CÉCILE CHAMINADE Ronde du Crépuscule

Voices of Ascension
Dennis Keene, Artistic Director
Devon Guthrie, Soprano
Daniel Beckwith, Pianist

from the concert “A Voice of Her Own,” March 20, 2019
The Brick Presbyterian Church
New York City

The singers in this performance are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.

Born on this day in 1857, Cécile Chaminade was a composer and concert pianist. She toured France, England and America with great success. After her death in 1944 her music was all but forgotten until recent years, when there has been a major resurgence of interest. Her compositions are marked by wonderful color, personality, panache. The Ronde du Crépuscule is great fun, absolutely captivating. Our soloist was the ever-fabulous soprano, Devon Guthrie! This came from a concert of music by women composers, which we entitled “A Voice of Her Own.”

– Dennis Keene, Artistic Director

Text (sung in French)

Dance of the Round at Twilight (Ronde du Crépuscule)
At the moment when Queen Mab and her goblins Whirl in the atmosphere, We will dance at twilight The dance of the mischievous elves.
Dressed in gauze and linen batiste, Near the pond which sleeps. Let’s frolic.
Pale statues, let’s frolic In the pattern of the golden rays.
Once upon a time A queen with a pretty, young face
Met her friend In a meadow, On the edge of a pretty woods.
They loved each other so much, Under an oak tree, That their hearts are still there.
When the daylight starts to fade In the meadow, We hear them kissing.
Shush! Listen To the fading sun Beyond the tall, golden trees.
We will perhaps still hear The queen and her friend In the darkness. Ah!