UNCSA Presents: Charles Martin Loeffler - 4 Poéms, Op.5, no. 2 Dansons la gigue!

Phyllis Pancella, mezzo-soprano
Ulrich Eichenauer, viola
Ashley Clasen, piano
Recorded: March 2022 at "Phyllis Pancella: An Evening of Vocal Chamber Music"
In this work, Loeffler took advantage of the many color possibilities of viola and mezzo-soprano when setting this poem by Paul Verlaine. Translation below by Phyllis Pancella.
Dansons la gigue!
Paul Verlaine
[Let’s dance a jig!]
J'aimais surtout ses jolis yeux
Plus clairs que l'étoile des cieux,
J'aimais ses yeux malicieux.
[Above all I loved her pretty eyes,
Brighter than the star of heaven,
I loved her wicked eyes.]
Dansons la gigue!
Elle avait des façons vraiment
De désoler un pauvre amant,
Que c'en était vraiment charmant!
[She really had her ways
Of desolating a poor lover
In a way that was so charming!]
Dansons la gigue!
Mais je trouve encore meilleur
Le baiser de sa bouche en fleur
Depuis qu'elle est morte à mon coeur.
[But I find even better
The kiss of her mouth - like a flower
Now that she is dead to my heart]
Dansons la gigue!
Je me souviens, je me souviens
Des heures et des entretiens,
Et c'est le meilleur de mes biens.
[I remember, I remember
These hours, and these encounters,
And they are the best of what I have.]
Dansons la gigue!