Songs

Paimenet

by Toivo Kuula

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Text & Translation

Paimenet
source: Veikko Antero Koskenniemi

Kaksi paimenta karjoja metsään vie,
kaksi paimenta torvea soittaa,
niin vilvas on metsolan vihreä tie:
Uni pienen paimenen voittaa.
Sinipiikojen karkelo keinutti pois
sen paimenen korpien syliin,
ja on kuni toisen soitto
nyt sois yhä kaipuuta suuriin kyliin.
Yksi illalla soittavi torvea vain,
yksi karjoja kotiin huhuu.
Sen toisen korvahan korpi ain
niin outoja unia puhuu,
sen huilussa metsien houkutus soi,
sinipiiat on silmien eessä.
Hoi paimenta, hoi eksynyt paimen,
kylä etsivi silmät veessä.

The Herdsmen
English translation © Jaakko Mäntyjärvi

Two herdsmen are taking their cattle to the woods;
Two herdsmen are playing on their horns;
The green road of the forest is so cool
That sleep soon overcomes the young herdsman.
A group of woodsmaids dancing by took him away
Into the deep dark forest;
The music of the other herdsman
Played a dirge of longing unto the distant villages.
The lone herdsman plays his horn in the evening;
The lone herdsman gathers his cattle.
The other herdsman only hears
The strange dreams of the forest,
His flute plays the strange temptations of the forest,
And the woodsmaids are in his eyes.
Hoy, herdsman, hoy, lost herdsman,
The village is seeking in tears.

Paimenet
source: Veikko Antero Koskenniemi

The Herdsmen
English source: Jaakko Mäntyjärvi

Kaksi paimenta karjoja metsään vie,
Two herdsmen are taking their cattle to the woods;
kaksi paimenta torvea soittaa,
Two herdsmen are playing on their horns;
niin vilvas on metsolan vihreä tie:
The green road of the forest is so cool
Uni pienen paimenen voittaa.
That sleep soon overcomes the young herdsman.
Sinipiikojen karkelo keinutti pois
A group of woodsmaids dancing by took him away
sen paimenen korpien syliin,
Into the deep dark forest;
ja on kuni toisen soitto
The music of the other herdsman
nyt sois yhä kaipuuta suuriin kyliin.
Played a dirge of longing unto the distant villages.
Yksi illalla soittavi torvea vain,
The lone herdsman plays his horn in the evening;
yksi karjoja kotiin huhuu.
The lone herdsman gathers his cattle.
Sen toisen korvahan korpi ain
The other herdsman only hears
niin outoja unia puhuu,
The strange dreams of the forest,
sen huilussa metsien houkutus soi,
His flute plays the strange temptations of the forest,
sinipiiat on silmien eessä.
And the woodsmaids are in his eyes.
Hoi paimenta, hoi eksynyt paimen,
Hoy, herdsman, hoy, lost herdsman,
kylä etsivi silmät veessä.
The village is seeking in tears.

Composer

Toivo Kuula

Toivo Timoteus Kuula was a Finnish composer and conductor of the late-Romantic and early-modern periods. He is best known for his many compositions for voice and orchestra. Read more here.

Performances

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