Ahavah (Love)
by Meira Warshauer
3333, 4331 timp 3 perc. hp strg , SATB chorus, mezzo-sop soloist
20 min.
The three-movement composition uses a text from Deuteronomy which asserts the need for morality and love in sustaining life on earth. The first movement portrays themes of love and fulfillment. A mantra-like ahavah (love) chant combines with a modal v'ahavta (“and you shall love the Lord your God”) and a more dramatic sh'ma (hear/listen) in an arch form over lush orchestral harmonies. The middle movement issues a warning, hishamru (beware). It portrays the consequences of turning away from the God’s love and law (“Beware lest your hearts be swayed..." ) with a more strident musical language of chromatic harmonies and jagged percussive outlines. The final movement restores order ("Place these words on your heart...") with quiet harmonies under a soothing melody, as the ahavah theme weaves through.
1. Sh'ma v'ahavtah (Hear and love)
Sh'ma yisrael: Adoshem Elokeinu, Adoshem ekhad.
(Hear, Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.)
V'ahavta et Adoshem Elokekha v'khal l'vav'kha uv'khal nafsh'kha uv'khal m'odekha.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your might.
Ahavah (love)...
2. Hishamru (Beware)
Hishamru lakhem pen yifteh l'vav'khem v'sartem va'avadtem elokim akherim v'hishtakhavitem lakhem.
(Beware lest your hearts be swayed and you turn astray, and you worship alien gods and bow to them.)
3. V'samtem (Place these words)
Place these words upon your heart, and teach them diligently unto your children.
Bind them on your hand, place them between your eyes, speak of them at home or on the way. Ahavah...
Write them on your doorposts and upon your gates.
So that you may live, you and your children on the land which God gave to your ancestors. Ahavah...
For as long as the heavens are over the earth. Ahavah...
- Meira Warshauer, 2004
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