Eili, Eili: O Lord My God
Joseph Bertolozzi
About this work:
This is simply my musical interpretation of Hannah Szenesh's simple yet powerful poem. It may be performed from this edition as a piano/vocal solo; vocal/piano trio; or vocal/piano trio with SATB. Any version is acceptable, but if performed without strings, the pianist must play the cue notes in the piano score. It was commissioned for the birthday of Herbert Shander by his wife Bente Yael Hoegsberg. Gail Hirschenfang, soprano, Marka Young, violin, Nanette Koch, Cello, and Joseph Bertolozzi, piano.
The text, by Hanna Szenesh, is as follows:
Eili, Eili, she-lo yi-ga-meir le-o-lam: ha-chol ve-ha-yam, rish-rush shel ha-ma-yim, be-rak ha-sha-ma-yim, te-fi-lat ha-a-dam. Ha-chol ve-ha-yam, rish-rush shel ha-ma-yim, be-rak ha-sha-ma-yim, te-fi-lat ha-a-dam. O Lord, my God, I pray that these things never end: the sand and the sea, the rush of the waters, the crash of the heavens, the prayer of the heart. The sand and the sea, the rush of the waters, The crash of the heavens, the prayer of the heart.
Year composed: 2001
Duration: 00:07:05
Ensemble type: Voice, Solo or With Chamber or Jazz Ensemble:Solo Voice with Keyboard
Instrumentation: 1 Piano, 1 Violin, 1 Cello, 1 Soprano
Instrumentation notes: This may be played as a piano/vocal solo; or vocal with piano trio; or vocal with piano trio and SATB chorus