I. Of Wine (Allegro)
II. To Me My Myrrh (Adagio)
III. Honey-Stuck (Scherzo)
IV. The Old Song (Pizzicato)
V. The Wild Lands (Allegro Furioso)
VI. Breeze-You (Andante)
Program Notes
Hebrew from the Tanakh {literal translation in brackets}
English poetic transformations by the composer
(KJV English included for reference)
III. HONEY-STUCK (2:4-7)
Hevi''ani el-bet hayayin {he-brings•me to house-of the•wine}
Ever since he brought me to
the house of his wine
The heavy flag of love
has lain over me
Ever since you scattered me with apricots
wrapped me in pastry
I am honey-stuck
keel-hauled by love
Saməchuni! Rapəduni! {support-you•me! strew-you•me!}
Left arm under
right arm touching
The small of a back
rustling at my head
O, daughters of Jerusalem!
by the dear gazelles
and the gazing deer—
neither roust nor rouse this love
until she desires
Ha'ahava {the•love}
(KJV English:
2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
2:5 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick [with] love.
2:6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
2:7 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that
ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. )
