Translations, Ipa, and Scene Descriptions
Translations, Ipa, and Scene Descriptions
Translations, Ipa, and Scene Descriptions
those fine locks, that striking air, quella chioma, quell'aria brillante,
those rosy, girl-like cheeks. quel vermiglio donnesco color.
No more will you, etc. Non più andrai, ecc.
Among warriors swearing by Bacchus! Tra guerrieri poffar Bacco!
Great mustacchios, holding your pack, Gran mustacchi, stretto sacco,
a gun on your shoulder, a sabre at your side, schioppo in spalla, sciabola al fianco,
head held high, frank of feature, collo dritto, muso franco,
wearing a great helmet or a turban, o un gran casco, o un gran turbante,
winning honours, but little money, molto onor, poco contante,
and in place of the fandango ed invece del fandango,
a march through the mud. una marcia per il fango,
Over mountains, over valleys, per montagne, per valloni,
through the snow and burning sun. colle nevi, e i solleoni,
To the music of trumpets, al concerto di tromboni,
of shells and cannons, di bombarde, di cannoni,
with balls sounding thunder, che le palle in tutti i tuoni
making your ears ring. all'orecchio fan fischiar.
Cherubino, on to victory, Cherubino alla vittoria,
on to victory in war! alla gloria militar!
(They leave, marching like soldiers.) (Figaro e Cherubino partono marciando come
soldati.)
IPA TRANSCRIPTION
The Count has his eye on Susanna, his valet Figaro’s bride-to-be. She might just be a servant, but
Susanna’s pretty savvy and determined he won’t have his way — especially on their wedding
day!
While Figaro is outraged, he’s got bigger problems: he owes money to a spinster who will only
let the debt go if he marries her.
The Countess is sick to death of her husband’s wandering eye, and enlists Susanna to help win
him back.
They ALL need the help of Cherubino, the lovesick youth who loves not just the Countess, but
anyone who looks his way, so even though the Count wants to send Cherubino off, Figaro
convines the countess to make him stay so they can dress him like a girl and uncover the Count’s
desire for an affair. Before this is decided, Figaro makes fun of Cherubino’s fate in this song,
“Non piu andrai.” He’s basically making fun of the fact that Cherubino will no longer be around
women when he goes to war.
Auf flügeln des gesanges
Background/Research
“Auf Flügeln Des Gesanges” is a poem by the German Romantic poet Heinrich Heine; it was set
to music by Mendelssohn as the second of his “six songs for voice and piano” (Opus 34-2,
1834). The entire piece is comprised of an underlying accompaniment that drives the melody
forward with a beautiful, constant arpeggio that feels swaying and dream-like. It is almost
enchanting—which is appropriate given the text’s translation. This song is basically a song to
someone’s lover about the tranquil powers of music, and how sensations and images can arise
from beautifully-sung poetry.
Artistic/Literal Translation
IPA Transcription
On a separate page
ADIEU
Background/Research
This song is basically about how all good things come to an end, even the love in question within
the poem. It seems that the lover who the singer is leaving has been “cruel” in one way or
another, so the singer/poet feels no sorrow or regret when he or she leaves the love behind.
Literal Translation
IPA Transcription
On a separate page
THE LARK IN THE CLEAR AIR
Background/Research
This is an Irish folk song that is fairly popular, especially in America due to Gerald Moore’s
influence; he had a young soprano boy record the song in a studio over his own piano playing.
Irish influence was already accepted and integrated into American culture via ads (like the “Irish
Singer” cigarette brands) and other mediums. This fact, coupled with Moore’s substantial
influence at the time, made it easy for this song to become well-received.
This poem is basically about someone who seems to regret how impure their soul has
become. They even dream about their own immorality, and also dreamt that their lover had saved
them from their own immorality. So, the singer wishes that their lover would help guide them
down a path of innocent morality. This text can also be interpreted religiously, where the “love”
in question is not romantic, but rather, spiritual. It remains unclear, however, who the composer
“A.L.” is.
In the poem there is a particular line that stunned me: “Drop down upon my eyes another,
another tear.” I believe the singer is saying this because the eyes are the windows to the soul.