Song: Ou va la jeune Indoue (Indian Bell Song) From: Opera Lakme
Composer: Leo Delibes Librettist: Edmond Gondinet & Philippe Gille
Name of character: Lakme, daughter of Nilakantha
Setting: A public square in a town in India
Synopsis: Ordered by her father, Lakme sings the legend of the pariah’s daughter. The girl was walking through the forest at night and comes upon a stranger who has been set upon by wild animals. She rings a magic bell that is on her wand and saves the man, who is actually Vishnu, the son of Brahma the Creator. Vishnu takes her up to paradise for saving him.
The story takes place in 19th century India, whereas everyone knows-the British were riding high, wide, and handsome. The priest Nilakantha with his sacred garden exhorting his followers awaits the day when the British shall be driven from the land.
There are two British officers-Gerald and Frederick and their friends break into the holy garden to admire the beautiful white poisonous flowers. Gerald met Lakme and fall in love. Lakme warned Gerald if he is found in the garden by his father, he may very well be killed. Nilakantha did in turn found out and vows that the man who was there must die.
In Act II it is a feast day for the Hindus, and the British friends are at the bazaar to be amused. Gerald and his friends are all there. Nilakantha disguised as a beggar learned that Gerald was in the garden and has fallen in love with Lakme. He demands his daughter sing, and she obliges with the famous Bell Song. Nilakantha hopes that Lakme’s singing will attract Gerald so that he may murder him. As British soldiers march by, to drums and fifes, Nilakantha gathers his followers, and they hide to surprise Gerald. Gerald was stabbed and Lakme took him to her hidden grotto to recover.
Lakme was ordered to sing the Bell Song. She feels constrains from her father. The dilemma is between obeying her father and saving her love Gerald from harm.
Lyrics and translations for the Bell Song from Lakme
Ah………..
Ou va la jeune Indoue, Where goes the young Indian girl,
Fille des Parias, daughter of the pariahs,
Quand la lune se joue When the moon it plays
Dans le grand mimosas? On the tall mimosa trees?
Quand la lune se joue When the moon it plays
Dans le grand mimosas? On the tall mimosa trees?
Elle court sur las mousse She runs over the moss
Et ne se souvient pas And she doesn’t remember
Que partout on repousse That everywhere is shunned
L’enfant des parias; The child of the pariahs;
Elle court sur las mousse She runs over the moss
L’enfant des parias The child of the pariahs.
Le long des lauriers roses, Past the pink laurels,
Revant de douces choses, ah! Dreaming of sweet things, ah!
Elle passé sans bruit She passes without noise
Et riant a la nuit. And smiles (laughs) at the night.
Labas dans la foret plus sombre, Over there in the forest more dark,
Quel est ce voyageur perdu? Who is the traveler, lost?
Autour de lui des yeux All around him the eyes
Brillent dans l’ombre, Shine in the shadow,
Il marche encore au hasard, eperdu! He wanders on bewildered and lost!
Les fauves regissent de joie, The wild beasts roar with pleasure,
Ils vont se jeter sur leur proie, They go to pounce(jump) on their prey,
La jeune fille accourt The young girl runs up
Et brave leurs fureurs: And braves their fury:
Elle a dans sa main la baguette She has in her hand the wand
Ou tinte la clochette des charmeurs? Where tinkle the bells of the enchanter?
Ah…….. Ah……..
L’entranger la regarde, The stranger looks at her
Elle reste eblouie. She stands dazzled.
Il est plus beau que les Rajahs! He is more beautiful than all the Rahjas!
Il rougira, s’il sait qu’il doit la vie He will blush, if he realizes(knows) that he
A la fille des Parias. His life to the daughter of pariahs.
Mai lui, l’endormant dans un reve, But he, lulling her to sleep in a dream,
Jusque dans le ciel il l’enleve, He transports her to heaven,
En lui disant: ‘ta place et la!’ And telling her: ‘ your place is there!’
C’etait Vishnou, fils de Brahma! It was Vishnu, son of Brahma!
Depuis ce jour au fond de bois, Since that day in the depths of the forest,
Le voyageur entend parfois The traveler may sometimes hear
Le bruit leger de la baguette The faint sound of the wand
Ou tinte la clochette des charmeurs. Where tinkle the bells of the enchanter.
Ah! Ah!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)
Poem by Sully Prudhomme
Ice-bas tous les lilas meurent, Down here all lilacs
die,
Tous les chants des oiseaux sont courts, All songs of
the birds are short,
Je
reve aux etes qui demeurent toujours! I dream of summers that endure forever!
Ici-bas
les levres effleurent, Down here lips fade
Sans
rien laisser de leur velours,
Je
reve aux baisers qui demeurent toujours! I dream of kisses that last forever!
Ice-bas,
tous les hommes pleurent, Down here, all men weep
Leurs
amites ou leurs amours...
Je
reve aux couples qui demeurent, I dream of couples who remain,
Qui
demeurent toujours! Who remain always together!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information e-mail yayu@qwest.net.
Copyright © 1999-2007 Yea Records. Manufactured and
distributed by YEA Records
.
Printed in U.S.A.
All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication
is a violation of applicable laws.