{ program notes
Echa
From "The Lamentations of Jeremiah"
PEREQ 1.1-3
–
Echa yashva vadad ha-ir
Rabati am
Hay’ta k’almana;
Rabati vagoyim
Sarati bam’dinot
Hay’ta lamas.
CHAPTER 1.1-3
How doth the city sit solitary,
That was full of people!
How is she become as a widow!
She that was great among the nations,
And princess among the provinces,
How is she become tributary!
Bacho tivkeh balaila,
V’dim’ata al lecheya;
–
En la m’nache–m
Mikol ohaveha;
Kol re–eha bag’du va,
Hayu la l’oy’vim.
She weepeth sore in the night,
And her tears are on her cheeks;
She hath none to comfort her
Among all her lovers;
All her friends have dealt treacherously with her,
They are become her enemies.
Galta Y’huda me–oni,
Ume–rov avoda;
Hi yashva vagoyim,
Lo matsa mano-ach;
Kol rod’feha hisiguha
Ben hamitsarim
Judah is gone into exile because of affliction,
And because of great servitude;
She dwelleth among the nations,
She findeth no rest.
All her pursuers overtook her
Within the narrow passes.
PEREQ 1.8
Che–t chata Y’rushalyim
–
(Echa yashva vadad ha-ir
...k’alnana.)
CHAPTER 1.8
Jerusalem hath grievously sinned…
How doth the city sit solitary
…a widow.
PEREQ 4.14-15
Na-u ivrim bachutsot
N’go-alu badam,
B’lo yuchlu
Yig’u bilvushe–hem.
CHAPTER 4.14-15
They wander as blind men in the streets,
They are polluted with blood,
So that men cannot
Touch their garments.
Suru tame– kar’u lamo,
Suru, suru al tiga-u…
Depart, ye unclean! they cried unto them,
Depart, depart! touch us not...
PEREQ 5.20-21
Lama lanetsach tishkache–nu…
Lanetsach taazve–nu…
CHAPTER 5.20-21
Wherefore dost Thou forget us forever,
And forsake us so long time?…
Hashive–nu Adonai e–lecha….
Turn Thou us unto Thee, O Lord …
22 O v ertur e |
Bernstein described the music as
“simple and tonal and tuneful.” All this
is true, but the rhythms, harmonies, and
scoring are often deliciously complex.
The first movement is a good example.
After a powerfully incantatory introduction (its stark, angula