A booklet may present the same essay in two languages, but a reader should not assume that every paragraph lines up exactly. The translation, editing and page design all shape the route through the text.
Start by identifying the original essay credit and any translator credit. Keep them in separate fields if you catalogue the booklet. A performer’s name on the cover does not tell you who wrote or translated the notes.
Compare a small passage you can understand in both languages, or one whose structure is easy to locate. Look for headings, dates and names before comparing individual adjectives. A shortened version may combine paragraphs without intending to reproduce the original layout.
If a word surprises you, record the two forms and the page references. Avoid declaring a translation wrong solely because a dictionary offers another possible meaning. Musical vocabulary and context can make the choice more complicated.
For a listening group, ask what the translated note encourages you to notice in the recording. Then return to the sound itself. The booklet can guide attention without deciding in advance what everyone must hear.
When quoting publicly, use only a brief necessary excerpt with clear attribution and the edition you consulted. Your own explanation should do most of the work.
Treating the translation as credited editorial work makes the package richer. It also prevents a useful interpretation supplied by a writer or translator from being casually attributed to the musicians themselves.
Image: a thematic illustration, not a photograph of this example.