130

Lydia
Charles-Marie-Ren Leconte de Lisle Gabriel Faur
(1818-1894) (1845-1924)

Composed c.1870. op. 4, no. 2. Published by G. Hartmann, 1871; Choudens, 1877; Harnelle, 1887, first collection, no.
8. Dedicated to Mme. Marie Trdlat. First performance, Socitd nationale de musique, 18 May 1872, Marie Trdlat, mezzo-
soprano. This is Faurs first setting of Leconte de Lisle (see "Le Colibri"). Dc Lisles poem in Hellenic style is elegant
and beautifully balanced. Faurd mirrored its simplicity and antique mood by using the Lydian mode and simple vocal
phrases with graceful curving lines. Faur altered the poem slightly, probably to improve the vocal flow. "Chanter sur tes
lvres en fleur" was changed to "Chanter sur ta livre en fleur." In the first verse, Faurd omits the bracketed words in his
setting: "Et sur ton col frais et si blanc / [Que Ic laid route etincelant." He gives the omitted words to the piano, which
melodically initiates the phrase, removing the comparison of "white" and "milk." The song became personally signifi-
cant when Faurd used its first measures as a recurring symbolic motif in his song cycle La bonne chanson (1892-94),

""Lydia" presumably referred to Emma Bardac, with whom Faur was having an affair at the time he composed La
bonne chanson.

Lydia Lydia

Lydia, sur tes roses joues, Lydia, Onto your rosy cheeks
Et sur ton col frais et si blanc, And onto your neck, so fresh and white
[Que Ic lair,] roule tincelanr There rolls down, gleaming
Lor fluide que tu dnoucs. The flowing gold that you loosen

Le jour qui luit est Ic meilleur; The day that is dawning is the best;
Ouhlions Iternelle tombe. Let us forget the eternal tomb.
Laisse tes baisers, tes haisers de colornbe Let your kisses, your dove-like kisses
Chanter stir ra lCvre en flcur. Sing on your blossoming lips.

Un lys cache rpand sans cesse hidden lily ceaselessly spreads

Une odeur divine en ton scm: divine scent in your bosom.
Les dlices, comme un essaim, Delights, like swarming bees,
Sortenr de toi, jeune Desse! Emanate from you, young goddess!

J C tairne et meurs, mes amours, I love you and die, oh my love,

Mon !me en haisers mesr ravie! My soul is ravished in kisses
0 Lydia, rends-moi la vie, 0 Lydia, give inc hack my life,
Que je puisse mourir toujours! That I may die, die forever!

Andante

Ly - di - a, sur tes ros - es iou es,

2 2

sempre do Ice

*
Copyright ' 2001 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
InterntionaI Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved
 131

H
Et sur ton col frais et si blanc, roule

OP Ov

tin - ce - lant
U
Lor flu - i - de
_
que tu d - nou - es.

do ice

*"plus "in the original poem

132
I rail, a tempo

Chan-ter sur ta lvre * en fleur , sur ta lvre en fleur.

a tempo

Un lys ca - ch r - pand sans ces - se

pp sempre

OP OP

_
Une o - deur di - vine en ton sein: Les d - ii - ces, comme

dp

lop
I JJ
un es - saim, Sor - tent de toi, jeu - ne D es se!

Qj

*"t es lvres" in the original poem

 133

cresc. ml -

do ice -

vi - e! 0 Ly - di - a, rends - mm ________ la vi - e,

c
~ Olc e _

riten.
p a tempo

Que je puis - se mou-rir, mou - rir tou joursl

-

p a tempo p
riten.

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