What does it mean "Les tringles des sistres tintaient"

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Permalink Reply by Marc Vonhalmen on July 5, 2009 at 12:43pm

Hi,

sistre = sistrum (an ancient Egyptian percussion instrument consisting of a looped metal frame set in a handle and fitted with loose crossbars that rattle when shaken)
tringle = in this context, it refers to the crossbars
tinter = to tinkle

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Liu on July 6, 2009 at 8:32am

Hi Marc,


Merci beaucoup

Je ne comprends pas toujours ce qui fait signifier
I still don't understand what does it mean.

This is the name of the song in Carmen. Usually Opera composer won't create a name of the songs. People in the music circle name the song with the first phrase (or the first few words) on the lyrics.

C'est le nom de la chanson en Carmen
This is the name of the song in Carmen


D'habitude le compositeur D'opéra ne créera pas de nom des chansons
Usually Opera composer won't create a name of the songs


Les gens dans le cercle de musique appellent la chanson avec la première expression (ou peu de premiers mots) sur les paroles.
People in the music circle name the song with the first phrase (or the first few words) on the lyrics.


B.R.
SL

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Permalink Reply by Marc Vonhalmen on July 6, 2009 at 2:22pm

Hi,

1. Je ne comprends toujours pas ce que cela signifie.
2. C'est le nom de la chanson dans Carmen.
3. D'habitude, les compositeurs d'opéra ne donnent pas de noms à leurs chansons.
4. Dans le milieu de la musique, les gens nomment une chanson d'après la première phrase (ou les quelques premiers mots) des paroles.

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Liu on July 6, 2009 at 3:03pm

Hi Marc,


Thanks for your assistance.


2. C'est le nom de la chanson dans Carmen.
Sometimes I'm confused with the preposition "dans" and "en". Why here it uses "dans" NOT "en"? Thanks

3. D'habitude, les compositeurs d'opéra ne donnent pas de noms à leurs chansons.
"donnet"="give" and "créera"=create. Why use the former here? Thanks.

4. Dans le milieu de la musique, les gens nomment une chanson d'après la première phrase (ou les quelques premiers mots) des paroles.

Wonderful, I have been looking around this French word "milieu" (social circle). Thank.

So it doesn't need the preposition "sur" in French translation?

In the English version "... song with the ..." and in French translation ".... chanson d'après ...." I suppose this is the way in French speaking.

B.R.
SL

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Permalink Reply by Marc Vonhalmen on July 6, 2009 at 3:43pm

Hi,

2. I don't know if there's really a rule concerning "dans" and "en", but I think that "en" usually comes before proper nouns, or after some specific verbs that always use "en". "dans" usually comes before "objects".
Je suis en Espagne. J'ai confiance en toi.
Je suis dans la chambre.
"dans" is more often used. In this case, "Carmen" is considered as an object (it's the opera).

3. In French, you don't "create" a name, you give a name (even if you invent it).

4. "d'après" is used in 2 different ways:
a) according to.
D'après moi (in my opinion), d'après les informations qui nous parviennent (from or according to the news reaching us), d'après ce qu'elle dit (from what she says), d'après mon expérience (in my experience).
b) introducing a model, a quote, etc.
D'après Tolstoï (adapted from Tolstoy), peint d'après nature (painted from life), d'après une idée originale de (based on or from an original idea by)

So, in this case, it's the second meaning of "d'après".

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