Sep 22, 2010 21:36
13 yrs ago
English term

Sharp and flat - figuratively!

Non-PRO Not for points English to Russian Art/Literary Music
I'm going to translate a wedding speech for a friend who is a talented musician. The bride is a native Russian speaker. The speaker wants to use a musical metaphor about "sharp" words and the marriage going through "flat" times. I know it won't work if translated literally, of course, but does anyone have any suggestions on how to say something similar?
Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

PRO (1): Olga Dyakova

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Discussion

pauluk (asker) Sep 27, 2010:
Thanks Thank you for your advice.

Proposed translations

20 mins

диезные слова и бемольные времена

а в конце - полный бекар. For what's it's worth (obviously, not the points).

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Note added at 6 hrs (2010-09-23 04:18:59 GMT)
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or, in a more ad lib style, богато орнаментированные периоды (или фразы, украшенные форшлагами и мордентами), сменяющиеся (перемежаемые) долгими кочумами. Now, even if she is a native speaker, she's unlikely to get it, unless she received professional training beyond music school in her native country.
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8 hrs

диссонанс и минорные времена

Конечно, дословно тут никак нельзя. Но по смыслу, думаю, диссонанс подойдет для резких/диезных слов, а "бемольные" времена вполне могут быть минорными.
Насчет смены времен еще можно попробовать такой ход:
adagio (или andante/lento), которое обязательно сменится allegro!
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