Sicilian Songs —2011

Sicilian Songs was composed for Lara St. John, violin, and Shai Wosner, piano. They are arrangements of field recordings Alan Lomax and Diego Carpitella made in Sicily in 1954.

Movements

I. A La Nicusiota

“…for my heart can no longer sleep”*

II. Surfarara (Song in the Sulfur Miners’ Style)

“I forget, I have forgotten, I am forgotten, I have forgotten my own life…”**

III. Zumba Bimba

[translation  unavailable]

Program Notes

Siclian Songs is dedicated to my mother and father, in honor of our Sicilian heritage. The original texts of the songs that these transcriptions/arrangements are based on are translated below.

As La Nicusiota*

We have come early in the morning,

Do not disturb these young ladies.

We have come early in the morning,

Do not disturb these young ladies.

I do not want to disturb anyone,

I wanted to do you honor and to please you.

I think that you are as pleased,

As I have the desire —

As I have the desire —

To take these, your beauties —

To take thy beauties,

For my heart can no longer sleep.

Surfarara**

I forget, I have forgotten, I am forgotten,

I have forgotten my own life.

I have forgotten the goodness of my mother,

She was sweeter, even better than you.

I have forgotten the goodness of my father,

Who crossed the ocean three times for me.

I have forgotten my friends and my brothers,

I forget the saints, but not you.