TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS

Transcription

1 George Frideric Händel ( ) From Samson Text by Newburgh Hamilton after Milton, Samson Agonistes Dalila: To Fleeting Pleasures Make Your Court To fleeting pleasures make your court, no moment lose, for life is short! The present now s our only time, the missing that our only crime. From Semele Text by William Congreve after Ovid, Metamorphoses Semele: O Sleep, Why Dost Thou Leave Me? sleep, why dost thou leave me? O why thy visionary joys remove? O sleep, again deceive me, to my arms restore my wand ring love! Semele: Endless Pleasure Endless pleasure, endless love Semele enjoys above! On her bosom Jove reclining, useless now his thunder lies; to her arms his bolts resigning, and his lightning to her eyes. Endless pleasure, etc. From Alexander Balus Text by Thomas Morell after Maccabees, Book I, Part III Cleopatra: Calm thou, My Soul Calm thou my soul, kind Isis, with a noble scorn of life, ideal joys, and momentary pains, that flatter, or disturb this waking dream. Convey me to some peaceful shore, where no tumultuous billows roar, where life, though joyless, still is calm, and sweet content is sorrow s balm. There, free from pomp and care to wait, forgetting and forgot, the will of fate. 12 WEILL HALL AT SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY GREEN MUSIC CENTER gmc.sonoma.edu

2 Richard Strauss ( ) From 6 Lieder Op. 17, No. 2 Text by Adolf Friedrich Ständchen TEXT Mach auf, mach auf, doch leise mein Kind, um keinen vom Schlummer zu wecken. Kaum murmelt der Bach, kaum zittert im Wind ein Blatt an den Büschen und Hecken. Drum leise, mein Mädchen, daß nichts sich regt, nur leise die Hand auf die Klinke gelegt. Mit Tritten, wie Tritte der Elfen so sacht, um über die Blumen zu hüpfen, flieg leicht hinaus in die Mondscheinnacht, zu mir in den Garten zu schlüpfen. Rings schlummern die Blüten am rieselnden Bach und duften im Schlaf, nur die Liebe ist wach. Sitz nieder, hier dämmert s geheimnisvoll unter den Lindenbäumen, die Nachtigall uns zu Häupten soll von unseren Küssen träumen, und die Rose, wenn sie am Morgen erwacht, hoch glühn von den Wonnenschauern der Nacht. Serenade TRANSLATION Open up, open up, but softly, my child, so as to rouse no one from slumber. The brook scarcely murmurs, the breeze scarcely stirs a leaf on bush or hedge. So softly, my girl, so nothing shall stir, just lay your hand soft on the latch. With tread as light as the tread of elves, to hop your way over the flowers, flit out into the moonlit night, and steal to me in the garden. By the rippling brook the flowers slumber, fragrant in sleep; love alone is awake. Sit here the dark is full of mystery, under the linden trees, the nightingale at our heads shall dream of our kisses, and the rose, waking at morn, glow deep from the raptures of this night. From 4 Lieder, Op. 27, No. 4 Text by John Henry MacKay Morgen TEXT Und morgen wird die Sonne wieder scheinen Und auf dem Wege, den ich gehen werde, Wird uns, die Glücklichen, sie wieder einen Inmitten dieser sonnenatmenden Erde... Und zu dem Strand, dem weiten, wogenblauen, Werden wir still und langsam niedersteigen, Stumm werden wir uns in die Augen schauen, Und auf uns sinkt des Glückes stummes Schweigen... Tomorrow TRANSLATION And tomorrow the sun will shine again, and on the path that I shall take, it will unite us, happy ones, again upon this sun-breathing earth... and to the shore, broad, blue-waved, we shall, quiet and slow, descend, silent, into each other s eyes we ll gaze, and on us will fall joy s speechless silence WEILL HALL AT SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY GREEN MUSIC CENTER gmc.sonoma.edu

3 From 8 Poems for High Voice, Op. 10, No. 1 Text by Hermann von Gilm Zueignung TEXT Ja, du weißt es, teure Seele, daß ich fern von dir mich quäle, liebe macht die Herzen krank, habe Dank. Einst hielt ich, der Freiheit Zecher, hoch den Amethysten-Becher, und du segnetest den Trank, habe Dank. Und beschworst darin die Bösen, bis ich, was ich nie gewesen, heilig, heilig an s Herz dir sank, habe Dank! Dedication TRANSLATION Yes, dear soul, you know, away from you I m in torment, love makes hearts sick, have thanks. Once I, drinker of freedom, held high the amethyst goblet and you blessed that draught, have thanks. And you drove out from it the evil ones, till I, as never before, holy, sank holy upon your heart, have thanks! Joseph Canteloube ( ) From Chants d Auvergne Folk songs from the Auvergne Malurous qu o uno fenno TEXT Malurous qu o uno fenno, Malurous qué n o cat! Qué n o cat n en bou uno, Qué n o uno n en bou pas! Tradèra, ladèri dèrèro ladèra, ladèri dèra. Urouzo lo fenno Qu o l omé qué li cau! Urouz inquèro maito O quèlo qué n o cat! Tradèra, ladèri dèrèro ladèra, ladèri dèra. Joseph Canteloube ( ) From Chants d Auvergne Folk songs from the Auvergne Wretched the man who has a wife TRANSLATION Wretched the man who has a wife, wretched the man without one! He who hasn t got one wants one, he who has one doesn t! Tradera laderi derero, etc Happy is the woman who has the man she needs! But happier still is she who s managed to stay free! Tradera laderi derero, etc. Baïlèro TEXT Pastré, dè dèlaï l aïo, as gaïré dé boun tèms? Dio lou baïlèro lèro, lèro, lèro, lèro, baïlèro, lô! È n aï pa gaïre, è dio, tu? Baïlèro lèro, lèro, lèro, lèro, baïlèro, lô! Pastré, couci foraï, en obal io lou bel riou! Dio lou baïlèro lèro, lèro, lèro, lèro, baïlèro, lô! Es pèromè, té baô çirca! Baïlèro lèro, lèro, lèro, lèro, baïlèro, lô! Shepherd s song of the Auvergne hills TRANSLATION Shepherd across the river, you don t seem to be afraid, sing the Bailero, etc. Indeed I m not, and you too, sing the Bailero, etc. Shepherd, the stream separates us, and I can t cross it, sing the Bailero, etc. Then I ll come and get you further down, Bailero, etc. encoreartsprograms.com 15

4 Léo Delibes ( ) Text by Alfred de Musset Les filles de Cadix TEXT Nous venions de voir le taureau, Trois garçons, trois fillettes. Sur la pelouse il faisait beau, Et nous dansions un bolero Au son des castagnettes: Dites-moi, voisin, Si j ai bonne mine Et si ma basquine Va bien, ce matin Vous me trouvez la taille fine? Ah! ah! Les filles de Cadix aiment assez cela Et nous dansions un boléro, Au pied de la colline. Sur le chemin passait Diégo, Qui pour tout bien n a qu un manteau Et qu une mandoline: La belle aux doux yeux, Veux-tu qu à l église Demain te conduise Un amant jaloux? Jaloux! jaloux! quelle sottise! Ah! ah! Les filles de Cadix craignent ce défaut là! The Girls of Cadix TRANSLATION We were coming from seeing the bull, Three boys, three girls, On the grass the weather was fair, And we were dancing a bolero To the sound of castanets; Tell me, neighbor, If I look well And if my skirt Looks good on me, this morning, Do you find my waist slender? Ah! Ah! The girls of Cadiz rather like that. And we were dancing a bolero, At the foot of the hill. On the road passed by Diego, Who for worldly goods has only a coat And a mandolin: Beautiful one with sweet eyes, Do you want to the church Tomorrow to be conducted By a jealous lover? Jealous! Jealous! What stupidity! Ah! Ah! The girls of Cadiz fear that fault! Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour Two Rivers The art of singing and the concert song has roots that go back as far as human beings have sung which, as far as we can tell, is just about as old as any kind of communication between members of our species. Two Rivers is a medley of two folk songs ( The Water Is Wide and Shenandoah ), much-loved both for their exquisite melodies and for the poetry of their texts, which evocatively carry the listener to far places. Though we have no idea who created them, songs as exquisite as these would enhance the portfolio of any composer. Medley: Two Rivers: Shenandoah/ The Water is Wide Dave Grusin/ Lee Ritenour Ah, The Water is wide I cannot get o er And neither have I wings to fly. Give me a boat that can carry two And both shall row, my love and I. A ship there is and she sails the sea She s loaded deep as deep can be But not so deep as the love I m in. Oh Shenandoah I long to hear you, Away, you rolling river. Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you. Away I m bound to go across the wide Missouri. Oh Shenandoah, I m bound to leave you, Away, you rolling river. Oh Shenandoah, I ll not deceive you, Away I m bound to go across the wide Missouri. 16 WEILL HALL AT SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY GREEN MUSIC CENTER gmc.sonoma.edu

5 Todd Frazier Wild Horses Music & Text: Jean Richie Arrangement: J. Todd Frazier Over the hills and over the mountains, Over the ridges high and low See the dust and listen to the thunder Lookit them wild horses go! Run, come along my pretty little thing Run, come along, my darlin ; Run, come along, we ll take a little trip Over the hills to Harlan. Round the bend comes Old Ninety-seven, Hear her holler, hear her strain! Horses scream and paw for Heaven, Runnin a race with a railroad train! Oh, run, come along, my pretty little thing, Run, come along my darlin Run, come along we ll take a little trip Over the hills to Harlan. Out of the way, you ll get run over; Wild things never will bear the rein! Fly the fences, smash the clover Out of the way they re gone again! We Hold These Truths Music: J. Todd Frazier To the task of composing the American Declaration of Independence from England, Benjamin Franklin, the internationally respected senior member of the Continental Congress, quickly declined, stating, I make it a policy never to write documents subject to editing by others. John Adams, the seasoned and experienced politician, was then called upon. Adams said There are three reasons why I should not accept this honor; first, I am disliked and obnoxious, so the document would lack credibility; second, it should be written by a Virginian; and third, Thomas Jefferson is ten times a better writer than I. The daunting task then came to the 33-year-old Jefferson, who composed the draft in 1776 over a seventeen-day period in a hotel room in Philadelphia. Along the activities which helped focus and inspire his mind and words during this period was music the playing of his violin. We hold these truths to be self-evident, That all men are created equal That they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, That among these are life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. We hold these truths to be self-evident, That all men are created equal. Oh, run, come along my pretty little thing Run, come along my darlin Run, come along, we ll take a little trip Over the hills to Harlan. Wind in the mane and the devil in the saddle, Fire in the hoof and blood in the eye! Who knows, who knows where they re goin, But lookit them wild horses go! Oh, run, come along, my pretty little thing, Run, come along my darlin Run, come along we ll take a little trip Over the hills to Harlan. encoreartsprograms.com 17

6 Erich Korngold ( ) From Die tote Stadt Libretto by Julius Korngold Marietta s Lied TEXT Glück, das mir verlieb, Rück zu mir, mein treues Lieb. Abend sinkt im Haag Bist mir Licht und Tag. Bange pochet Herz an Herz Hoffnung schwingt sich himmelwärts. Wie wahr, ein traurig Lied. Das Lied vom treuen Lieb, Das sterben muβ. Ich kenne das Lied. Ich hört es oft in jungen, In schönern Tagen Es hat noch eine Strophe Weiβ ich sie noch? Naht auch Sorge trüb, Rück zu mir, mein treues Lieb. Neig dein blaβ Gesicht Sterben trennt uns nicht. Muβt du einmal von mir gehn, Glaub, es gibt ein Auferstehn. Marietta s Song TRANSLATION You happiness that remained to me Draw close to me, my true love. In the grove evening falls You are my light and my day. Heart pounds unquiet against heart Hope soars heavenward. Truly a sad song. The song of true love, That cannot but die. I know the song. I head it oft in younger, In happier days It has another verse Do I know it still? Though dark sorrow approach, Yet draw close to me, my true love. Bow down your pale face Death shall not part us. If one day you must leave me Then believe, the dead shall live again. Erich Korngold, after Johann Strauss II From Walzer aus Wien Libretto by Alfred Maria Willner, Heinz Reichert and Ernst Marischka Frag mich Oft TEXT Frag mich oft, Woran s den wohl liegt, Dass Musik entgegen mir fliegt, Dass die holde Muse mich küsst. Doch ich glaub, Ich Weiss schon, Was Schuld daran ist. So lang s noch Burschen gibt in Wien, So lang gibt s Wiener Melodien. So lang s im Prater grunt und blüht, Ja so lange gibt s ein Wiener lied. Ändert sich viel auch mit der Zeit, Bleit uns doch eins: Die G mütlichkeit. D rum bin ich so verliebt in Wien, Freu mich, Dass ich ein Wienerin bin. I Often Wonder TRANSLATION often wonder I How it is That music just comes flying to me, That I m kissed by the graceful Muse, But I think, I know, What the answer is. As long as there are gentlemen in Vienna, As long as there are Viennese Melodies, As long as the Prater is in bloom, As long as there is Viennese song: Even if a lot changes with time, One thing always remains: Viennese coziness. That s why I m so in love with Vienna, That s why I m so happy To be a Viennese. 18 WEILL HALL AT SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY GREEN MUSIC CENTER gmc.sonoma.edu

7 Frag mich Oft Text continued Käm ich noch eimal auf die Welt, Wär noch kein Beruf für mich b stellt, Hätt ich einen Wunsch nur allein, Möcht halt für mein Leb n gern wieder Musikerin sein! So lang s noch Burschen gibt in Wien, So lang gibt s Wiener Melodien. So lang s im Prater grunt und blüht, Ja so lange gibt s ein Wiener lied. Ändert sich viel auch mit der Zeit, Bleit uns doch eins: Die G mütlichkeit. D rum bin ich so verliebt in Wien, Bin stolz d rauf, Dass ich ein Wienerin bin I Often Wonder Translation continued If I were to be born again, And if there were still no job for me, I would have only one wish: I would love to be a Musician again! As long as there are gentlemen in Vienna, As long as there are Viennese Melodies, As long as the Prater is in bloom, As long as there is Viennese song: Even if a lot changes with time, One thing always remains: Viennese coziness. That s why I m so in love with Vienna, That s why I m proud To be a Viennese. Johan Strauss II ( ) From The Great Waltz Words by Dimitri Tiomkin and Oscar Hammerstein II I m In Love With Vienna Every tree in the park Every leaf on the tree Waves a welcome to me When I walk in Vienna Every tree in the park Every leaf on the tree Every star in the sky Knows that I am in love I m in love with Vienna I m in love with Vienna Every sight, every sound on the street Is sweet and dear to me I was born in Vienna I was born in Vienna With a waltz in my heart And with a heart that has to sing Sing about Vienna Sing about her sights And sing about her sounds And sing about her nights To her and to her life I ever will belong For I m a part of her song I was born in Vienna I was born in Vienna With a waltz in my heart And with a heart that has to sing Sing about Vienna Sing about her sights And sing about her sounds And sing about her nights To her and to her life I ever will belong For I m a part of her song encoreartsprograms.com 19

8 Francesco Cilea ( ) From Adriana Lecouvreur Text by Arturo Colautti Adriana: Io son l umile ancella Ecco: respire appena. Io son l umile ancella del Genio creator; ei m offre la favella, io la diffondo ai cor. Del verso io son l accento, l eco del drama uman, il fragile strumento vassallo della man. Mite, gioconda, atroce, mi chiamo Fedeltà: un soffio è la mia voce, che la novo di morrà TEXT I Am The Humble Servant TRANSLATION See, I can scarcely breathe. I am the humble maidservant of the creative spirit; he offers me the words and I make them known to people s hearts. I give the verses their stress and echo the human drama, I am the delicate instrument that serves the hand. Quiet, happy, terrible; my name is Fidelity. My voice is but a breath which tomorrow will die. Giacomo Puccini ( ) From Gianni Schicchi Text by Giovacchino Forzano O mio babbino caro TEXT mio babbino caro, O mi piace, è bello, bello; vo andare in Porta Rossa a comperar l annello! Sì, sì, ci voglio andare! E se l amassi indarno, andrei sul Ponte Vecchio, ma per buttarmi in Arno! Mi struggo e mi tormento! O dio, vorrei morir! Babbo, pietà, pietà! Babbo, pietà, pietà! Oh My Dear Father TRANSLATION Oh, dear daddy, I like him, he s handsome, he s handsome; I want to go to Porta Rossa to buy the ring! Yes, yes, I want to go there! And if it s useless to love him, I ll go to the Ponte Vecchio and throw myself into the Arno! I am pining, I am tortured! O God, I could die! Daddy, have pity, have pity! Daddy, have pity, have pity! Riccardo Zandonai ( ) From Conchita Text by Maurizio Vaucaire and Carlo Zangarini Conchita: Ier dalla fabbrica a Triana Ier dalla fabbrica a Triana m han seguita tre cavalier: m han detto in coro: come sei bella! Lo so, risposi, mi fa piacer. TEXT The Factory In Triana TRANSLATION Yesterday three fine gentlemen followed me from the Triana factory, and as one they said to me: how lovely you are! I know, I replied, it makes me very happy. 20 WEILL HALL AT SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY GREEN MUSIC CENTER gmc.sonoma.edu

9 Ier dalla fabbrica a Triana Text continued Dissi all orecchio, piano, del primo: della tua bocca pazza io vo : tò questo avana: vedi, è perfetto! pel mio diletto rubato io l ho. Due languidi occhi avea il secondo: giù, dentro agli occhi, guardato io l ho: sulle mie mani, che osò toccare, due baci ardenti egli posò. Ma dispettosa voltai la faccia quando vicina al terzo io fui: ei levò un grande urlo di rabbia: lo sciocco! Quello che amo è lui! The Factory In Triana Translation continued Softly I whispered into the ear of the first: I m going crazy for your lips: take this cigar you see, it s perfect! I stole it just for fun. The second had a pair of languorous eyes: I looked down at him, into those eyes, while he dared to take my hands and plant a passionate kiss upon each. But capriciously I turned away when I came to the third: he let out a howl of anger: the fool! He s the one I love! Leonard Bernstein ( ) From West Side Story Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Maria: I Feel Pretty feel pretty, I Oh, so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and bright, And I pity Any girl who isn t me tonight. I feel charming, Oh, so charming, It s alarming how charming I feel, And so pretty That I hardly can believe I m real. See the pretty girl in that mirror there: Who can that attractive girl be? Such a pretty face, Such a pretty dress, Such a pretty smile, Such a pretty me! I feel stunning And entrancing, Feel like running and dancing for joy, For I m loved By a pretty wonderful boy! I feel pretty, Oh, so pretty That the city should give me its key. A committee Should be organized to honor me. I feel dizzy, I feel sunny, I feel fizzy and funny and fine, And so pretty, Miss America can just resign! encoreartsprograms.com 21

10 I Feel Pretty continued See the pretty girl in that mirror there: Who can that attractive girl be? Such a pretty face, Such a pretty dress, Such a pretty smile, Such a pretty me! I feel stunning And entrancing, Feel like running and dancing for joy, For I m loved By a pretty wonderful boy! Somewhere There s a place for us, Somewhere a place for us. Peace and quiet and open air Wait for us Somewhere. There s a time for us, Some day a time for us, Time together with time to spare, Time to look, time to care, Some day! Somewhere. We ll find a new way of living, We ll find a way of forgiving Somewhere There s a place for us, A time and place for us. Hold my hand and we re halfway there. Hold my hand and I ll take you there Somehow, Some day, Somewhere! Richard Rodgers ( ) and Oscar Hammerstein II ( ) From The Sound of Music The Sound of Music The hills are alive with the sound of music, with songs they have sung for a thousand years. The hills fill my heart with the sound of music. My heart wants to sing every song it hears. My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds that rise from the lake to the trees. My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies from a church on a breeze, To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls over stones in its way, To sing through the night like a lark who is learning to pray. I go to the hills when my heart is lonely. I know I will hear what I ve heard before. My heart will be blessed with the sound of music and I ll sing once more. From South Pacific A Wonderful Guy I m as corny as Kansas in August. I m as normal as blueberry pie. No more a smart little girl with no heart, I have found me a wonderful guy, I am in a conventional dither, With a conventional star in my eye, And you will note there s a lump in my throat When I speak of that wonderful guy. I m as trite and as gay as a daisy in May, A cliché coming true I m bromidic and bright As a moon happy night pouring light on the dew! I m as corny as Kansas in August, High as a flag on the Fourth of July, If you ll excuse an expression I use, I m in love, I m in love, I m in love, I m in love, I m in love with a wonderful guy! 22 WEILL HALL AT SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY GREEN MUSIC CENTER gmc.sonoma.edu