Carl Orff Primo Vere
3. Veris leta facies (The merry face of spring)
Veris leta facies The merry face of spring
mundo propinatur, turns to the world,
hiemalis acies sharp winter
victa iam fugatur, now flees, vanquished;
in vestitu vario bedecked in various colours
Flora principatur, Flora reigns,
nemorum dulcisono the harmony of the woods
que cantu celebratur. praises her in song. Ah!
Flore fusus gremio Lying in Flora's lap
Phebus novo more Phoebus once more
risum dat, hac vario smiles, now covered
iam stipate flore. in many-coloured flowers,
Zephyrus nectareo Zephyr breathes nectar-
spirans in odore. scented breezes.
Certatim pro bravio Let us rush to compete
curramus in amore. for love's prize. Ah!
Cytharizat cantico In harp-like tones sings
dulcis Philomena, the sweet nightingale,
flore rident vario with many flowers
prata iam serena, the joyous meadows are laughing,
salit cetus avium a flock of birds rises up
silve per amena, through the pleasant forests,
chorus promit virgin the chorus of maidens
iam gaudia millena. already promises a thousand joys. Ah!
4 Omnia sol temperat (The sun warms everything)
Omnia sol temperat The sun warms everything,
purus et subtilis, pure and gentle,
novo mundo reserat once again it reveals to the world
faciem Aprilis, April's face,
ad amorem properat the soul of man
animus herilis is urged towards love
et iocundis imperat and joys are governed
deus puerilis. by the boy-god.
Rerum tanta novitas All this rebirth
in solemni vere in spring's festivity
et veris auctoritas and spring's power
jubet nos gaudere; bids us to rejoice;
vias prebet solitas, it shows us paths we know well,
et in tuo vere and in your springtime
fides est et probitas it is true and right
tuum retinere. to keep what is yours.
Ama me fideliter, Love me faithfully!
fidem meam noto: See how I am faithful:
de corde totaliter with all my heart
et ex mente tota and with all my soul,
sum presentialiter I am with you
absens in remota, even when I am far away.
quisquis amat taliter, Whosoever loves this much
volvitur in rota. turns on the wheel.
5 Ecce gratum (Chorus) (Behold, the pleasant spring)
Ecce gratum Behold, the pleasant
et optatum and longed-for
Ver reducit gaudia, spring brings back joyfulness,
purpuratum violet flowers
floret pratum, fill the meadows,
Sol serenat omnia. the sun brightens everything,
Iamiam cedant tristia! sadness is now at an end!
Estas redit, Summer returns,
nunc recedit now withdraw
Hyemis sevitia. the rigours of winter. Ah!
Iam liquescit Now melts
et decrescit and disappears
grando, nix et cetera; ice, snow and the rest,
bruma fugit, winter flees,
et iam sugit and now spring sucks at summer's breast:
Ver Estatis ubera; a wretched soul is he
illi mens est misera, who does not live
qui nec vivit, or lust
nec lascivit under summer's rule. Ah!
sub Estatis dextera.
Gloriantur They glory
et letantur and rejoice
in melle dulcedinis, in honeyed sweetness
qui conantur, who strive
ut utantur to make use of
premio Cupidinis: Cupid's prize;
simus jussu Cypridis at Venus' command
gloriantes let us glory
et letantes and rejoice
pares esse Paridis. in being Paris' equals. Ah!
