If by chance that was not enough…
February 23, 2008 by fmn2
O Nuit! Viens apporter à la terre
Le calme enchantement de ton mystère.
L’ombre qui t’escorte est si douce,
Si doux es le concert de tes voix
chantant l’espérance,
Si grand est ton pouvoir transformant tout
en reve heureux.
O Nuit! O laisse encore à la terre
Le calme enchantement de ton mystère.
L’ombre qui t’escorte est si douce,
Est-il une beauté aussi belle que le reve?
Est-il de vérité plus douce que l’espérance?
Beautiful
I recognize a few words, not least of all the last one.
Maybe we can get Gab to translate?
Maybe
It’s beautiful, Pia. I remember last year you suggested I rent the movie, but I completely forgot!
As a translator, Pia, I’m sure you know how much beauty is generally lost from the original poetry or lyrics, and then you have things like “l’ombre”, which could mean shade or shadow, and “doux” and “douce”, which could mean several different things - sweet, mild, gentle, soft… I listened to it several times and I think where you have “doigts” (fingers) it might really be “voix” (voices), but I’m not sure about that.
At the beginning, the countess asks the conductor what they will be performing and he answers her, then she asks him about the little boy leaning against the wall, and wants to know if he is being punished, and the conductor says yes. At the end, because I didn’t see the movie, I’m not sure whether it’s the little boy reflecting on this event later in life, or if it’s the conductor? Anyway, he (?) says he read, all of a sudden, in the other one’s eyes, many things, including pride, and what it was like to be forgiven, and something new, like recognition, or acknowledgement.
Oh night, come and bring to the earth
the calm enchantment of your mystery
The shadow that escorts you is so gentle
So sweet is the concert of your voices (?) singing of hope
So great is your power, transforming everything into a happy dream
Oh night, oh leave still on earth
the calm enchantment of your mystery
The shadow that escorts you is so gentle
Is it a beauty as beautiful as the dream?
Is it of truth sweeter than hope?
Hi Gabrielle
Well, I downloaded the lyrics after a long website search, and they all had doigts, but voix makes more sense, doesn’t it? I tried to listen more carefully and it seems they do say voix.
I think the last two lines are not questions, but poetic affirmations that the beauty of the night is as beautiful as a dream, and of (or in) truth, sweeter than hope.
Also, (I’m thinking in Italian here) reconaissance or aknowledgement as you interpret it, is “riconoscenza” in Italian, which also means “gratitude”.
The boy is a trouble maker and the teacher is just a tutor who helps them get their homework done, but his true vocation is that of chorus master. The kids are in a boarding school (which reminds me of the elementary school I went to..brrrrrrrr) and are all troublmakers, but they respond well to the kindness of the teacher. Pierre Morhange, the cute blonde boy is a tough one: his mom is a single mother who can’t keep him at home, and he is very angry with her. He ends up getting in trouble all the time, but is redeemed by the teacher and of course, ends up being a famous musician and singer when he grows up. The voice of the narrator is the teacher.
It really is a worthwhile movie to see, I recommend it to everyone.
I just watched another video of a concert by these boys, and they really do say “voix”.
I really must try to see this! I’ll put a little yellow sticky-note on the fridge!
Pia, I stumbled upon your blog from grandmak’s site, and I have to say that I’m intrigued! My mother is from Verona, Italy and I spent a good part of my childhood in Italy. Today my relatives still live there, so we travel there every few years. I love reading your comments in Italian, and your post on The Canticle of Creatures moved me because it is one of my very favorites; my Zio Luciano plays that on guitar. God bless, and I’ll be checking in regularly! Ciao!
Beautiful Pia I love hearing song in French and other languages too. Good morning
MC!!! Hi! I just stopped by to visit your place early this morning and catch up with you, finally, after a couple of weeks of “absence” from the anglo blogging scene, though I didn’t comment.
Glad to see you here again. Have you seen the movie? I really enjoyed it, not just the music but the story, too.
And the “angels” sang!!! Thank you!!!
Pia, I forgot to say I love your new header! (If it’s not new, just completely ignore this).
Gab, I just answered your question about the header in my Canticle of Creatures post…
Pia (fmn2),
No I haven’t seen the movie, but I think I am going to need to see it in order to catch up with everyone. It’s hard not being a TV watcher ya know. I think I can get away with one or two every now and then. ((((Hugs Pia))))
I dont’ think this movie would be on tv as such, only on movie channel or pay tv probably. Maybe you can rent a dvd? I’ve been appearing as fmn2 because I’m too lazy to correct my name inthe little box…it’s still little old me, Pia..
And may I ask, is Bernice your real name? If so, it’s lovely!
yes Bernice is my real name and so is Marie Cecile, those are my baptism and confirmation, middle names.