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CyberSing 2004: See and Hear the winners

Gabriel Fauré

1845-1924

Fauré wrote "mélodie" throughout his long life.

Graham Johnson, in his book A French Song Companion writes, "[Fauré's] achievements are at the heart of French song. No other composer's output traverses the years in which the mélodie was at its height with a succession of masterpieces, ranging from tuneful salon trifles in the 1860s to the late cycles, unique in twentieth-century music, which seem as modern and sometimes as unfathomable as anything written by the 1920s avant-gard."

Benita Valente, soprano
Lydia Artymiw, piano.

Notre Amour (Our Love)

Set by Gabriel Fauré in about 1879 to poetry of Armand Silvestre
Notre amour et chose légère, Our love is light and gentle,
Comme les parfums que le vent Like the fragrance fetched by the breeze
Prend aux cimes de la fourère From the tips of ferns
Pour qu'on les respire en rêvant. For us to breath while dreaming.
--Notre amour est chose légère. --Our love is light and gentle.
Notre amour est chose charmante, Our love is enchanting,
Comme les chanson du matin Like morning songs,
Où nul regret ne se lamente, Where no regret is voiced,
Où vibre un espoire incertain. Quivering with uncertain hopes.
--Notre amour est chose charmante Our love is enchanting.
Notre amour est chose sacrée, Our love is sacred,
Comme le mystère des bois Like woodland mysteries,
Où tressaille une âme ignorée, Where an unknown soul throbs,
Où les silence ont des voix. And silences are eloquent.
--Notre amour est chose sacrée. --Our love is sacred.
Notre amour est chose infinie, Our love is infinte
Comme les chemins des couchants Like sunset paths,
Où la mer, aux cieux réunie, Where the sea, joined with the skies,
S'endort sous les soleils penchants. Falls asleep beneath slanting suns.
Notre amour est chose éternelle, Our love is eternal,
Comme tout ce qu'un Dieu vainqueur Like all that a victorious God
A touché du feu de son aile, Has brushed with his fiery wing,
Comme tout ce qui vient due cœur, Like all that comes from the heart,
--Notre amour est chose éternelle. Our love is eternal.

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