Composed when he was only 15 years old, Reynaldo Hahn's "Si mes vers avaient des ailes!" (If my songs had wings) remains one of his best-loved and most frequently performedsongs. The young composer's ability to exploit the beauty of the human voice is evident and his gentle melody requires absolute purity of vocal tone. The delicate melody line rests upon a sweeping piano accompaniment, which suggests the wings that would carry the poet's songs to his beloved. The words are by the great French author Victor Hugo.

Si mes vers avaient des ailes! (Victor Hugo)

Mes vers fuiraient, doux et frêles, Vers votre jardin si beau, Si mes vers avaient des ailes, Comme l'oiseau! Ils voleraient, étincelles, Vers votre foyer qui rit Si mes vers avaient des ailes Comme l'esprit! Près de vous, purs et fidèles, Ils accouraient, nuit et jour, Si mes vers avaient des ailes, Comme l'amour!

If my songs had wings!

My songs would float, soft and frail, To your beautiful garden If my songs had wings like a bird! They would fly, sparkling, To your laughing hearth If my songs had wings like the spirit. Near to you, pure and faithful, They would rush, night and day, If my songs had wings like love!