Subject: RE: Help/Lyr Add: Sur les Bancs de Terre-Neuve From: Monique Date: 04 Jan 22 - 04:18 AM Song lead by Catherine Perrier Recording by Jean-François Dutertre Rendition by Mireille Haquet Recording of a slightly different version from the Frémeaux set "Une anthologie des musiques traditionnelles". |
Subject: RE: Help/Lyr Add: Sur les Bancs de Terre-Neuve From: GUEST,Terre-Neuva Date: 03 Jan 22 - 07:33 PM "Un étui" is probably best translated as 'a case' in most cases, although in the context of this song 'box' works fine. As for "légère, légèrement" it can be translated as 'light, lightly', 'soft, softly' or 'gentle, gently'. In my opinion, its semantic function is not to add any precision to the text or qualify specific parts of it but imbue the whole song with a reverie-like or dreamy-like quality (as can be done in photography w special filters or on stage w fog or flood lights). The first time I ever heard it -in Normandy, as a young adult- it produced a strong esthetical impression (vision-like) on me; of backlit distant silhouettes against 'glittering' golden sands (as can be experienced on the coast of Normandy esp at both the Mont Saint Michel and Somme river bays) slowly growing more identifyable as they approach. When I read the lyrics at some later stage, I realised how little of that 'sands' vision was in the actual words. It seems the words "là-bas" (over-there), "bancs" (sand-bancs) and "légèrement" (light) were enough to imprint a whole Impressionist- or Turner-style scene in my mind's eye. Where did the light come from? I did not speak English at the time so léger=light could not have suggested it. Could the sole mention of Fécamp have triggered it? |
Subject: RE: Help/Lyr Add: Sur les Bancs de Terre-Neuve From: GUEST,Mrr Date: 12 Sep 05 - 04:48 PM I don't think so - but then again, "light" here is feminine, so it doesn't refer to the beloved, who is male... |
Subject: RE: Help/Lyr Add: Sur les Bancs de Terre-Neuve From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 12 Sep 05 - 01:10 PM Yes, there is a missing word- étui- box or little container Et de l'autre un étui d'argent Thanks for the translation. Much better than rough. But I still wonder about 'light, lightly.' ? swiftly
-Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Help/Lyr Add: Sur les Bancs de Terre-Neuve From: GUEST,Mrr Date: 12 Sep 05 - 08:34 AM Rough? OK, here goes: There's a crowd here, there's a crowd there, my lover is not among them, light, lightly On the banks of Newfoundland my beloved waits Ah, I see him coming in the distance He rides a black & white horse A white glove in his right hand And in the other, a silver (?? missing letters? Maybe die?) My dowry is in it Crowded now But it'll have more room Between Paris and Rouen And from Rouen till Fecamp. Usually these songs repeat the 1st line then not the second, which is repeated as the first line of the next verse. |
Subject: Lyr Add: SUR LES BANCS DE TERRE-NEUVE From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 11 Sep 05 - 10:51 PM Lyr. Add: SUR LES BANCS DE TERRE-NEUVE Normandy, Traditional Nous voilà bien du monde ici (bis*) Nous voilà bien du monde là Celui que j'aime n'y est pas Légère, légèrement Sur les bancs de Terre-Neuve Mon bien aimé m'attend (bis*) Ah je le vois venir là-bas Monté sur un cheval noir et blanc A sa main droite tient un gant blanc Et de l'autre un étui d'argent Mes amourettes y sont dedans Elles y sont bien étroitement Elles y seront plus largement Entre Paris et Rouen Et puis de Rouen jusqu'à Fécamp. (bis*)- twice ----------------------- Perhaps I should have labeled this thread Help! I am not sure how the lines are repeated. I have sheet music for the first verse plus the next two lines (verse). If anyone is interested, I will scan them. A rough translation also would help. There are a number of songs about Newfoundland; the versions in English of "The Banks of Newfoundland" mostly have been posted in Mudcat. I would like to learn something of the Normandy-Breton songs of Newfoundland, but without French, it is hard times. |
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