An elegant virtuoso piece by Camille Saint-Saens, the Saltarelle Op. 74 of 1885 is a harvest celebration with dancing, drinking and lovemaking. Saint-Saens wrote quite a number of male chorus songs, many of them rather bombastic. The "Saltarelle", however, shows the composer from his best side, witty and stylistically secure. The title alludes to a popular Italian dance dating back to the 15th century and usually in a rapid 6/8 rhythm.
Here is an English translation of the lyrics:
Come now, children of Rome,
Singing your happy songs!
Leave plain and mountain
To dance to tambourines
Rome, sacred city, gives you
These delights as the Virgin
from her oaken throne forgives you,
Veiling herself as needs be.
The carnival with its mask,
Its sequinned skirts,
Its bells and strange cries
Confounds the guards.
Come now, children of Rome…
Let us stamp sonorously on the ground!
And clap our hands again!
Night will fall and then the dawn,
What matters it, let us dance on!
More than one kiss escapes and flies
Does one care? The mad dance
Obscures maternal admonishments
Which enhances the game of love.
Come now, children of Rome…
The good priest, who to follow us
Gives up everything, but who knows how to live,
He sees nothing, with his book,
Of that which he should not see.
But what is this? Tomorrow the Camaldolese
Will leave their cells.
Then Lent, fasting and strictures
Will rain down on the town!
Come now, children of Rome…
(Naxos Music Library)
Please take note that the audio AND sheet music ARE NOT mine. Feel free to change the video quality to a minimum of 480p for the best watching experience.
Original audio: • Akademen - Saint-Saëns... (Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki, conducted by Kari Turunen)
Original sheet music: imslp.org/wiki/Saltarelle%2C_Op.74_(Saint-Sa%C3%ABns%2C_Camille) (Durand, 1885)