LibGuides: Vocal Music Translations: Specific Languages

On this page, you'll find resources with texts and translations for songs in specific languages.
Don't see the language you need? Try a multi-language resource, which may cover more languages than those listed here.

Czech

Books in the Allen Library

Guide to e-books
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Singing in Czech by Timothy Cheek
Call Number: MT883 C44 S56 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 2001
Covers each sound of the Czech language, with IPA symbols and exercises. Also includes an overview of Czech vocal repertoire with translations and IPA transcriptions.

French

Books in the Allen Library

Guide to e-books
Due to COVID-19, some books are currently available online. Use this guide to find e-book sites, then search for the book title you need.

French Opera Libretti by Nico Castel
Call Number: ML48 F74 v.1-2 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 2005
Includes IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcriptions and English translations for full operas.
A French Song Companion by Graham Johnson and Richard Stokes
Call Number: ML54.6 J64 F74 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 2000
Translations of some 700 songs, plus repertoire guides to about 150 composers.
Masters of the French Art Song by Timothy LeVan
Call Number: ML54.6 M37 L4 F7 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 1991
Complete texts of the songs for voice and piano of Chausson, Debussy, Duparc, Faure and Ravel.

German

Books in the Allen Library (selections)

Guide to e-books
Due to COVID-19, some books are currently available online. Use this guide to find e-book sites, then search for the book title you need.

The Fischer-Dieskau Book of Lieder by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, George Bird, and Richard Stokes
Call Number: ML54.6 F52 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 1977
750 Lieder chosen and introduced by Fischer-Dieskau, translated by Bird and Stokes.
German Lieder by Phillip L. Miller
Call Number: ML54.6 G475 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 1990
Texts and translations of German Lieder from the 19th and 20th centuries.
German Miscellaneous Opera Libretti by Nico Castel
Call Number: ML48 G475 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 2005
Word-by-word translations and IPA transcriptions for 7 German operas.
Lieder Line by Line and Word for Word by Lois Phillips
Call Number: ML54.6 P52 L5 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 1996
Texts of some of the most frequently performed Lieder, plus word-for-word translations under each line and English prose versions of each poem.

Italian

Books in the Allen Library (selections)

Guide to e-books
Due to COVID-19, some books are currently available online. Use this guide to find e-book sites, then search for the book title you need.

Italian Belcanto Opera Libretti by Nico Castel
Call Number: ML48 I8 C3 v.1-3 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 2000
Translations and IPA transcriptions of 23 full Italian operas.
Italian Song Texts from the 17th Century by Martha Gerhart
Call Number: ML54.6 I82 G47 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 2002
Texts of songs in Italian with IPA transcriptions and English translations.
Italian Verismo Opera Libretti by Nico Castel
Call Number: ML48 I813 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 2000
Translations and IPA transcriptions for 9 full operas.
Masters of the Italian Art Song by Timothy LeVan
Call Number: ML54.6 M37 L4 I8 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 1990
The complete texts of the songs for voice and piano of Bellini, Donaudy, Donizetti, Puccini, Rossini, Tosti, and Verdi, with word-by-word and poetic translations.

Russian

Books in the Allen Library

Guide to e-books
Due to COVID-19, some books are currently available online. Use this guide to find e-book sites, then search for the book title you need.

Libretti of Russian Operas by Anton Belov, Nico Castel, et al.
Call Number: ML48 R877 v.1 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 2004
English translation and IPA transcription for 6 full Russian operas.
Russian Songs and Arias by Jean Piatak and Regina Avrashov
Call Number: MT883 P53 [Allen reference]
Publication Date: 1991
Phonetic readings and word-by-word translations of songs and arias, plus a concise guide to Russian diction.

Spanish

Books in the Allen Library

Guide to e-books
Due to COVID-19, some books are currently available online. Use this guide to find e-book sites, then search for the book title you need.

The Spanish Song Companion by Richard Stokes and Jacqueline Cockburn
Call Number: ML54.6 S76 2006 [Allen shelves]
Publication Date: 2006
The texts of over 300 songs with parallel translations in accurate and readable English.

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