Lost in the fire of last year's Pierrot centennial was translation. After all, it was Otto Erich Hartleben's German--translated from the original French of Albert Giraud--that Arnold Schoenberg had set.
And with Stanley Appelbaum's Anglicised Hartleben turning 20 next year (not to mention having its own Twitter account @PierrotTweets), Classicalite figured a new English language translation was passed due.
With a grotesque gigantic bow Pierrot scrapes on his viola, Like the stork on one leg, He mournfully plucks a pizzicato.
— Pierrot (@PierrotTweets) June 2, 2011
To wit, for the next 21 weekdays, we'll be offering a new take on each of Giraud/Hartleben/Appelbaum's 3x7 poems...alongside some of our favorite performances.
SERENADE
With a bow monstrously gross,
Pierrot scratches on his viola.
Like a stork on one leg standing,
He dully plucks a pizzicato.
Suddenly, Cassander comes
raging at the nighttime virtuoso.
With a bow monstrously gross,
Pierrot scratches on his viola.
Fast, he throws down the viola;
With his left hand delicate,
He grasps Cassander by the collar.
Dreaming, he plays on the man's bald spot
With a bow monstrously gross.
Up next: "Heimfahrt (Barcarole)"
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