Song of Songs 4:9
Music by R. Tasat
Video and video production by Irv Cohen
You have enraptured my heart, my sister, my bride
With one glance of your eyes, with one link of your necklace.
How fair is your love, my sister, my bride! Better than wine.
The aroma of your ointments is better than all spices.
Your lips, my bride, taste of honey and milk.
Your raiments waft the scent of Lebanon.

This is a true romantic tearjerker, full of passion, loss, love and tears. Yo la queria is the cry of a desolate young man whose beloved died in his arms. Heart-broken, he travels the world with the constant question “Onde estas corasón? No te siento palpitar” Where are you my heart, I don’t hear your heartbeat.

Yo la queria, mas que mi vida I loved her more than I love my own life
Mas que mi madre l’amava yo I loved her more than I loved my mother
Por el destino cruel, sangriente but destiny, cruel, bloody,
Duvo desharme sin su querer left me without her love.

Una manyana de frio d’invierno One morning in the cold of winter,
Entre mis braços me se murió In my arms she passed away
Desde entonces vo por el mundo And since then I pass through the world
con el recuerdo d’aquel amor. With the memory of that cherished love.

¿Onde estas corazón? Where are you, my heart?
No te siento palpitar I don’t feel your pounding.
Qu’es tan grande el dolor, the pain is so deep,
que no puedo llorar, I cannot even cry.
Yo queria llorar I wanted to weep
Ma no tengo mas llanto but tears, I have no more
La queria tanto i se fue I loved her so much and she is gone
Para nunca mas turnar. Never to return again

Shine, shine, my star, Shine, affable star!
You are my only cherished one, another there will never be.
If a clear night comes down upon the earth
Many stars shine in the skies,
But you alone, my gorgeous one, Shine in pleasant beams to me

O blessed star of hope, the star of love of magic days,
You will be eternally unwithering in my longing soul.
By the heavenly strength of your beams
My whole life is illumined and if I die, over my grave shine, shine on, my star!

2. If a clear night comes down upon the earth
Many stars shine in the skies,
But you alone, my gorgeous one,
Shine in pleasant beams to me

3. O blessed star of hope,
The star of love of magic days,
You will be eternally unchanged
In my melancholic soul.

Help us, O God, to lie down in peace, and awaken us,
O Sovereign, to a meaningful life again.
Spread over us Your fragile sukkah of peace,
and guide us with Your good counsel.
Praised are You, O God, who spreads a sukkah of peace over us,
over all Your people Israel, and over Jerusalem.

The Uruguayan poet Mario Benedetti was one of the most important literary voices in Latin America.
I think it's impossible to overestimate the importance of Benedetti and his work - his words have inspired and comforted multiple generations across the entire American continent.
Personally, this song and its message are intricately connected to my youth.
During the1970's Argentina, the country where I grew up experienced the terrible consequences of a military government that marked my life forever.
Those horrific years taught me to appreciate peace, freedom, democracy, and human rights.
It is my hope that all of us can learn from those dreadful experiences and find a path of cooperation and compassion towards every member of the society.

Presentation at 2022 African American Art Song Alliance Conference. Lecture recital exploring intersectional perspectives on black feminism from the late 19th century into dialogues of the contemporary.

First movement from song cycle "Eve Song," by Philip Littell and Jake Heggie.

Performance with Baltimore Musicales featuring music by composer Jasmine Barnes. Featuring Jodi Beder, Cellist and Elizabeth Hill, Pianist.

"Flowers"
"Crowned"