O ma lyre immortelle

from
Sapho

Gounods opera tells a story of the Greek poetess Sappho (spelled Sapho in French).
Contrary to what one might expect, the object of Saphos affection is a tenor Phaon.
Through manipulation and deceit, Saphos soprano rival has turned Phaon against her.
One evening at sunset, in despair, Sapho stands at the top of a rocky cliff and contemplates
throwing herself into the sea below.

mile Augier Charles Gounod

(1818-1893)
U
& 34 . J
1 Andante Sapho


U # O suis- je?
U where am I

& 34 #
J b #
.

.
. .
U recit.
a tempo
? 34

j
j # j #
6

&
#
Ah! oui, je me rap- pel - le.
j ah yes I remember

& b # b #
. . . .
recit. a tempo
? . b . j
. b
# . . b . b .
# .

b b b b . j
11

&
Tout ce qui mat- ta- chait la vi- e est bri - s.
all that bound me to life is broken

j
& b #
b
. . . .
recit.
p
? b . b . b j b
.
. b . b . b . b
J a tempo
. b

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 16
U j b b j
& b b b b b b j b .
b
Il ne me re - ste plus que la nuit - ter - nel - le, Pour re- po- ser mon coeur, de dou-
it not me remains more than the night eternal for to rest my heart by

j U
& b
j j
b b b b b
pb j p j
? U
b b
b b

U
& j . bbbbb
21 Andante
j
n
leur - pui - s.
b .
grief exhausted

b . U
bbbbb
Andante
j j
& n
b bn p > >
? U
J bbbbb . j . j
. .

A
>
b n ... n A n
& b bbb
28

n n
J
cresc. f dim.

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b b b . . n .
. . .
j
.. .
b
& b bbb
34

.. . J
p espressivo

? bb b

b b
.
.

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 j j j
b b b .... . .
38

& b b . J . J

? b b
b b b

b
& b bbb
42 dolce, espressivo

j O ma
j .
oh my

b . n n
b
& b b b . n n .

p
dim.
? b b n

b b b

b
& b bbb
46

.



lyre im- mor - tel - le, Qui dans les
lyre immortal who during the

b
& b bbb






? b b




b b b

b
& b bbb j
50

.
tris - tes jours, A tous mes
sad days to all my

b
& b bbb
n
? b b n



b b b

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 b . .
& b bbb
54

maux fi - d - le, Les con - so-
sorrows faithful them consoled

b
& b bbb


? b b
b b b

b . .
& b bbb
58

J J
lais tou - jours.
.
always
n n

& bbbb b n
cresc.
A dim.

? b b n
b b b

b . .
& b bbb
62

J
En vain ton doux mur - mu - re Veut mai- der souf- frir.
in vain your sweet murmur tries to help me in suffering

b b b b j
cresc.

& b
? bb b






n

b b

b n . b .
& b bbb b
66
.
J
Non, tu ne peux gu - rir Ma der - ni - re bles-
no you not can heal my final

b
& b bbb
n n n n b
[subito] p
? b b n n n
b b b

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 b . . .
& b bbb
69

J
su - re, Ma bles sure est au coeur.
wound my wound is to the heart

b
& b bbb



n

? b b n
b b b n
n

b .
& b bbb b
73

. b
.
Seul le tr - pas peut fi - nir ma dou-
only the death can end my

b
& b bbb b b b
? b b b b
b
b b b

bbbb j
76 cresc.

& b n j .

leur, ma dou - leur.
pain my pain

b
& b bbb n


n



? b b n
n

j
b b b

.. .
b b J .. .
80

&b b b J J J J

? bb b
b b

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 b . .
n n .

& b bbb J
84

J J J
dim.


? b b n
b b b

b
& b bbb j
88

.

A - dieu! flam - beau du mon -
farewell torch of the world (i.e., the sun)

b
& b bbb






p
? bb b .
b b .
.

b
& b bbb
92

.

de. Des - cends au sein des flots.
sink beneath waves

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& b bbb



n
n
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b b . . .
. ..

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& b bbb
96

.
Moi, je des- cends sous lon -
me I sink into the deep

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& b bbb






? b b

.
b b b . . ..
.

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 b . .
& b bbb
100

J
de Dans lE- ter - nel re - pos.
into eternal rest

b
& b bbb n
. .

p
? b b . n
b b b .
.
104
bbb
& b b J j

Le jour qui doit - clo - re, Pha -

.
the day that must dawn

b
& b bbb .

J




cresc.
? b b
b b b

bbb . .
n .
108

& b b
J
on, lui - ra pour toi, Mais sans pen - ser

b
Phaon will shine for you but without thought of

N
b b
&b b b
J b N
J
cresc.
n

? bb b n
b b

b b .
& b bbb b
111

J
moi Tu re - ver - ras lau - ro - re.
n
me you will see the dawn

. . .
bbbb n n
& b n
J J
cresc.
cresc.
b
? bb b n n
n

b b

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 b . . .
& b bbb
114

Ou - vre- toi gouf- fre_a - mer.
.
open abyss bitter

.. .
b . .
& b b b b . . . . .
.

cresc.
dim.


? b b
b b b n

b
& b bbb b

118

b

Je vais dor - mir pour tou - jours dans la
I go to sleep for forever in the

b
& b bbb b b b
? bb b b b b

b b

bbbb
121 cresc.

& b n j .

mer, dans la
sea in the

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n
? b b n
b b b

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124 Poco pi lento

.
.. . nn .
. j
mer.
b . .. .
sea

& b bbb .
.. . J
J J .. . J J
. J J
. . j . . j
? b b j
b b b
> >
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b . n . . n n .
& b bbb .

129

n . . n n . J n
J J
n
. . . n
poco cresc.

? b b .. .. n ..
b b b J n
n

b . n
& b bbb . cresc. . j
133 Lento
J J . J

Ou- vre - toi gouf- fre_a- mer, Ou- vre - toi, je vais dor - mir pour tou-
open abyss bitter open I go to sleep for

b
& b bbb . n. j
.. n . .. n .
.
col canto f
? bb b j j j
cresc. molto

b b
n n . . .
n n . . .
> >

. w
Allegro

bbbb
139

& b J J C
jours dans la mer.

n n ..
nsea
forever in the

n . n
b n n n J n
n n
& b bbb n n n n C

n n n n
? b b n
b b b n n n n n J C

b n .. b n n n
b n
143

& b b b . n n bn ... ?
&
b
? b b
b b b

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 b
& b bbb
149

n n n
? b b b j
b b J J J J
b
& b bbb
152

n w
? bb b
b b n

O suis-je? Where am I?
Ah! oui je me rappelle. Ah! yes, I remember.
Tout ce qui mattachait la vie est bris. All that bound me to life is broken.
Il ne me reste plus que la nuit ternelle, All that remains for me is eternal darkness,
Pour reposer mon coeur, de douleur puis. Where my heart, exhausted by grief, can rest.
O ma lyre immortelle, Oh my immortal lyre,
Qui dans les tristes jours, Who, during sad times,
A tous mes maux fidle, Faithful to all my sorrows,
Les consolais toujours. Always consoled them.
En vain ton doux murmure In vain thy sweet murmur
Veut maider souffrir. Tries to help me in my suffering.
Non tu ne peux guerir No, thou canst not heal
Ma dernire blessure, My final wound,
Ma blessure est au coeur. My wound is to the heart.
Seul le trpas peut finir ma douleur. Only death can put an end to my pain.
Adieu! flambeau du monde. Farewell, torch of the world.
Descends au sein des flots. Sink beneath the waves.
Moi je descends sous londe I sink into the deep
Dans lEternel repos. Into eternal rest.
Le jour qui doit clore, The new day that will dawn,
Phaon, luira pour toi, Phaon, will shine for you,
Mais sans penser moi But with no thought of me
Tu reverras laurore. Thou wilt see another dawn.
Ouvre-toi, gouffre amer. Open up, bitter abyss.
Je vais dormir pour toujours dans la mer. I go to sleep forever in the sea.
Translation by Patricia Kealy

For editorial notes and other information, see

http://home.earthlink.net/~markdlew/shw/saphlyre.htm

Copyright 1998, Mark D. Lew
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Copyright 1998, Mark D. Lew 10 SaphLyre_101803 - 10