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Supplice by Benjamin C​.​S. Boyle - III. Couchons​-​nous, mon vieux, il est tard

from New Suns by Variant 6

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about

Originally written for Singing City, a choir of over 100 singers, Benjamin transcribed Supplice in 2019 specifically to suit Variant 6. The piece is a sweeping setting of Paul Éluard's poem of the same name. Benjamin’s musical writing is always so lush and so lyrical; we’re allowed to vocally soar, using the full expressive range available to us as an ensemble. The poetry is rich with images: burning fires, frozen limbs, a desolate roadside ditch filled with flowers, a blanket unfolding. Benjamin’s setting captures them all with vibrant musical colors.

lyrics

Couchons-nous, mon vieux, il est tard.
C’est notre tâche d’être diurnes,
C’est notre tâche!
et l’infortune
Des autres d’ouvrir l’œil la nuit
Nous touche — mais ils ont dormi!

Personne ne doit plus passer
Sur la route et les églantiers
Mettent seuls dans le fossé
Leurs paumes claires ou bien rosées
Qu’aucune épine n’égratigne.

Couchons-nous, mon vieux, il est tard.
Assez jouer, assez boire.
Quittons l’arme et la ceinture
Et déplions les couvertures
Où dorment des bêtes noires.

***

To bed, my friend. It’s getting late.
We must be creatures of the day,
We must!
and though the evil fate
Of those who keep watch through the night
Weighs down our hearts, yet they have slept!

No one may come along the road
Tonight, and the dog roses
Reach out into the ditch alone
Their palms of white or coralline
Ungrazed by any thorn.

To bed, my friend. It’s getting late.
The time for games and drinks is past.
Off with the bayonet and belt,
Then to lay out the blanket
Where the black creatures wait.

credits

from New Suns, released May 20, 2022
Poem by Paul Éluard, translation by Samuel Martin

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Open G Records New York, New York

Open G Records is an independent classical record label based in New York City. We strive to assist the exceptional artists on our roster in making records that tell their stories on their terms. Our artists enjoy unprecedented freedom in the production of their art, and co-own the resulting product in a profit-sharing structure. We hope you enjoy this wonderful music and thank you for listening! ... more

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