by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901)
Translation Singable translation by Isidora Martinez (flourished 1886-1915)
Je demande à l'oiseau qui passe
Language: French (Français)
Je demande à l'oiseau qui passe Sur les arbres, sans s'y poser, Qu'il t'apporte, à travers l'espace, La caresse de mon baiser. Je demande à la brise pleine De l'âme mourante des fleurs, De prendre un peu de ton haleine Pour en venir sécher mes pleurs. Je demande au soleil de flamme, Qui boit la sève et fait les vins, Qu'il aspire toute mon âme, Et la verse à tes pieds divins !
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), "L'Exilé", written 1884-89, appears in Roses d'octobre, poésies 1884-1889, in 5. Vers pour être chantés, no. 16, first published 1890 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (1867 - 1944), "Je demande à l'oiseau", op. 51 (Four Songs) no. 4 (1903) [ medium voice and piano ], also set in English [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Théodore Jadoul (b. 1848), "L'Exilé" [ medium voice and piano ], from 10 Mélodies, no. 1, Éd. Veuve Léopold Muraille [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Isidora Martinez (flourished 1886-1915) ; composed by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-07-08
Line count: 12
Word count: 73
For my love
Language: English after the French (Français)
I entreat of the passing swallow, As it soars high on pinions free, That far swifter than sight can follow, It may bear my caress to thee. Of the breeze, laden with incense dying, Which flow'rs as they fade impart, I pray, my thoughts unto thee flying, One sigh alone from thy pure heart. Ah! yes, I ask of the sunlight glowing Which warmly tints the gen'rous wine, That my spirit into it flowing, May embrace thee with fire divine!
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by Isidora Martinez (flourished 1886-1915) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Armand Silvestre (1837 - 1901), "L'Exilé", written 1884-89, appears in Roses d'octobre, poésies 1884-1889, in 5. Vers pour être chantés, no. 16, first published 1890
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (1867 - 1944), "For my love", op. 51 (Four Songs) no. 4, published c1903 [ voice and piano ], also set in French (Français) [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2013-03-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 80