Il canto del lago – women voices divisi a cappella
words & music Jean-Christophe Rosaz
duration: circa 4′
In this piece, I took particular care to ensure that every element was born from the previous one: A wave on the semitone « mi – fa », illustrating the lake, develops into multiple rhythmic variations. The Latin pronunciation of the notes is then used, common to the relative system of Kodaly taught throughout Europe. Then from the name of the notes the words are born: « la – si » becomes la sibilla, etc… From there, there is work on the consonances of the different used languages. I chose what could be the three « mother languages » of the opera: Italian, German and French which are at the crossroads of the great European cultures that can be found in Switzerland, a true melting pot where these great currents of thought merge.
Description
The « Opernhaus » in Zurich, Switzerland, is located on the shores of a lake. If you walk along its banks and listen carefully, you can hear distant echoes of the comedies and tragedies taking place nearby on the stage. The house and the lake have stood there for so long, side by side, that they have become inseparable. Each feels the other’s every emotion deeply, like two old friends, two eternal lovers.
THE SONG OF THE LAKE
The Sibyl so sorrowful the sun makes me Wonderful or miserable who am I? I do not know who I am, yes I am, Globe the sun with its light The siren I hear I no longer know What syllable she sang and that alone makes me… The only one to embrace him, alas, rushes from her shroud, Mirror on the sea, admired in the sky, The beauty was terrified, where did she flee? No one knows! Sea, O song of the soul! Soul, song of the sea! That is sea life! Love sings the beauty: Love, sail and bring him back! O the waves of the sea The waves catch fire In all the colors of the rainbow, Such beautiful colors and beyond The infinity, …finity… It makes me feel the story of love: Ah all these great lovers! Who, in life, in death, Forever love each other… These lovers whose destiny will trace Eternal union or absence Infinite! Oh colorful destiny! The sun, the sun! The moon is so white! A sail appears on the sea! Love! Impossible love, moon and sun! O Love, impossible love,o suffering! Resistance! Sail, This is the day when we are reborn! We will rebirth! Like a flag, A flame in the wind! In the wind we will be reborn Sail! « But it’s all just a fable » Says the fable writer. But it’s all a fable, at the end. When from the bottom of the sea, From the bottom of the soul, The reddish star rises!
IL CANTO DEL LAGO
La sibilla si dolente il sole farmi Mirabile o miserabile chi sono? Non lo so chi son, si son, Dorarmi il sole della sua luce La sirena ch’ io sento non so più Qual sillaba ella cantava e ciò solo farmi… La seule hélas à l’enlacer s’élance de son linceul, Mirée sur la mer, admirée dans le ciel, La belle était effarée, où s’est-elle enfuie? Nul ne le sait! See, O Lied der Seele! Seele, Lied der See*! Das ist das Seeleben! Amour chante la belle: Amour, vogue et ramène le! O die Wellen der See Die Wellen fangen Feuer In allen Regenbogenfarben, So schöne Farben und jenseits Die Unendlichkeit, …endlichkeit… Mi fa sentir la storia dell’ amor: Ah tutti questi grandi amanti! Qui, à la vie, à la mort, Pour toujours s’aiment… Ces amants dont le destin tracera L’éternelle union ou bien l’absence Infini(e)! Ô destin haut en couleur! Die Sonne, die Sonne! La luna si bianca! Une voile paraît sur la mer! Amor! Impossible amour, lune et soleil! O Liebe, unmögliche Liebe, o Leiden! Widerstand ! Voile, Voici le jour où nous renaîtrons ! Noi rinasceremo! Wie ein Fahne, Eine Flamme im Wind! Im Wind werden wir wiederentstehen Segel ! « Mais tout n’est que fable » Sagt der Fabeldichter. Mais tout est fable, all’ fine. Wenn aus dem Seegrund, Aus dem Seelengrund, L’astro rossegiante sorge!
