Claude Debussy (1862-1918):
Spleen
(No. 6 of Ariettes oubliées)
(composed in 1887; first published in 1903)
Text: Paul Verlaine**
Original Key/Recorded Key: F Minor
Teach-Track begins: m. 1
Accompaniment Track begins: m. 1*
Pianist: Daniel Michalak
* In order to ensure better ensemble between singer and accompaniment, the first two phrases of the vocal line are softly doubled in the piano part (so that you may gauge exactly where the pianist?s intervening chords will fall).
** The subtitle ?aquarelle? (watercolor), which appears in some editions of this song, refers to the section of Verlaine?s Romances sans paroles in which the poem appears.
Notes © 1999 by Daniel O. Michalak
Spleen-Melancholy
Les roses étaient toutes rouges
The roses were all red
Et les lierres étaient tout noirs.
And the ivy was all black.
Chère, pour peu que tu te bouges
Dearest, for a little that you move
Renaissent tous mes désespoirs.
Return all my despairs.
Le ciel était trop bleu, trop tendre,
The sky was too blue, too tender,
La mer trop verte et l'air trop doux.
The sea too green and the air too mild.
Je crains toujours, -- ce qu'est d'attendre
I fear always, - what it is to wait
Quelque fuite atroce de vous.
Some departure atrocious of yours.
Du houx à la feuille vernie
Of the holly with the leaves glossy
Et du luisant buis je suis las,
And of the gleaming boxwood I am weary,
Et de la campagne infinie
And of the countryside infinite
Et de tout, fors de vous, hélas!
And of everything, except of you, alas!