Ta voix
French source:
Olivier Messiaen
Qui s'ouvre sur l'après-midi,
Et sur ta voix fraîche
(Oiseau de printemps qui s'éveille).
Si elle s'ouvrait sur l'éternité
Je te verrais plus belle encore.
Tu es la servante du Fils,
Et le Père t'aimerait pour cela.
Sa lumière sans fin tomberait sur tes épaules,
Sa marque sur ton front.
Tu compléterais le nombre des anges incorporels.
A la gloire de la Trinité sainte
Un toujours de bonheur élèverait ta voix fraîche
(Oiseau de printemps qui s'éveille):
Tu chanterais.
Your voice
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Opening into the afternoon,
And onto your fresh voice
(Awakening bird of spring).
Were it to open on eternity,
I'd see you fairer yet.
You are the maidservant of the Son,
And for that the Father would love you.
His unending light would fall on your shoulders,
His sign on your brow.
You would complete the number of incorporated angels
To the glory of the Holy Trinity,
A joyous ever-after would raise up your fresh voice
(Awakening bird of spring)
You would sing.
Translation © Richard Stokes, from A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
Ta voix
French source:
Olivier Messiaen
Your voice
English source:
Richard Stokes
Fenêtre pleine d'après-midi,
Window brimming with afternoon,
Qui s'ouvre sur l'après-midi,
Opening into the afternoon,
Et sur ta voix fraîche
And onto your fresh voice
(Oiseau de printemps qui s'éveille).
(Awakening bird of spring).
Si elle s'ouvrait sur l'éternité
Were it to open on eternity,
Je te verrais plus belle encore.
I'd see you fairer yet.
Tu es la servante du Fils,
You are the maidservant of the Son,
Et le Père t'aimerait pour cela.
And for that the Father would love you.
Sa lumière sans fin tomberait sur tes épaules,
His unending light would fall on your shoulders,
Sa marque sur ton front.
His sign on your brow.
Tu compléterais le nombre des anges incorporels.
You would complete the number of incorporated angels
A la gloire de la Trinité sainte
To the glory of the Holy Trinity,
Un toujours de bonheur élèverait ta voix fraîche
A joyous ever-after would raise up your fresh voice
(Oiseau de printemps qui s'éveille):
(Awakening bird of spring)
Tu chanterais.
You would sing.
Composer
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen was a French composer, organist, and ornithologist. He wrote music for chamber ensembles and orchestra, vocal music, as well as for solo organ and piano, and also experimented with the use of novel electronic…
