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Description
Lamentations was composed during the fall of 2002. It is loosely based on the old testament book of the same name (called Eichah in the Torah), whose writer is Jeremiah, in anguish over the complete destruction of Jerusalem (including its temple and most of its inhabitants) in 586 B. C. (about 3176 in the Hebrew calendar). I was moved both by the poetry and by contemporary events in the Middle East to compose a setting for solo cello for my friend and former colleague, Thomas Loewenheim.
The structure is sectional, and each section connects with the next. Section titles (except those marked Remembrance) are drawn from lines of the biblical poetry, as follows:
The structure is sectional, and each section connects with the next. Section titles (except those marked Remembrance) are drawn from lines of the biblical poetry, as follows:
1. “How deserted lies the city, once so full of people!”
2. Remembrance.
3. “All the splendor has gone…”
4. “All her doorways are empty… and she is in bitter anguish.”
5. Brief remembrance.
6. “Amongst all her lovers there is none to comfort her.”
7. “My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed.”
8. “He has burned in Jacob like a fire that consumes everything.”
9. Remembrance.
10. “How deserted lies the city, once so full of people.”
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Scott Carmichael
for me... It was very important to keep track as I listened along, to give each section it's context... very moving.. some events in history we can gloss over... never realising that we are overlooking individuals' personal tragedy... this made it personal for me.. it put a face on it...
I love the judicious use of space... desolate
and about halfway through, I realized that this is quite a cellist