Songs

Rosamonde

by Cécile Chaminade

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'Rosamonde'. Recorded by TallWall Media. 

Text & Translation

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Rosamonde
French source: Marc Constantin

Pourquoi tarde-t'il à venir
Quand je suis à l'attendre,
Craint-il, hélas ! mon regard tendre
Et mon premier soupir !
Dieu qui daignez nous bénir,
Pitié, pitié pour mon martyr !

Oubliant les travaux du jour,
Au village on sommeille,
Quand moi seule ici je veille
Conduite par l’amour !
Faut-il attendre son retour
Dans ce triste séjour !

Ah ! des larmes voilent mes yeux, m'est-il infidèle !
Peut être hélas une autre belle
Écoute ses aveux ?
Ah ! si là-haut l'on aime mieux,
Je veux monter aux cieux !

Rosamonde
English translation © Richard Stokes

Why does he tarry,
When I await him?
Ah, does he fear my tender gaze
And my first sigh?
O God, who deigns to bless us,
Take pity on my suffering!

Forgetting their day’s work,
All in the village are sleeping,
I alone am awake,
Led on by Love!
Must I await his return
In this dismal place?

Ah, tears shall blind me, should he prove unfaithful!
Perhaps, alas, another beauty
Is listening to his vows?
Ah! if people love better above us,
I shall ascend to heaven!

Rosamonde
French source: Marc Constantin

Rosamonde
English source: Richard Stokes

Pourquoi tarde-t'il à venir
Why does he tarry,
Quand je suis à l'attendre,
When I await him?
Craint-il, hélas ! mon regard tendre
Ah, does he fear my tender gaze
Et mon premier soupir !
And my first sigh?
Dieu qui daignez nous bénir,
O God, who deigns to bless us,
Pitié, pitié pour mon martyr !
Take pity on my suffering!

Oubliant les travaux du jour,
Forgetting their day’s work,
Au village on sommeille,
All in the village are sleeping,
Quand moi seule ici je veille
I alone am awake,
Conduite par l’amour !
Led on by Love!
Faut-il attendre son retour
Must I await his return
Dans ce triste séjour !
In this dismal place?

Ah ! des larmes voilent mes yeux, m'est-il infidèle !
Ah, tears shall blind me, should he prove unfaithful!
Peut être hélas une autre belle
Perhaps, alas, another beauty
Écoute ses aveux ?
Is listening to his vows?
Ah ! si là-haut l'on aime mieux,
Ah! if people love better above us,
Je veux monter aux cieux !
I shall ascend to heaven!

Composer

Cécile Chaminade

Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944) was one of the most successful female professional musicians of the 19th century, specialising in piano and vocal works and amassing a fortune during her lifetime. Born in Paris, she had an initially prosperous…

Performances

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