Six Chansons

 

Verger – Orchard

Paul Hindemith (1895-1963)

 

 

Jamais la terre n'est plus réelle
Never is the earth more solid than
que dans tes branches, ô verger blond,
in your branches, O fair orchard,
Ni plus flottante que dans la dentelle
Nor more floating than in the lacework
que font les ombres sur le gazon.
the shadows make upon the grass.
Là se rencontre ce qui nous reste,
There we meet what remains to us,
ce qui pèse et ce qui nourrit,
what has weight and nourishes us,
avec le passage manifeste
along with the manifest passing
de la tendresse infinie.
of infinite tenderness.
Mais à ton centre la calme fontaine,
But at your heart the calm fountain,
presque dormant en son ancien rond,
almost asleep in its ancient circle,
de ce contraste parle à peine,
speaks hardly at all of these contrasts,
tant en elle il se confond.
so much are they mixed up in it.

 

 

This piece was performed on Octarium Salutes Nature, April 2006.