Après un rêve

Après un rêve (After a Dream), a romantic song by Gabriel Fauré, is one of the three songs in his Trois mélodies, Opus 7, a set of songs he composed between 1870 and 1878. Its text is an anonymous Italian poem adapted into French by Romain Bussine. The other two songs in the set are Hymne and Barcarolle.

Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924) was a French composer, organist, pianist, and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many twentieth century composers. Among his best-known works are his Nocturnes for piano, the songs Après un rêve and Clair de lune, and his Requiem.

Tutorial

(transcription for high voice)

  • Piano Solo in C Minor (arr. Jacobs)

Slow At Tempo

French and English Lyrics (from Wikipedia)

Après un rêve

Dans un sommeil que charmait ton image

Je rêvais le bonheur, ardent mirage,

Tes yeux étaient plus doux, ta voix pure et sonore,

Tu rayonnais comme un ciel éclairé par l'aurore;

Tu m'appelais et je quittais la terre

Pour m'enfuir avec toi vers la lumière,

Les cieux pour nous entr'ouvraient leurs nues,

Splendeurs inconnues, lueurs divines entrevues,

Hélas! Hélas! triste réveil des songes

Je t'appelle, ô nuit, rends-moi tes mensonges,

Reviens, reviens radieuse,

Reviens ô nuit mystérieuse!

MP3s

Sheetmusic

imslp

After a Dream

In a slumber enchanted by your image

I dreamt of happiness, passionate mirage,

Your eyes were softer, your voice pure and resonant,

You shone like a sky lit up by the dawn;

You called me and I left the earth

To run away with you towards the light,

The skies opened their clouds for us,

Unknown splendours, divine flashes glimpsed,

Alas! Alas! sad awakening from dreams

I call you, O night, give me back your lies,

Return, return radiant,

Return, O mysterious night!