Ce Mai (Clément Janequin)

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• (Posted 2023-02-19)  CPDL #72721: 

Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2023-02-19).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 169 kB   Copyright: CC BY SA

Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download. This edition is offered at original pitch for SATB or transposed down a fourth for ATTB

General Information

Title: Ce Mai
Composer: Clément Janequin
Lyricist: Anonymous
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicings: SATB or ATTB
Genre: Secular, Chanson

Language: French
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1552 in Livre 10: XXVI chansons nouvelles (Nicolas Du Chemin), no. 17
Description: 

Original text and translations

French text Ce may nous dit la verdure, et en leur chant ces oyseaux, Que de chagrin n'ayons cure, O Dieu tant ces prez sont beaux! Qu'aurions de plaisirs nouveaux, Si ainsi que ie souhaite Ie l'y tenoye seulette? Du moins toute descouverte De coqu et violette Elle auroit la cotte verte* Et si en ce voyant nue Crioit ie suis mor sondue. Aussi tost seroit couverte.

French text  modernised Ce Mai nous dit la verdure, Et en leur chant ces oiseaux, Que de chagrin n'ayons cure. O Dieu, tant ces prés sont beaux! Qu'aurions de plaisirs nouveaux, Si ainsi que je souhaite Je l'y tenaie seulette? Du moins, toute découverte De coucou et violette, Elle aurait la cotte verte*; Et si en ce voyant nue Criait, "Je suis morfondue", Aussitôt serait couverte.

English translation In May the greenery And the birds in song tell us To bear no sorrows. O.m.g., these meadows are so beautiful! What new pleasures would we have If thus, as I wish, I were to hold her there alone? At least, unveiled To the cuckoo and violet, She would get the green gown*; And if, being seen naked, She'd cry out "I am freezing", She'd be covered up soon enough. (trans Timmi O'Danaos & Donna Ferrentes)

*la cotte vert/ the green gown: *Dress stains resulting from fornication upon damp grass. An idiom common to both English and French folksong; not to be confused with Monica Lewinsky's blue dress.