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maître

English translation: maestro


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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:maître
English translation:maestro
Entered by: Ega
Options:
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20:19 Aug 2, 2010
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Music
French term or phrase: maître
taken from the autobiography of a cellist who studied with eminent teachers which in french are referred to as "Maître". The sentence reads: " il travaille auprès du maître marc Dobrinsky (...)"
Ega
Local time: 08:01
maestro
Explanation:
Common courtesy title, applied to musicians

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Note added at 17 mins (2010-08-02 20:37:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Any good dico, e.g. R+C:

= titre
Maître : term of address given to lawyers, artists, professors etc.
(Art) maestro


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2010-08-03 08:26:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

As David has pointed out, the use of this sort of courtesy title is much more common in FR than in EN, and it takes a great deal of native-speaker sensitivity to know just when it 'feels' right or not. However, I would disagree slightly with David's comment that maestro is not used with names; though I would say that it is used mainly with surnames only.

So we might find: "Brilliant young violinist Laura Smith studied for 5 years under David Oistrakh, then went to Paris where she was able to put into practice what she had learnt with Maestro Oistrakh."
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 08:01
Grading comment
merci
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4maestro
Tony M
4distinguished teacherxxxSMcG
Summary of reference entries provided
Master (form of address)xxxSMcG

Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
distinguished teacher


Explanation:
N.b. in this context. See my reference

xxxSMcG
Belgium
Local time: 08:01
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
maestro


Explanation:
Common courtesy title, applied to musicians

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 mins (2010-08-02 20:37:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Any good dico, e.g. R+C:

= titre
Maître : term of address given to lawyers, artists, professors etc.
(Art) maestro


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2010-08-03 08:26:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

As David has pointed out, the use of this sort of courtesy title is much more common in FR than in EN, and it takes a great deal of native-speaker sensitivity to know just when it 'feels' right or not. However, I would disagree slightly with David's comment that maestro is not used with names; though I would say that it is used mainly with surnames only.

So we might find: "Brilliant young violinist Laura Smith studied for 5 years under David Oistrakh, then went to Paris where she was able to put into practice what she had learnt with Maestro Oistrakh."


Tony M
France
Local time: 08:01
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 42
Grading comment
merci

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Chris Hall
4 mins
  -> Thanks, Chris!
agree  Jeux de Mots
10 mins
  -> Merci, JdM !
agree  Hilary Wilson
14 mins
  -> Thanks, Hilary!
neutral  David Vaughn: I find the term is usually associated with conductors. I wouldn't use it in the situations as described. English is less prone to this kind of hyperbole, unless this is a historical text where it could be justified - though still with conductors..
47 mins
  -> It is used all the time y the BBC for all sorts of musicians; but you're right about the greater tendency to such 'hype' in FR.
agree  Mark Bossanyi
11 hrs
  -> Thanks, Mark!
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Reference comments


19 mins peer agreement (net): +2
Reference: Master (form of address)

Reference information:
In your context literally master or maestro = a distinguished musician who teaches.

It's just a very formal form of address.

An eminent teacher is what he is, not a schoolmaster BTW.


    Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_%28form_of_address%29
xxxSMcG
Belgium
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Chris Hall
0 min
agree  Tony M
11 mins
neutral  David Vaughn: As in my comment on maestro, I think this is probably exaggerated usage in English, unless it is a direct (verbal) quote. If merited and necessary, expressions such as "the illustrious xxx" seem more English language to me.
46 mins
  -> Yeah, I agree on the use in English. I think it's useful for the poster to understand the etymology, that it's just a formal form of address like 'monsieur' . I would go for distinguished teacher or something like that.
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