Les Cloches (Claude Debussy)
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- Editor: David Newman (submitted 2008-07-18). Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 144 kB Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: Editions in A Minor and C sharp Minor. English translation by Isabella G. Parker
General Information
Title: Les Cloches
Composer: Claude Debussy
Lyricist: Paul Bourgetcreate page (1852-1935)
Number of voices: 1v Voicing: Soprano solo
Genre: Secular, Art song
Language: French
Instruments: Piano
{{Published}} is obsolete (code commented out), replaced with {{Pub}} for works and {{PubDatePlace}} for publications.
Description: Original key is G flat Major.
External websites:
- Entry at the "Lied and Art Song Texts Page"
- English translation at the "Lied and Art Song Texts Page"
- Italian translation at the "Lied and Art Song Texts Page"
- German translation at the "Lied and Art Song Texts Page"
Original text and translations
French text
Les feuilles s’ouvraient sur le bord des branches,
délicatement.
Les cloches tintaient, légères et franches,
dans le ciel clément.
Rythmique et fervent comme une antienne,
ce lointain appel
me remémorait la blancheur chrétienne
des fleurs de l’autel.
Ces cloches parlaient d’heureuses années,
et, dans le grand bois,
semblaient reverdir les feuilles fanées,
des jours d’autrefois.
English translation
singing translation by Isabella G Parker
The leaves on the green boughs gently are swinging,
op'ning silently
The bells with their music airily ringing
'Neath the smiling sky
Slowly breathing like an anthem of warning
Afar through the air
Bringing mem'ry sweet of lilies adorning
Holy altar fair
Those bells tell of happy years now o'ershaded
And with solemn tone
Once more they refresh the leaves that are faded,
The years that are gone.