David Solomons

Composer

David W Solomons

Lyricist

Marie Keyser

Translator

David W Solomons

Publisher

David W Solomons

Genre

Classical / Song

Instrumentation

Contralto, Countertenor, Classical guitar

Scored for

Duo

Type of score

Score for two performers

Duration

1'27"

Language

French

Difficulty

Medium

Year of composition

1977

Description
A song based loosely on the old French folksong "Nous n'irons plus aux bois" [No more shall we go to the woods] as seen through the eyes of the poet, Marie Keyser, who feels she has lost her childhood.
Translation (on cover sheet) and music by David W Solomons.
Sound sample performed by the composer
Setting of a poem by Marie Keyser which is inspired by the old French children's song Nous n'irons plus aux bois
It is performed here by the composer

Nous n'irons plus aux bois,
Les lauriers sont coupés,
et les jardins désenchantés,
où les saisons ne bougeaient pas.
Nous n'irons plus aux bois,
l'enfance a fané là.
Nous n'irons plus enfants,
les saisons sont coupées.
Les flûtes joueront seules
dans les allées du bois,
Car les doigts sont coupés,
qui en jouèrent tant.
Mon enfance lointaine!
Nous n'irons plus enfants.

© Marie Keyser

[translation]
No more shall we go to the woods
The laurels are cut down
and the disenchanted gardens
where the seasons never changed.
No more shall we go to the woods
that is where childhood faded.
No more shall we go, children,
The seasons are cut down
The flutes will play all on their own
in the woodland avenues
since the fingers are cut off
that played them so oft.
My distant childhood
No more shall we go, children...

Upload date

09 Jan 2012