Antoine De Févin | Mama Lisa's World Blog

A Song about May by a French Renaissance Composer, with an MP3 Recording

Thursday, May 11th, 2006

David Solomons does a wonderful job finding songs that celebrate the time of year. We’re lucky that he shares them with us from time to time! He helps us celebrate the seasons with him.

Here’s David’s latest email with the song…

Hi Lisa

You might like to include this little piece all about May by Antoine de Févin (c.1470 – 1511 or 1512). I found it in the Choral Public Domain Library. The words, as found there, are…

Il fait bon aimer l’oiselet
(French)

Il fait bon aimer l’oiselet
Qui chante par nature
Ce mois de mai comment qu’il soit
Tant comme la nuit dure

Il fait bon écouter son chant
Plus que nul autre
En bonne foi
Car il réjouit maint amant
Je le sais bien bien quant est à moi

Il s’appele rossignolet
Qui met toute sa cure
A chanter son chant parfait
Aussi c’est sa nature

Here is an English translation/paraphrase…

It Is Pleasant to Hear the Little Bird
(English)

It is pleasant to hear the little bird
Singing from her very soul
This month of May, however it be
And for as long as the night will roll.

It’s lovely to hear her song
Finer than any other’s
I do declare
Because it gives joy to many lovers
My songster fair.

It is the little nightingale
Who puts all its devotion
Into its perfect song
From its very creation.

Here’s an MP3 of David Solomons singing Il fait bon aimer l’oiselet.

Many thanks to David W. Solomons for sharing Il fait bon aimer l’oiselet with us. David is a one man choral singer who has been playing instruments and singing for over 30 years. Here’s a link to his home page.

-Lisa

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