Colloque Sentimental - Paul Verlaine - English version for three altos a cappella

Colloque Sentimental
English version by S N Solomons after the poem by Paul Verlaine

music for three altos a cappella, composed and performed by
David W Solomons

Score available at
http://www.archive.org/details/Verlaine-colloqueSentimentalAndMandolineFromFe...

Image credit

Green Park - Garry Knight - under Creative Commons licence
http://www.flickr.com/photos/garryknight/


Colloque Sentimental - (translation by S N Solomons after Paul Verlaine)

In the age-old park, treading the icy grass
Two lone forms ere a while went past.

Their eyes are dead, their lips are soft and moist,
Almost inaudible their voice.

In the cold lonely park, pacing the grass,
Twin lonely spectres have evoked the past.

"Dost thou recall our ecstasy of old?"
"Why would you think I should recall?"

"And at my name does thy heart pulse and grow?
And in thy dreams seest thou my soul?" "No!"

"Those lovely days of unheard bliss and free ...
We fused our lips as one!" "Ah, that might be."

"How blue the heavens and our hope how high!"
"Hope has fled vanquished to the sombre sky."

And so they wandered in the unkempt grass,
And night alone heard all the words that passed.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• verlaine
• fetes galantes
• alto
• a cappella
• trio
• original music
• colloque sentimental
• colloquy
• park
• solomons
• Paul Verlaine
• Music

[apollonmusagete]

Very beautiful translation and setting. Magically evocative!

[mradaChris]

Very lovely piece I must say...

chris

[JoeFielding72]

My friend. I love your videos. This one is amazing. Your voice sounds elegant. There is nothing like the feeling that your music brings to me. Thank you for sharing your talent with me. You are a Legend and I will listen to you forever. God bless you and your family.