Sorry if this is a painfully obvious question, but did the song 'Ca Ira' (it's in the first movie) actually exist in this time in London? On the point - did it exist at all? I tried to research it myself, but I found nothing. I've only read the first book, so if it's in any of the others I'd much appreciate an answer.
"Only a cravat? My dear sir, a cravat is the apoltheosis of all neck ware!"
Lady Dewhurst
what does ca ira actualy mean?
shareOkay... well after further research, the song Ah Ca Ira was sung in Paris, in French. It roughly translates to 'this will be allright, let's kill the aristocrats'. I'm guessing that the parody that was sung in London came from the blodier version sung by the French. This explains why in the cafe in Paris the music playing was the tune of the Ca Ira. I wonder if there really was this spoof in London, or is it just an idea for the movie?
Oh well.
"Only a cravat? My dear sir, a cravat is the apoltheosis of all neck ware!"
Lady Dewhurst
I've found a good site - http://www.fordham. edu/halsall/mod/cair a.html - that has a (rough) translation of the song, and a link where you can listen to it (sounds like Edith Piaf singing). The song, written in 1790, is mentioned in Orczy's stories, along with 'La Carmagnole', a similar song which also had a dance! Apparently, 'Ca Ira' was also adopted by British military bands after a battle between the French and the English in 1793 - the British must have thought it quite rousing, so 'borrowed' the rhythm of the song as a quick march! Which is by the by.
The French do have some rousing music, don't they? I love hearing the Marsellaise.
'Ca Ira' in the 1998 Scarlet Pimpernel was one of the better moments of the show, although I think the 'alternative' lyrics were created for the film. And the scene with the music box playing the tune is similar to something Orczy wrote in 'The Elusive Pimpernel', where Chauvelin's spy, Desiree Candeille, uses a kind of chamber of horrors amusement booth to bait Marguerite at the Richmond gala, the attraction being a clockwork model of the guillotine at work.
"Tony, if you talk that rubbish, I shall be forced to punch your head" - Lord Tony's Wife, Orczy
[deleted]
this song was sung during the french Revolution terror
her are the lyrics:
"A ça ira ça ira ça ira,
les aristocrates à la lanterne
A ça ira ça ira ça ira
les aritocrates on les pendra"
"gather all, let's go, let's go, gather all!!
the aristocrates with their lanterns
gather all! gather all!
those aritocrates we'll hang them all!"
"ça ira" is almost impossible to translate...
but I hope you get the idea.
I'm french and learned this song at school, all the french people know it, it's symbol of the Terror.
I though the idea of an english "ça ira" to mock he french one was very clever!
It could have existed, it's quite possible.
loosely, "ça ira" means it'll be okay, or things will move on. Loosely.
shareI thought It was saying.
"Ah, Ca ira, ca ira, ca ira,
Over in france theres a revolution
Ah, Ca Ira, Ca Ira,
Watch what you say or you'll lose your head"
Or is he just makeing it up because, Shovelins their?
"They Cannot take away my secret" The Woman in White
The original song, "Ah, ça ira" was a stirring, populist song of the French revolution, that existed in a couple of versions.
At Percy Blakeney's party, the version sung with English lyrics was a satirical version. The English didn't approve of the establishment of a Republic in France with the execution of the king and his wife, as well as all the other aristocrats. The English were pro-monarchy, after all. So their version had lyrics about all the excesses of the revolution, making fun of it.
They sang that version at the party to tease Chauvelin.
[deleted]