PROGRAM N TES - Cleveland Chamber Music Society
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PROGRAM N♪TES
Holger Falk, baritone
Julius Drake, piano
October 23, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.
Forest Hills Church
Six Songs after Poems by Johann Gabriel Seidl
Franz Schubert
Born: Vienna-Himmelpfortgrund, 1797
Died: Vienna, 1828
Composed: 1826-28
In 1826, an aspiring 22-year-old poet by the (Sehnsucht); a celebration of passionate love
name of Johann Gabriel Seidl (1804-75) (Bei dir allein); the praise of the simple
published a two-volume anthology from pleasures in life (Irdisches Glück), or a
which Schubert took the texts for no fewer meditation about where one's real home is
than twelve songs—including ione of his (Der Wanderer an den Mond). Im Freien is,
very last works, “Die Taubenpost,” in the words of musicologist Susan Youens,
published posthumously as the last piece of “a nocturnal serenade to everything and
the cycle Schwanengesang. Despite the everyone,” while in the ever-popular
inferiority of Seidl's poetic talents, these Taubenpost, “Sehnsucht” (longing) is, for
songs gave the composer the chance to once, not a cause for suffering but a source
express a wide range of feelings, including of great, quiet happiness.
reassurance after a state of restlessness
Selections from Hollywooder Liederbuch and Hollywood Elegies
Hanns Eisler
Born: Leipzig, 1898
Died: East Berlin, 1962
Composed: 1941-42
Next to Kurt Weill, Hanns Eisler was Bertolt contemporaries, Brecht and Eisler first met
Brecht's closest musical collaborator. Exact in Berlin in the late 1920s, and theirfriendship lasted until Brecht's death in were later arranged in various cycles, 1956. After years of wanderings in Europe variously known as the Hollywooder (where they were sometimes together and Liederbuch (Hollywood Songbook) and sometimes not), the two men were reunited Hollywood Elegies. All the songs are in 1941 in Southern California, where a extremely short und depict the feelings of a rather large group of refugees from Nazi refugee “driven to Paradise” whose thoughts Germany found their permanent or and feelings are dominated on the sufferers temporary homes (including Eisler's old left behind, one who is struggling with an composition teacher, Arnold Schoenberg). unfamiliar new environment and is keenly For Brecht and Eisler, who both had strong aware that one person's Paradise can be Communist sympathies, the sojourn was not another's Hell (“Diese Stadt hat mich to last. In 1948, the composer was expelled belehrt”). from McCarthy's America; the poet and In the songs, Eisler made use of playwright had departed a year earlier, only Schoenberg's twelve-tone method, one day after testifying before the House combining it with the idiom of the political Un-American Activities Committee. The songs he had written in Germany, with last phase of Brecht and Eisler's working elements of the classical Lied and popular relationship took place in East Germany, music added to the mix as well. The result where both settled in 1949-50. was a stylistic amalgam in which, as Eisler Eisler, who had found work in the biographer Albrecht Betz noted, “the Hollywood studios during the war, familiar appears in an unfamiliar context,” composed about fifty art songs on Brecht where “Eisler's experiences with...film poems during the same period. The songs music have left their mark.” Banalités (1940), Calligrammes (1948) Francis Poulenc Born: Paris, 1899 Died: Paris, 1963 Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918), a Many of Poulenc's songs, including these leading light of French avant-garde poetry, two sets, were written for Poulenc's friend was at the center of Francis Poulenc’s andfrequent recital partner, the baritone artistic universe. As a young man, Poulenc Pierre Bernac. The seven songs that make up had known Apollinaire personally; over the Calligrammes received their premieres years, he set more than forty of his poems to during the duo's first American tour in the music. His opera Les mamelles de Tirésias fall of 1948, a six-week coast-to-coast (‟The Breasts of Tiresias”) is based on a journey with rave reviews everywhere. After play by Apollinaire. the premiere of Calligrammes at Town Hall In the five Banalités, we hear, in turn, a in New York City (November 20, 1948) in sophisticated folksong imitation, an essay in particular, there were seven curtain calls and decadent languor, a scherzo filled with five encores. delicious, untranslatable puns, and an ironic In his memoir Diary of My Songs, Poulenc miniature waltz. In the last song, the longest recalled the experiences that had led to the of the set, individual pain receives a cosmic composition of this cycle, events that had dimension as it embodies universal suffering taken place thirty years earlier while the ‟until the end of time.”
composer was serving in the Army during Each of the seven songs was dedicated to a World War I: childhood friend, two of whom were no I was then in an antiaircraft section stationed longer alive in 1948. The memories at Tremblay...I would end each day in one of connected to those friends—bittersweet, the little bistros in Nogent. It was actually in fierce, sarcastic, nostalgic, tragic—come one of these that I first made contact with close to constituting an emotional the volume of Apollinaire, thus melding autobiography. what I was going to live through with the poetic fictions of Calligrammes. Ludions (1923), Rambouillet (1907), Je te veux (1897), Enfant martyre (1904) Erik Satie Born: Honfleur, 1866 Died: Paris, 1925 Erik Satie was one of the greatest non- the latter's circle of friends known as the conformists in the history of music, with a “Apaches” and who had more recently deep mistrust of the establishment. He was formed a newer coterie named “Potassons.” a friend and contemporary of Debussy and The name, for which Fargue provided a Ravel who both thought highly of him, yet detailed definition, may be summed up as the path that led to Pelléas and Daphnis was standing for a life-loving, good-humored not for Satie. As he once said of Ravel: person. Songs 1, 3 and 5 are parodistic in “Ravel refused the légion d'honneur but all their intent (the first a memorial for a pet rat, his music accepts it.” the last one for a pet cat), but Nos. 2 and 4 Yet during the last years of his life, Satie strike a darker tone with the “spleen” was taken very seriously by the musical suddenly engulfing our entire life (at least world, as he should have been. With the for a split second), and with a silly play on advent of Dada and Surrealism after World words receiving a solemnly minimalistic War I, his time had really come, and pieces musical treatment. that would earlier have been dismissed as Satie had frequently exercised his parodistic jokes lacking substance were received with a in younger years, working for years as a certain amount of reverence. The five short cabaret pianist at the Auberge du Clou in the songs published under the title Ludions were 9th arrondissement, collaborating with a first performed at an aristocratic masked popular singer-poet named Vincent Hyspa ball, with organ accompaniment no less (1865-1938). For “Rambouillet” and (whose incongruity must have only “Enfant martyre,” the words have not increased the humoristic effect, but still, the survived. The word in the first title is the host of the masked ball, Count Étienne de name of a small town outside Paris known Beaumont, was a devoted patron of the for its 14th-century château); they are both composer. (Ludions, known as “Cartesian simple melodies with sometimes surprising divers” or “bottle imps” in English, are toys harmonies. “Je te veux,” on a rather risqué devised to demonstrate the principle of text by Satie's friend Henry Pacory, is a buoyancy.) sentimental waltz popularized by one of the The poet, Léon-Paul Fargue (1876-1947), an most famous music-hall performers in Paris, old friend of Ravel's, had been a member of Paulette Darty.
Song Lyrics and Translations
Six Songs after Poems by Johann Gabriel Seidl
Franz Schubert
Sehnsucht Longing
Die Scheibe friert, der Wind ist rauh, The window-pane freezes, the wind is rough,
Der nächt'ge Himmel rein und blau: the night sky is clear and blue.
Ich sitz' in meinem Kämmerlein I sit in my little room
Und schau in's reine Blau hinein! and gaze into clear blue.
Mir fehlt etwas, das fühl' ich gut, Something is lacking, I feel all too well;
Mir fehlt mein Lieb, das treue Blut: I miss my love, my true life's blood,
Und will ich in die Sterne sehn, and if I gaze at the stars
Muß stets das Aug mir übergehn! my eyes must overflow with tears.
Mein Lieb, wo weilst du nur so fern, My love, where do you tarry so far away,
Mein schöner Stern, mein Augenstern?! my beautiful star, delight of my eyes?
Du weißt, dich lieb' und brauch' ich ja, - You know that I love and need you;
Die Träne tritt mir wieder nah. again tears threaten.
Da quält' ich mich so manchen Tag, I have suffered for so many days
Weil mir kein Lied gelingen mag, - and for me no song will come,
Weil's nimmer sich erzwingen läßt because one cannot force a song
Und frei hinsäuselt, wie der West! to murmur forth freely like the west wind.
Wie mild mich's wieder grad durchglüht! - How softly does this glow suffuse me now!
Sieh nur - das ist ja schon ein Lied! Look - it is a song already!
Wenn mich mein Loos vom Liebchen warf, Even though my lot was to be cast far from my
Dann fühl' ich, dass ich singen darf. love,
I feel now that I can still sing.
Bei dir allein With you alone
Bei dir allein empfind' ich, dass ich lebe, With you alone I feel that I am alive,
Dass Jugendmut mich schwellt that a spirit of youth swells within me,
Dass eine heit're Welt that a jovial world
Der Liebe mich durchbebe; of love surges through me;
Mich freut mein Sein Bei dir allein! I rejoice in my existence
Bei dir allein weht mir die Luft so labend, with you alone!
Dünkt mich die Flur so grün, With you alone does the breeze feel so
So mild des Lenzes Blüh'n, refreshing,
So balsamreich der Abend, the meadow so green,
So kühl der Hain, the blooming Spring so balmy,
Bei dir allein! the evening so richly fragrant,Bei dir allein verliert der Schmerz sein Herbes, the grove so cool;
Gewinnt die Freud an Lust! with you alone!
Du sicherst meine Brust des angestammten Erbes; With you alone, pain loses its bitterness
Ich fühl' mich mein and joy yields such pleasure!
Bei dir allein! You safeguard the
ancient heritage of my heart;
I feel I am myself
with you alone!
Irdisches Glück Earthly Happiness
So Mancher sieht mit finstrer Miene Not so few look with grim faces
Die weite Welt sich grollend an, And resentment on the wide world;
Des Lebens wunderbare Bühne Life’s wondrous stage
Liegt ihm vergebens aufgetan. Lies open to them, though in vain.
Da weiß ich besser mich zu nehmen, But I know better what to do,
Und fern, der Freude mich zu schämen, And, far from ashamed of my joy,
Genieß' ich froh den Augenblick: do happily enjoy the moment.
Das ist denn doch gewiss ein Glück. And this, certainly, is happiness!
Um manches Herz hab ich geworben, Many a heart have I wooed
Doch währte mein Triumph nicht lang, though my triumph did not last long
Denn Blödheit hat mir oft verdorben, For my stupidity often ruined
Was kaum mein Frohsinn mir errang. What my cheerful spirit had scarce achieved.
Drum bin ich auch dem Netz entgangen; And so I did escape the net;
Denn, weil kein Wahn mich hielt umfangen, For since no illusion held me captive
Kam ich von keinem auch zurück: I had no need to escape from one:
Und das ist doch gewiss ein Glück! And that, certainly, is happiness!
Kein Lorbeer grünte meiner Scheitel, No laurels have adorned my brow,
Mein Haupt umstrahlt' kein Ehrenglanz; Nor halo of glory shone about my head,
Doch ist darum mein Thun nicht eitel; Yet my life is not in vain;
Ein stiller Dank ist auch ein Kranz! Quiet thanks are also a wreath!
Wem, weit entfernt von kecken Flügen, And he who, far from bold flights,
Des Thales stille Freuden g'nügen, Is content with the valley’s quiet joys,
Dem bangt auch nie für sein Genick: Never fears for his neck.
Und das ist doch gewiss ein Glück! And that, certainly, is happiness!
Und ruft der Bot' aus jenen Reichen And when the messenger from the world beyond
Mir einst, wie Allen, ernst und hohl, Calls me, as he does all, in a voice serious and
Dann sag ich willig, im Entweichen, hollow,
Der schönen Erde »Lebe wohl!« Then, in parting, I bid willingly
Sei's denn, so drücken doch am Ende To this beautiful earth “farewell”.
Die Hand mir treue Freundeshände, Maybe, at the end,So segnet doch mich Freundesblick: the hands of true friends hold mine
Und das ist, Brüder, doch wohl Glück! And friendly eyes will bless me;
And that, brothers, is happiness indeed!
Im Freien Outdoors
Draußen in der weiten Nacht Outside in the vast night
Steh' ich wieder nun: Now once more I stand;
Ihre helle Sternenpracht Its bright, starry splendour
Lässt mein Herz nicht ruhn! Grants my heart no peace.
Tausend Arme winken mir A thousand arms beckon to me
Süßbegehrend zu, With sweet longing
Tausend Stimmen rufen hier: A thousand voices call to me:
»Grüß dich, Trauter, du!« 'Greetings, thou dear friend!'
O ich weiß auch, was mich zieht, Oh, I know what draws me,
Weiß auch, was mich ruft, What calls to me,
Was wie Freundes Gruß und Lied Like a friend's greeting, a song
Locket durch die Luft. Floating enticingly through the air.
Siehst du dort das Hüttchen stehn, Do you see there the cottage
Drauf der Mondschein ruht? On which the moonlight is lingering?
Durch die blanken Scheiben sehn Augen, die mir gut! From its sparkling windows gaze out
Siehst du dort das Haus am Bach, Fond eyes.
Das der Mond bescheint? Do you see the house there by the brook,
Unter seinem trauten Dach Lit by the moon?
Schläft mein liebster Freund. Beneath its homey roof
Siehst du jenen Baum, My dearest friend sleeps.
der voll Silberflocken flimmt? Do you see that tree,
O wie oft mein Busen schwoll, Glittering with flakes of silver?
Froher dort gestimmt! Oh, how often did my heart
Jedes Plätzchen, das mir winkt, Swell there with joy!
Ist ein lieber Platz; Every little place that beckons
Und wohin ein Strahl nur sinkt, Is precious to me
Lockt ein teurer Schatz. And wherever a moonbeam falls,
Drum auch winkt mir's überall Cherished treasure entices.
So begehrend hier, So everything here
Drum auch ruft es, wie der Schall Beckons to me with longing
Trauter Liebe mir. And calls to me
With the sounds of true love.
Der Wanderer an den Mond The wanderer speaks to the moon
Ich auf der Erd', am Himmel du I on the earth, you in the sky -Wir wandern beide rüstig zu: - we both wander briskly on: Ich ernst und trüb, du mild und rein, I stern and troubled, you mild and pure; Was mag der Unterschied wol seyn? what might be the difference between us? Ich wandre fremd von Land zu Land, A stranger, I wander from land to land, So heimatlos, so unbekannt; so rootless and unknown; Bergauf, bergab, waldein, waldaus, up mountains and down, into forests and out, Doch bin ich nirgend - ach! - zu Haus. but nowhere am I - alas! - at home. Du aber wanderst auf und ab But you wander up and down, Aus Ostens Wieg' in Westens Grab, - from the eastern cradle to the western grave, Wallst länderein und länderaus, on your pilgrimage from land to land; Und bist doch, wo du bist, zu Haus. and wherever you are, you are at home. Der Himmel, endlos ausgespannt, The sky, endlessly spreading, Ist dein geliebtes Heimatland: is your beloved homeland; O glücklich, wer wohin er geht, o happy is he who, wherever he goes, Doch auf der Heimat Boden steht! still stands on native ground! Die Taubenpost The pigeon post Ich hab' eine Brieftaub' in meinem Sold, In my pay I have a carrier-pigeon Die ist gar ergeben und treu, Who is utterly loyal and true. Sie nimmt mir nie das Ziel zu kurz, She never stops too short of her goal, Und fliegt auch nie vorbei. Nor ever flies too far. Ich sende sie vieltausendmal A thousand times I send her out Auf Kundschaft täglich hinaus, To gather everyday information, Vorbei an manchem lieben Ort, Past many of my favorite places Bis zu der Liebsten Haus. To my beloved's house. Dort schaut sie zum Fenster heimlich hinein, There she peeps in secretly at the window, Belauscht ihren Blick und Schritt, Eavesdropping on every look and step; Gibt meine Grüße scherzend ab Banteringly she conveys my greetings Und nimmt die ihren mit. And brings my beloved's back to me. Kein Briefchen brauch' ich zu schreiben mehr, I don't even need to write a note any longer; Die Thräne selbst geb' ich ihr: Tears alone I give her. O sie verträgt sie sicher nicht, Oh, she hardly tolerates those, Gar eifrig dient sie mir. So fervently does she serve me. Bei Tag, bei Nacht, im Wachen, im Traum, By day, by night, awake or in a dream, Ihr gilt das alles gleich: It is all the same to her: Wenn sie nur wandern, wandern kann, Only when she is in flight, and can be in flight, Dann ist sie überreich! Then she is happy! Sie wird nicht müd, sie wird nicht matt, She never grows tired, she never feels dull, Der Weg ist stets ihr neu; The way always feels new to her; Sie braucht nicht Lockung, braucht nicht Lohn, She needs no enticement, needs no reward,
Die Taub' ist so mir treu! So true to me is this pigeon!
Drum heg' ich sie auch so treu an der Brust, And so I cherish her so truly in my heart,
Versichert des schönsten Gewinns; Assured of the fairest prize;
Sie heißt - die Sehnsucht! Kennt ihr sie? - Her name is -- Longing! Do you know her? --
Die Botin treuen Sinns. The messenger of a devoted heart!
Selections from Hollywooder Liederbuch
Hanns Eisler
An den kleinen Radioapparat To My Little Radio
Du kleiner Kasten, den ich flüchtend trug, You little box I carried on as I fled,
dass meine Lampen mir auch nicht zerbrächen, Concerned to save your lamps from getting
besorgt vom Haus zum Schiff, vom Schiff zum broken
Zug, Fleeing from house to train, from train to ship
dass meine Feinde weiter zu mir sprächen, So I might hear my enemies keep talking to me.
an meinem Lager und zu meiner Pein, Beside my bedside and to give me pain
der letzten nachts, der ersten in der Früh', Last thing at night, once more as dawn appears
von ihren Siegen und von meiner Müh. Shouting their victories and my troubles:
Versprich mir, nicht auf einmal stumm zu sein! Promise at least you won't go dead again!
Speisekammer 1942 Larder 1942
Oh schattige Kühle! O shadowy coolness!
Einer dunklen Tanne Geruch geht nächtlich Where at night the scent of fir trees
brausend in dich ein Swirling in, asserts itself
und mischt sich mit der süßen Milch aus großer And mixes with the smells of sweet milk in big
Kanne containers
und dem des Räucherspecks am kalten Stein. And smoked bacon on its cold stone shelf.
Bier, Ziegenkäse, frisches Brot und Beeren, Beer, goat cheese, fresh bread and berries
gepflückt am grauen Strauch, wenn Frühtau fällt. Just picked from bushes when the morning dew
Oh, könnt ich laden ein die überm Meere, falls.
der Krieg der leeren Mägen hält. Oh, I wish I could invite those from across the sea
who are held back by the war of the empty
stomachs.
Auf der Flucht On the Run
Da ich die Bücher nach der Grenze hetzend den Since I left the books to friends while racing to
Freunden ließ, the border,
entrat ich des Gedichts, I dispensed with poetry
doch führ ich meine Rauchgeräte mit, Though I brought my smoking gear with me,verletzend des Flüchtlings dritte Regel: Habe Breaking the third rule of refugees - have nichts! nothing! Die Bücher sagen dem nicht viel, Books do not mean much to one who waits der nur auf solche wartet kommend, ihn zu to be arrested and taken captive. greifen. The little leather back pack and the old pipes Das Ledersäcklein und die alten Pfeifen Might do more for him. vermögen fürder mehr für ihn zu tun. Über den Selbstmord On Suicide In diesem Lande und in dieser Zeit In such a country and at such a time dürfte es trübe Abende nicht geben, There should not be any melancholy evenings, auch hohe Brücken über die Flüsse. or high bridges over the rivers. Selbst die Stunden zwischen Nacht und Morgen Even the hours between night and morning und die ganze Winterzeit dazu; And the winter season too each year, das ist gefährlich! are full of danger. Denn angesichts dieses Elends For, having seen all this misery werfen die Menschen in einem Augenblick People will, in a moment, ihr unerträgliches Leben fort. throw away their unbearable lives. Die Flucht Escape Auf der Flucht vor meinen Landsleuten In my flight from my countrymen bin ich nun nach Finnland gelangt, I have got as far as Finland. freunde, die ich gestern nicht kannte, Friends whom I didn't know yesterday, stellten uns Betten in saubere Zimmer. set up beds for us in clean rooms. Im Lautsprecher höre ich die Siegesmeldungen des Through the loudspeakers I hear Abschaums. about the victories of the bastards. Neugierig betrachte ich die Karte. I eagerly study the map. Hoch oben in Lappland, nah dem nördlichen At the top, in Lapland, near the Arctic Sea, Eismeer zu, I can see a tiny door. seh' ich noch eine kleine Tür. Ostersonntag Easter Sunday Heute, Ostersonntag früh, Easter day a cold wind blew ging ein plötzlicher Schneesturm über die Insel, And a flurry of snow swept over the island. zwischen den grünenden Hecken lag Schnee. In among burgeoning hedges it lay. Mein junger Sohn holte mich My young son zu einem Aprikosenbäumchen an der Hausmauer Dragged me out to save a little apricot tree up von einem Verse weg, against the house in dem ich auf diejenigen mit dem Finger deutete, Putting aside a verse in which I'd done the best die diesen Krieg vorbereiteten, I could to expose that group of men der diesen Kontinent, diese Insel, Who were preparing this war
mein Volk und meine Familie Which must wipe out this continent,
und mich vertilgen muss. and this island, my people and my family.
Schweigend legten wir einen Sack Silently we wrapped a sack
um den frierenden Baum. Round the shivering tree.
Der Kirschdieb The cherry thief
An einem frühen Morgen lange vor Morgengraun Early the other morning, long before it was light
wurde ich geweckt durch ein Pfeifen I was woken up by someone whistling
und ging zum Fenster. And went to the window.
Auf meinem Kirschbaum, From up my cherry tree,
Dämmerung füllte den Garten, Twilight was filling the garden.
saß ein junger Mann mit geflickter Hose A young man sat with a patch in his pants
und pflückte lustig meine Kirschen. Cheerfully plucking my cherries.
Mich sehend nickte er mir zu, When he saw me, he gave me a nod,
mit beiden Händen holte er die Kirschen and with both hands
aus den Zweigen in seine Taschen. Started stuffing cherries from the branches into
Noch eine ganze Zeitlang, his pockets.
als ich wieder in meiner Bettstatt lag, For quite a moment longer, when I'd once again
hört' ich ihn sein lust'ges kleines Lied pfeifen. got into my bed
I could hear him whistle his happy little song.
Hotelzimmer 1942 Hotel room 1942
An der weißgetünchten Wand Over against the whitewashed wall
steht der schwarze Koffer mit den Manuskripten, Stands the black suitcase with all the manuscripts.
drüben steht das Rauchzeug mit dem kupfern On it lies the smoking kit, close by the copper
Aschenbecher, ashtray.
die chinesische Leinwand, zeigend den Zweifler, Over it, the Chinese canvas bearing a portrait of
hängt darüber. the Doubter.
Auch die Masken sind da, And the masks too are there. Then next to the top
und neben der Bettstelle of my bed
steht der kleine sechslampige Lautsprecher. Is the small six-lamp set with its loudspeaker.
In der Frühe drehe ich den Schalter um When I wake up early
und höre die Siegesmeldungen meiner Feinde. I can switch it on so as to hear
My enemies announcing their victories.
Selections from Hollywood Elegies
Hanns Eisler
I. Unter den grünen Pfefferbäumen I. Beneath the green pepper trees
gehn die Musiker auf den Strich, The musicians play the whore,
zwei und zwei Two by twomit den Schreibern. Bach With the writers. Bach
hat ein Strichquartett im Täschchen, Has a Strumpet Voluntary in his pocket.
Dante schwenkt Dante wriggles
den dürren Hintern. His shriveled bottom.
II. Die Stadt ist nach den Engeln genannt II. The city is named after the angels
und man begegnet allenthalben Engeln. And you meet angels everywhere.
Sie riechen nach Öl und tragen goldene Pessare, They smell of oil and wear golden pessaries,
und mit blauen Ringen um die Augen füttern sie And, with blue rings round their eyes,
allmorgentlich die Schreiber in ihren Feed the writers in their swimming puddles
Schwimmpfühlen. every morning.
III. Jeden Morgen, mein Brot zu verdienen, III. Every day, to earn my daily bread,
Geh’ ich zum Markt, wo Lügen verkauft werden. I go to the market where lies are sold.
Hoffnungsvoll Hopeful
Reihe ich mich ein unter die Verkäufer I take up my place among the sellers.
IV. Diese Stadt hat mich belehrt, IV. This city has taught me:
Paradies und Hölle können eine Stadt sein. Paradise and hell can be the same city.
Für die Mittellosen For the destitiute,
Ist das Paradies die Hölle. Paradise is hell.
V. In den Hügeln wird Gold gefunden V. In the hills, gold is found,
An der Küste findet man Öl. by the sea you come upon oil.
Größere Vermögen Greater fortunes
Bringen die Träume vom Glück are won from those dreams of happiness
Die man hier auf Zelluloid schreibt. which are written on celluloid spools.
Die Heimkehr Homecoming
Die Vaterstadt, Wie find ich sie doch? My native town: how will I find it?
Folgend den Bombenschwärmen Guided by bomber squadrons
Komm ich nach Haus. I shall come home.
Wo liegt sie mir, Where will it lie?
Wo liegt sie mir? There, where those enormous mountains of
Dort, wo die ungeheuren Gebirge von Rauch smoke are standing,
stehn, There is it, in the fire.
das in den Feuern dort ist sie. My native town: how will it greet me?
Die Vaterstadt, wie empfängt sie mich wohl? Before me go the bombers.
Vor mir kommen die Bomber, Death-dealing locusts announce my return.
Conflagrations are preceding the native son.tödliche Schwärme melden euch meine
Rückkehr,
Feuersbrünste gehen dem Sohn voraus.
Banalités (1940), Calligrammes (1948)
Francis Poulenc
Chanson d’Orkenise Song of Orkenise
Par les portes d’Orkenise Through the gates of Orkenise
Veut entrer un charretier. a carter wants to enter.
Par les portes d’Orkenise Through the gates of Orkenise
Veut sortir un va-nu-pieds. a vagrant wants to leave.
Et les gardes de la ville And the sentinels of the town
Courant sus au va-nu-pieds: charging at the vagrant
“Qu’emportes-tu de la ville?” ‘What are you taking out of the town?’
“J’y laisse mon cœur entier.” ‘I’m leaving my whole heart behind.’
Et les gardes de la ville And the sentinels of the town
Courant sus au charretier: charging at the carter:
“Qu’apportes-tu dans la ville?” ‘What are you bringing into the town?’
“Mon cœur pour me marier.” ‘My heart to be married!’
Que de cœurs dans Orkenise! What a lot of hearts in Orkenise!
Les gardes riaient, riaient, The sentinels laughed and laughed.
Va-nu-pieds, la route est grise, O vagrant, the road is dreary,
L’amour grise, ô charretier. love makes the head spin, O carter.
Les beaux gardes de la ville The handsome sentinels of the town Knitted
Tricotaient superbement; superbly;
Puis les portes de la ville Then the gates of the town
Se fermèrent lentement. closed slowly.
Hôtel Hotel
Ma chambre a la forme d’une cage, My room has the form of a cage
Le soleil passe son bras par la fenêtre. the sun reaches its arm through the window
Mais moi qui veux fumer pour faire des mirages but I who want to smoke to make shapes in
J’allume au feu du jour ma cigarette. the air
Je ne veux pas travailler - je veux fumer. I light my cigarette at the fire of the day
I do not want to work, I want to smoke.
Fagnes de Wallonie Walloon Marshlands
Tant de tristesses plénières So much dreariness
Prirent mon cœur aux fagnes désolées seized my heart in the desolate marshes
Quand las j’ai reposé dans les sapinières when I rested weary among the firsLe poids des kilomètres the weight of the kilometres while
pendant que râlait le vent d’ouest. the west wind growled
J’avais quitté le joli bois I had left the pretty woods
Les écureuils y sont restés the squirrels stayed there
Ma pipe essayait de faire des nuages my pipe tried to make clouds
Au ciel in the sky
Qui restait pur obstinément. which stubbornly stayed clear
Je n’ai confié aucun secret I did not confide any secret
sinon une chanson énigmatique except an enigmatic song to the damp peat
Aux tourbières humides bog
Les bruyères fleurant le miel The heather smelling of honey
Attiraient les abeilles was attracting the bees
Et mes pieds endoloris and my aching feet
Foulaient les myrtilles et les airelles trampled bilberries and whortleberries
Tendrement mariée Nord Tenderly united North
Nord North
La vie s’y tord There life twists in trees
En arbres forts that are strong and gnarled.
Et tors. There life bites
La vie y mord La mort death
À belles dents with greedy teeth
Quand bruit le vent when the wind howls
Voyage à Paris Trip to Paris
Ah! la charmante chose Ah! how charming it is
Quitter un pays morose To leave a gloomy place
Pour Paris For Paris
Paris joli Beautiful Paris
Qu’un jour dût créer l’amour. That one day love must have created
Sanglots Sobs
Notre amour est réglé par les calmes étoiles Our love is ruled by the calm stars
Or nous savons qu’en nous beaucoup d’hommes We know that within us many men breathe
respirent who came from very far away and are one
Qui vinrent de très loin et sont un sous nos fronts behind our brows
C’est la chanson des rêveurs It is the song of the dreamers
Qui s’étaient arraché le cœur who had torn out their heart
Et le portaient dans la main droite ... and carried it in their right hand
Souviens-t’en cher orgueil de tous ces souvenirs (remember, oh dear pride, all these memories
the sailors who sang like conquerorsDes marins qui chantaient comme des conqué- the chasms of Thule the tender skies of Ophir
rants. the cursed sick, those who flee their own
Des gouffres de Thulé des tendres cieux d’Ophir shadow
Des malades maudits de ceux qui fuient leur and the joyful return of the happy emigrants)
ombre blood was flowing from this heart
Et du retour joyeux des heureux émigrants and the dreamer went on thinking
De ce cœur il coulait du sang of his delicate wound
Et le rêveur allait pensant (You will not break the chain of these
À sa blessure délicate ... causes...)
Tu ne briseras pas la chaîne de ces causes ... and painful; and he kept telling us:
... Et douloureuse et nous disait: (which are the effects of other causes)
... Qui sont les effets d’autres causes my poor heart, my broken heart
Mon pauvre cœur, mon cœur brisé just like the heart of all men...
Pareil au cœur de tous les hommes ... (Look, here are our hands that life enslaved)
Voici nos mains que la vie fit esclaves ... has died of love or so it seems
Est mort d’amour ou c’est tout comme has died of love and here it is
Est mort d’amour et le voici. This is the way of all things
Ainsi vont toutes choses So tear out yours too
Arrachez donc le vôtre aussi! (and nothing will be free until the end of time)
Et rien ne sera libre jusq’à la fin des temps let us leave everything to the dead
Laissons tout aux morts and let us hide our sobs
Et cachons nos sanglots
Ludions (1923), Rambouillet (1907)
Erik Satie
I. Air du rat I. Song of the Rat
Abi Abirounère Abi-Abirounère,
Qui que tu n’étais don ? so who then were you not?
Une blanche monère Un jo A white monera,
Un joli goulifon A han-
Un œil A handsome little ogre
Un œil à son pépère Un jo An eye -
Un joli goulifon. An eye for watching granpop
A han -
A handsome little ogre.
II. Spleen II. Melancholy
Dans un vieux square où l’océan In an old park where an ocean
Du mauvais temps met son séant Of foul weather has planted its behind
Sur un banc triste aux yeux de pluie On a sad bench with rain-filled eyes,C’est d’une blonde is it a vicious
Rosse et gironde and plump blonde
Que tu t’ennuies who annoys you
Dans ce cabaret du Néant in this cabaret of nothingness
Qu’est notre vie? which is our life?
III. La grenouille américaine III. The American Frog
La gouénouille améouicaine The Amehwican Fwog ogles me from over
Me regarde par-dessus his fustian spectacles.
Ses bésicles de futaine. His eyes are bulging globes Totally devoid of
Ses yeux sont des grogs massus prettiness.
Dépourvus de jolitaine. I think of Casadesus
Je pense à Casadesus who has devised no music
Qui n’a pas fait de musique for this scene of love
Sur cette scène d’amour Whose nostalgic perfume
Dont le parfum nostalgique Comes from a can of Armour beef.
Sort d’une boîte d’Armour. O Argus of the table, you keep
Argus de table tu gardes the soul of the toad Vainglory,
L’âme du crapaud Vanglor O bubble who looks at me through its golden
Ô bouillon qui me regardes glasses.
Avec tes lunettes d’or.
IV. Air du poète IV. Song of the Poet
Au pays de Papouasie In the land of Papua
J’ai caressé la Pouasie... I caressed the Papoetry.
La grâce que je vous souhaite The best favour I wish for you
C’est de n’être pas Papouète. Is not to be a Papoet.
V. Chanson du chat V. Song of the Cat
Il est une bébête Oh he’s a leetle amnal,
Ti Li petit n’enfant Tirelan A little kittycat,
C’est une byronette Tirelo.
La beste à sa moman Tirelan A leetle byronette,
Le peu Tinan faon His mommy’s beast, Tirelo.
C’est un ti blanc-blanc The little baby
Un petit potasson ? He’s a wee blan-blanc
C’est mon goret A little potasso?
C’est mon pourçon He’s my piglet,
Mon petit potasson. my teeny-weeny boar my little potasso.
He jumps up by the windowIl saut’ sur la fenêtre And grumbles with his muzzle,
Et groume du museau Coz he sees on the rooftop
Pasqu’il voit sur la crête A birdie’s silhouette,
S’découper les oiseaux Tirelo.
Tirelo The little kittycat
Le petit n’en faut The wee blan-blanc
C’est un ti bloblo A little potasso
Un petit Potaçao He’s my piglet,
C’est mon goret My teeny-weeny boar
C’est mon pourceau My little potasso.
Mon petit potasseau.
Je te veux (1897)
Erik Satie
Je Te Veux (Henry Pacory) I Want You
Ange d ́or, fruit d ́ivresse Golden angel, fruit of rapture
Charme des yeux, Charm of the eyes,
Donne toi, je te veux Give yourself to me, I want you
Tu seras ma maitresse. You will be my mistress
Pour calmer ma détresse Come, o goddess!
Viens o déesse ! I long for the precious moment when we will
J’aspire à l’instant précieux be happy:
Où nous serons heureux : I want you.
Je te veux. I have no regrets,
Je n’ai pas de regrets, And have nothing but a single desire
Et je n’ai qu’une envie : Next to you, very near
Près de toi, là, tout près, To live all of my life.
Vivre toute ma vie. Let my heart be yours
Que mon cœur soit le tien And your lips be mine,
Et ta lèvre la mienne, Let your body be mine,
Que ton corps soit le mien, And let all my flesh be yours.
Et que toute ma chair soit tienne. Golden angel, ...
Ange d ́or, ... Yes, I can see in your eye
Oui, je vois dans tes yeux The divine promise
La divine promesse That your loving heart
Que ton cœur amoureux Comes to seek my caress.
Vient chercher ma caresse. Forever clasped in each other’s arms
Enlacés pour toujours, Burned with the same flames,
Brûlés des mêmes flammes, In dreams of love,
Dans des rêves d’amours, We will exchange our two souls.Nous échangerons nos deux âmes. Golden angel, ...
Ange d ́or, ...
Calligrammes sur des poémes de Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918)
Francis Poulenc
L’Espionne The Spy
Pâle espionne de l’Amour Pale spy of love
Ma mémoire à peine fidèle My barely faithful memory
N’eut pour observer cette belle Forteresse Could only watch this beautiful Fortress
qu’une heure un jour for one hour one day
Tu te déguises Disguise yourself
A ta guise as you will
Mémoire espionne du cœur Memory spy of the heart
Tu ne retrouves plus l’exquise Ruse You will no longer find the exquisite Ruse
et le cœur seul est vainqueur and the heart is victorious
Mais la vois-tu cette mémoire But can you see this memory
Les yeux bandés prête à mourir Eyes blindfolded willing to die
Elle affirme qu’on peut l’en croire She claims she can be trusted
Mon cœur vaincra sans coup férir My heart will conquer without a shot
Mutation Mutation
Une femme qui pleurait A woman who cried
Eh! Oh! Ha! Eh! Oh! Ah!
Des soldats qui passaient Soldiers who passed
Eh! Oh! Ha! Eh! Oh! Ah!
Un éclusier qui pêchait A lock keeper who fished
Eh! Oh! Ha! Eh! Oh! Ah!
Les tranchées qui blanchissaient The trenches that grew white
Eh! Oh! Ha! Eh! Oh! Ah!
Des obus qui pétaient Shells that went off
Eh! Oh! Ha! Eh! Oh! Ah!
Des allumettes qui ne prenaient pas Matches that did not catch
Et tout And all
A tant changé Has changed so much In me
En moi And all has changed so much
Et tout a tant changé All
Tout But my love
Sauf mon amour. Eh! Oh! Ah!
Eh! Oh! Ha!Vers le sud Towards the South
Zénith Zenith
Tous ces regrets all these regrets
Ces jardins sans limite these gardens without limits
Où le crapaud module un tendre cri d’azur where the toad modulates a tender azure cry
La biche du silence éperdu passe vite the doe of boundless silence passes quickly
Un rossignol meurtri par l’amour a nightingale wounded by love
chante sur le rosier de ton corps sings on the rosebush of your body
dont j’ai cueilli les roses from which I have picked the roses
Nos cœurs pendent ensemble au même grenadier our hearts hang together on the same
Et les fleurs de grenade en nos regards écloses pomegranate tree
En tombant tour à tour ont jonché le sentier. and the pomegranate flowers
that bloomed before our eyes
falling one by one have strewn the path
Il pleut It rains
Il pleut des voix de femmes It is raining of the voices of women
comme si elles étaient mortes as if they were dead even in memory
même dans le souvenir It is you also that it is raining
C’est vous aussi qu’il pleut marvellous encounters of my life,
merveilleuses rencontres de ma vie O droplets
ô gouttelettes and these reared up clouds start to neigh
Es ces nuages cabrés a whole universe of auricular cities
se prennent à hennir listen if it is raining
tout un univers de villes auriculaires while regret and disdain are weeping an
Écoute s’il pleut tandis que le regret ancient music
et le dédain pleurent une ancienne musique listen to the falling of the bonds
Écoute tomber les liens qui te retiennent that restrain you from top to bottom
en haut et en bas
La grâce exilée Exiled Grace
Va-t’en va-t’en mon arc-en-ciel Go away, go away my rainbow
Allez-vous-en couleurs charmantes Go away charming colours
Cet exil t’est essentiel you need this exile
Infante aux écharpes changeantes Infanta of the multi-coloured scarves
Et l’arc-en-ciel est exilé and the rainbow is exiled
Puisqu’on exile qui l’irise As we exile all that is iridescent but a flag
Mais un drapeau s’est envolé flew off
Prendre ta place au vent de bise to take your place in the windAussi bien que les cigales As Well as the Cicadas
Gens du midi, Gens du midi People of the south people of the south
vous n’avez donc pas regardé les cigales so you have not watched the cicadas
que vous ne savez pas creuser since you cannot dig
que vous ne savez since you cannot make light or see
pas vous éclairer ni voir What do you lack to see as well as the cicadas
Que vous manque-t-il donc pour voir But you can still drink like the cicadas
aussi bien que les cigales O people of the south people of the sun
Mais vous savez encore boire people who should know how to dig and see
comme les cigales as well as least as well as the cicadas
ô gens du midi gens du soleil And what! you know how to drink and no
gens qui devriez savoir creuser longer know
et voir aussi bien pour le moins how to pee usefully like the cicadas
aussi bien que les cigales The day of glory will come when you will
Eh quoi! vous savez boire know
et ne savez plus how to dig your way out into the sun
pisser utilement comme les cigales dig, see, drink, pee like the cicadas
le jour de gloire sera celui où vous saurez people of the south you must dig, see, drink,
creuser pour bien sortir au soleil pee
creusez voyez buvez pissez as well as the cicadas so as to sing like they
comme les cigales do
gens du midi il faut creuser voir boire pisser The lovable joy of the sun-filled peace
aussi bien que les cigales pour chanter comme
elles
La joie adorable de la paix solaire.
Voyage Journey
Adieu Amour nuage qui fuis Farewell love cloud that flees
et n’a pas chu pluie féconde and has not dropped fertile rain
refais le voyage de Dante. make again the journey of Dante
Télégraphe Telegraph
Oiseau qui laisse tomber ses ailes partout Bird that lets fall its wings everywhere
Où va donc ce train qui meurt au loin Where is this train heading that dies in the
Dans les vals et les beaux bois frais distance
du tendre été si pâle? In the valleys and the beautiful fresh woods of
La douce nuit lunaire et pleine d’étoiles The tender summer so pale?
C’est ton visage que je ne vois plus. A sweet dreamy night full of stars
It is your face that I no longer see.You can also read
