Meira Warshauer

Composer

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Rachel Weeps (Rahel m’vaca/Rahaeel Tabkee)

May 28, 2025 By

(2025)

Back to Works
Inst:
mezzo soprano and piano
Duration:
18 minutes
Premier:
Rachel Calloway Streisfeld, mezzo soprano and Lynn Kompass, piano on March 9, 2025
Listen and View the Score

In response to the war in Israel/Gaza/Hamas, I turned to composing. A text from Jeremiah 31:15 calls out: A voice is heard in Ramah, wailing, bitter weeping—Rachel weeps inconsolably for her children because they are no more.

For me, this music serves as a witness to the tragedies unfolding: so much suffering on both sides of this troubled border. The mezzo soloist represents Rachel, the Biblical matriarch who is said to weep for her children as they pass by her grave into exile. Here, she becomes the voice of bereft parents, siblings, children, friends both in Israel and in Gaza, crying out for their missing, wounded, and deceased loved ones. As we watch and read, refusing to avert our gaze, we may serve as a compassionate witness.  The chorus represents this witness, calling forth nishma it is heard, you are heard, we hear you. We are with you. —Meira Warshauer 2024

In this arrangement for mezzo-soprano and piano, the piano represents the choral witness, while the soloist, singing in both Hebrew and Arabic, expresses a joined expression of grief. I hope this music can offer a place where we listen to each other’s voices, as we walk the shaky path towards a lasting and just peace.

                                                                                                                    —Meira Warshauer 2025

Text and translation:

Arabic                                             Hebrew                       English

hakadha                                         ko                                 Thus

yakool                                            amar                             says

Arrahhmaan                                 Havaya                        The Source of Compassion

saowton fil Rama                         kol b’Ramah                A voice in Ramah

yusma                                             nishma                         is heard:

nuwaehh                                         n’hi                               Wailing

buka en-mareer                            b’chi tam’ru’rim         bitter weeping

Rahhaeel                                        Rakhel                         Rachel

Tabki                                               m’vaca                         weeps

ala ‘abnae’iha                                al-baneha                    for her children.

heya tarfud                                    me’anah                      She refuses

antuwaasaa                                   l’hinakhem                  to be comforted

ala ‘abnae-i’ha                              al-baneha                    for her children

li ‘annahoom                                 ki                                  because

gha’eeboon                                   eynenu                         they are gone.

Hebrew translation by Meira Warshauer. Thanks to Gamil Gabr for the Arabic translation.

Listen and View the Score

https://meirawarshauer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/4-Rahel-mvaca-music.mp3

Rahel-mvaca-Perusal-Hebrew-Arabic-mezzo-pno-03-30-25