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Finding English Translations of Vocal Music Texts

Guide to sources of English translations of song and aria texts. Many of these provide phonetic readings in addition to poetic and/or word-for-word translations.

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Jason Imbesi
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Translations by Composer

Bach, Johann Sebastian

Stokes, Richard. The Complete Church and Secular Cantatas.
Reference: ML 54 .B12 C232 2000

Unger, Melvin P. Handbook to Bach's Sacred Cantata Texts: An Interlinear Translation with Reference Guide to Biblical Quotations and Allusions.
Reference: ML 410 .B12 U54 1996

Brahms, Johannes

Glass, Beaumont. Brahms' Complete Song Texts: In One Volume Containing Solo Songs, Duets, Liebeslieder Waltzes (Both Sets), the Alto Rhapsody, Folk Song Arrangements. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .B82 G521 1999

Stark, Lucien. Brahms's Vocal Duets and Quartets with Piano: A Guide with Full Texts and Translations.
Reference: MT 115 .B73 S71 1998

Debussy, Claude

Rohinsky, Marie-Claire. The Singer's Debussy. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .D42 R621 1987

Dvorák, Antonín

Adams, David. The Song and Duet Texts of Antonín Dvorák and Vecerní Písne (Evening Songs) of Bedrich Smetana. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .D86 2003

Fauré, Gabriel

Gartside, Robert. Interpreting the Songs of Gabriel Fauré. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 410 .F26 G37 1996

Gluck, Christoph Willibald

Castel, Nico. Gluck & Monteverdi Opera Libretti. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 48 .G57 2008

Handel, George Frideric

Castel, Nico. Handel Opera Libretti. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 49 .H23 2005

Monteverdi, Claudio

Castel, Nico. Gluck & Monteverdi Opera Libretti. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 48 .G57 2008

Stevens, Denis. Songs and Madrigals.
Reference: ML 54.7 .M66 S74 1998

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Castel, Nico. The Libretti of Mozart's Completed Operas. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 49 .M94 C37 1997

Mussorgsky, Modest

Richter, Laurence R. Mussorgsky's Complete Song Texts. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .M93 R53 2002

Poulenc, Francis

Deeter, Alissa, and Robert Peavler. The Mélodies of Francis Poulenc: A Study Guide. [IPA included]
Reference: MT 121 .P78 D44 2014

Néron, Martin. Francis Poulenc: Selected Song Texts. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .P78 A25 2010

Pfitzner, Hans

Mercier, Richard. The Songs of Hans Pfitzner: A Guide and Study. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 410 .P53 M47 1998

Prokofiev, Sergei

Richter, Laurence R. Prokofiev's Complete Song Texts. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .P86 2008

Puccini, Giacomo

Castel, Nico. The Complete Puccini Libretti. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 49 .P92 2002

Rachmaninoff, Sergei

Challis, Natalia. The Singer's Rachmaninoff. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .R18 C43 1989

Richter, Laurence R. Rachmaninov's Complete Song Texts. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .R18 R531 2000

Ravel, Maurice

Gartside, Robert. Interpreting the Songs of Maurice Ravel. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 410 .R22 G37 1992

Reger, Max

Mercier, Richard, and Donald Nold. The Songs of Max Reger: A Guide and Study. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 410 .R25 M47 2008

Rodrigo, Joaquín

Draayer, Suzanne Rhodes. A Singer's Guide to the Songs of Joaquín Rodrigo. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 410 .R72 D73 1999

Schubert, Franz

Glass, Beaumont. Schubert's Complete Song Texts. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .S38 G53 1996

Wigmore, Richard. Schubert, the Complete Song Texts: Texts of the Lieder and Italian Songs.
Reference: ML 54.6 .S38 W65 1988

Schumann, Robert

Glass, Beaumont. Schumann's Complete Song Texts: In One Volume Containing All Completed Solo Songs Including Those Not Published During the Composer's Lifetime, Duets, Trios, Quartets. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .S387 G52 2002

Reinhard, Thilo. The Singer's Schumann. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .S387 R413 1989

Schütz, Heinrich

Drinker, Henry S. English Texts to the Vocal Works of Heinrich Schütz.
ML 54 .S39 D78

Shostakovich, Dmitri

Richter, Laurence R. Shostakovich's Complete Song Texts. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .S48 S62 2007

Strauss, Richard

Castel, Nico. Four Strauss Opera Libretti. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 49 .S925 2002

Glass, Beaumont. Richard Strauss' Complete Song Texts. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .S86 2004

Tchaikovsky, Peter

Richter, Laurence R. Tchaikovsky's Complete Song Texts. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .T35 T34 1999

Sylvester, Richard D. Tchaikovsky's Complete Songs: A Companion with Texts and Translations.
Reference: ML 54.6 .T24 S9 2002

Verdi, Giuseppe

Castel, Nico. The Complete Verdi Libretti. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 49 .V48 C37 1994

Wagner, Richard

Castel, Nico. Der Ring des Nibelungen. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 50 .W14 R32 2003

Castel, Nico. Three Wagner Opera Libretti. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 49 .W134 2006

Wolf, Hugo

Glass, Beaumont. Hugo Wolf's Complete Song Texts. [IPA included]
Reference: ML 54.6 .W85 2000