Simeni kachotam al libbecha = Set me as a seal upon you
Joelle Wallach
About this work:
Joelle Wallach’s Simeni Kachotam Al Libbecha, Set Me As A Seal Upon Your Heart is a lyrical and dramatic work for mezzo soprano and chamber ensemble. In its quasi-narrative treatment of the Biblical Song of Songs, Simeni Kachotam Al Libbecha, Set Me As A Seal Upon Your Heart finds an erotic and passionate story line.
Ecstatic tempo fluctuations and adaptations of Arabic scales and rhythmic modes evoke the exotic setting and the frenzied urgency of a turbulent personal quest, partly spiritual and partly of the flesh.
Each haunting melody has alternate settings for its Hebrew words, drawn directly from the Biblical text. The choice of either modern Sephardic pronunciation or ancient historical ones reflects the timelessness of the text.
Year composed: 1987
Duration: 00:17:00
Ensemble type: Orchestra:Chamber Orchestra with Soloist(s)
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 1 Timpani, 3 Percussion (General), 1 Strings (General), ,1 Mezzo-Soprano soloist(s)
Instrumentation notes: Mz, ch orch: 1*1*1*1 0000 timp, perc(3) str