférence. Muscle du soir
Épaule des saisons soudaines
Feuille de chêne
Miroir

Violon chevalier du silence
Jouet évadé du bonheur
Poitrine des mille présences
Bateau de plaisance
Chasseur

Paganini
English translation © Richard Stokes

Violin sea-horse and siren,
Cradle of hearts heart and cradle
Tears of Mary Magdalene
A queen’s sigh
Echo

Violin pride of delicate hands
Departure on horseback over the waters
Love astride mystery
Theif at prayer
Bird

Violin morganatic wife
Puss-in-Boots ranging the forest
Well of capricious truths
Public confession
Corset

Violin alcohol of the troubled soul
Preference muscle of the evening
Shoulders of sudden seasons
Oak-leaf
Mirror

Violin knight of silence
Toy escaped from happiness,
Breast of a thousand presences
Pleasure-boat
Hunter.

Translation © Richard Stokes, from A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)

Paganini
French source: Louise de Vilmorin

Paganini
English source: Richard Stokes

Violon hippocampe et sirène
Violin sea-horse and siren,
Berceau des coeurs coeur et berceau
Cradle of hearts heart and cradle
Larmes de Marie-Madeleine
Tears of Mary Magdalene
Soupir d’une Reine
A queen’s sigh
Écho
Echo

Violon orgueil des mains légères
Violin pride of delicate hands
Départ à cheval sur les eaux
Departure on horseback over the waters
Amour chevauchant le mystère
Love astride mystery
Voleur en prière
Theif at prayer
Oiseau
Bird

Violon femme morganatique
Violin morganatic wife
Chat botté courant la forêt
Puss-in-Boots ranging the forest
Puits des vérités lunatiques
Well of capricious truths
Confession publique
Public confession
Corset
Corset

Violon alcool de l’âme en peine
Violin alcohol of the troubled soul
Préférence. Muscle du soir
Preference muscle of the evening
Épaule des saisons soudaines
Shoulders of sudden seasons
Feuille de chêne
Oak-leaf
Miroir
Mirror

Violon chevalier du silence
Violin knight of silence
Jouet évadé du bonheur
Toy escaped from happiness,
Poitrine des mille présences
Breast of a thousand presences
Bateau de plaisance
Pleasure-boat
Chasseur
Hunter.

Composer

Francis Poulenc

Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc (F7 January 1899 – 30 January 1963) was a French composer and pianist. His compositions include mélodies, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Read the full…

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