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"Au Clair de la Lune"(Absinthe Mix)

uploaded: Mon, Feb 16, 2009 @ 4:07 AM

by	Anchor Méjans
Featuring	Anne Hagert
length	4:15
Recommends	Recommends (22)

OK…um…this may be my most whacked-out contribution ever to cc.mixter…
My assigned pairing is “Compusician” whose uploads are a series of short synth samples which I used as the sustaining bed for my offering – definitely in the “experimental” genre.
It has been recently brought to light that the very first discovered recording of a human voice was made by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville in 1860 and is a 10 second rendition of the old French folk-song “Au Clair de la Lune” sung by the inventor’s daughter.
In honor of this discovery I am offering my version of this song.
I would like to thank my friend Anne Hagert for singing the female part for me. I translated the lyrics to suit my piece. My intention was to produce an audio-vignette, merging past and present and also introduce some humor. I call it the “Absinthe” mix because the song was popular during the Belle Époque and my embellishments echo the delirious atmosphere of the times….plus I get to play some neurotic cello!
If you want to hear the original historical recording - go here:
phonoautogram

At your door I’m knocking, by the pale moonlight
Lend a pen, for God’s sake; I’ve a word to write.
Flickering is my candle, my fire burns no more
For the love of heaven, open up the door!
Go to the old lady’s house, in the pale moonlight.
Knock on her door loudly and beg a pen to write.
“Who knocks there so loudly?” calls a voice above.
“Open wide your door now in the name of Love!”
Seek they pen and candle by the pale moonlight…
They can see so little since dark is now the night…
What they find while seeking, that is not revealed…
All behind her door is carefully concealed!
(I’m standing in the moonlight….Pierrot answer me…
I haven’t got a pencil – I’m lying in my bed….go ask the neighbor…
I think she is at home…someone’s in the kitchen over there …a light is flickering…)

(original lyrics)

Au clair de la lune
Mon ami Pierrot
Prête-moi ta plume
Pour écrire un mot
Ma chandelle est morte
Je n’ai plus de feu
Ouvre-moi ta porte
Pour l’amour de Dieu
Au clair de la lune
Pierrot répondit:
Je n’ai pas de plume
Je suis dans mon lit
Va chez la voisine
Je crois qu’elle y est
Car dans sa cuisine
On bat le briquet
Au clair de la lune
L’aimable Lubin
Frappe chez la brune
Qui répond soudain
Qui frapp’ de la sorte
Il dit à son tour
Ouvrez votre porte
Au dieu de l’amour
Au clair de la lune
On n’y voit qu’un peu
On chercha la plume
On chercha du feu
En cherchant d’ la sorte
Je n’ sais c’ qu’on trouva
Mais je sais qu’ la porte
Sur eux se ferma.