Me Miseram quid agam
For western and Arabic soprano, kaval, fujara and chamber choir
Published by Donemus
Me Miseramwas written in 2021 for Studium Chorale, commissioned by the Fonds Podiumkunsten.
Published by Donemus
Studium Chorale, dir. Hans Leenders, with Paloma Lázaro Arteaga (Arabic alto), Rianne Wilbers (mezzosoprano), Nima Pournaghshband (Persian tenor/countertenor), Marianne Noordink (ney, recorder) and Stefan Gerritsen (electric guitar)
- Jun 13, 2025, 20:00, Maastricht, Onze Lieve Vrouwebasiliek
- Jun 15, 2025, 14:15, Amsterdam, Orgelpark
- Jun 18, 2025, 20:00, Maastricht, AZC (François de Veyestraat 6)
"Me miseram, quid agam" is a Latin text, which means "I am so sad, what can I do?". And "et nescio ubi posuerunt Eum" - "I don't know where they put him". And there is a second, Arabic voice singing "min al aamaq sarakhtu ilayka, yaa rab" which means "from the depths I call to you, oh Lord".
The two women sing together, but each with her own melody.
For me the two women - one western and one Arabic - sing about the same: they feel sad and desperate about the loss of a loved one, and they don't know where he is or where to find him.
It is terrible to lose someone you love, and that feels the same in all cultures.
Combining western and eastern cultures in this music shows that they share common ground, which suggests that the communication between east and west should be less difficult than you might think.
"Me Miseram quid agam" is the first part of the triptych "Somnium al Salaam / Dream of Peace".
With this triptych I have tried to show the arduous path that we all, from whatever culture, follow in search of the ultimate dream of light, peace and blissful paradise for everyone.
When I wrote the first part of this triptych, it had everything to do with the disastrous events in Afghanistan a few years ago. It is about the loss of what was dear, in stark contrast to the peaceful Western sounds that suggest that everything will be fine if you just have faith. Unfortunately, we have now had several more wars.
The next two parts of the triptych express the search for a way, in spite of the many conflicts, to realize the ultimate dream of paradise for everyone.
The Western and Arabic soloists that in the last two movements are joined by a Persian singer express for me the despair and loss that is felt by anyone who experiences war.
But the combination of Western and Eastern cultures in this music shows that there is common ground between them, suggesting that communication between East and West should be less difficult than you might think.
If only we would listen to each other...
In the three movements I have combined the different languages and lines that the soloists sing, with a Western electric guitar, an Eastern flute and a choir that sings French baroque and Gregorian music.
In the triptych "Somnium al Salaam / Dream of Peace" you really don’t have to understand the exact words and sentences that are sung. There are too many different languages for that, and often at the same time: Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Spanish and Latin.
Just try to hear the emotion with which the words are sung, then you will already understand the music.
The two women sing together, but each with her own melody.
For me the two women - one western and one Arabic - sing about the same: they feel sad and desperate about the loss of a loved one, and they don't know where he is or where to find him.
It is terrible to lose someone you love, and that feels the same in all cultures.
Combining western and eastern cultures in this music shows that they share common ground, which suggests that the communication between east and west should be less difficult than you might think.
"Me Miseram quid agam" is the first part of the triptych "Somnium al Salaam / Dream of Peace".
With this triptych I have tried to show the arduous path that we all, from whatever culture, follow in search of the ultimate dream of light, peace and blissful paradise for everyone.
When I wrote the first part of this triptych, it had everything to do with the disastrous events in Afghanistan a few years ago. It is about the loss of what was dear, in stark contrast to the peaceful Western sounds that suggest that everything will be fine if you just have faith. Unfortunately, we have now had several more wars.
The next two parts of the triptych express the search for a way, in spite of the many conflicts, to realize the ultimate dream of paradise for everyone.
The Western and Arabic soloists that in the last two movements are joined by a Persian singer express for me the despair and loss that is felt by anyone who experiences war.
But the combination of Western and Eastern cultures in this music shows that there is common ground between them, suggesting that communication between East and West should be less difficult than you might think.
If only we would listen to each other...
In the three movements I have combined the different languages and lines that the soloists sing, with a Western electric guitar, an Eastern flute and a choir that sings French baroque and Gregorian music.
In the triptych "Somnium al Salaam / Dream of Peace" you really don’t have to understand the exact words and sentences that are sung. There are too many different languages for that, and often at the same time: Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Spanish and Latin.
Just try to hear the emotion with which the words are sung, then you will already understand the music.