"The Wall" for SATB and piano (2016)
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"The Wall" was written for Jean Saladino and the Viterbo University Concert Choir. It was premiered at the VU Humanities Symposium on February 25, 2016 as part of the introduction to Victoria Biggs' presentation, "Behind the Wall."
Beth Marzoni's poem was extracted from Wall Museum stories by women enclosed within the wall surrounding Bethlehem:
DIRGE for RACHEL'S TOMB
A wall was built,
but first the digging & the dynamite.
A wall was built.
Little earthquakes shook our roots.
A wall was built.
I was just putting up my laundry.
A wall was built.
Now night's a fearful country.
A wall was built.
The soldiers come & come.
A wall was built.
The bells, they won't stop ringing.
A wall was built.
Home: a heap of stones.
A wall was built.
Now the day's a locked door.
A wall was built.
The street's for cats & dogs.
A wall was built.
Like cattle, the machine takes us.
A wall was built.
Tanks follow my boy home.
A wall was built.
How will the world reach us?
A wall was built.
& it divides me from my life.
A wall was built.
We ask God to accept our fasting.
A wall was built.
so we crawl through the sewers.
A wall was built.
How else can we reach the world?
A wall was built.
Please take me with you.
A wall was built.
Something's closing in my heart.
--Beth Marzoni
Beth Marzoni's poem was extracted from Wall Museum stories by women enclosed within the wall surrounding Bethlehem:
DIRGE for RACHEL'S TOMB
A wall was built,
but first the digging & the dynamite.
A wall was built.
Little earthquakes shook our roots.
A wall was built.
I was just putting up my laundry.
A wall was built.
Now night's a fearful country.
A wall was built.
The soldiers come & come.
A wall was built.
The bells, they won't stop ringing.
A wall was built.
Home: a heap of stones.
A wall was built.
Now the day's a locked door.
A wall was built.
The street's for cats & dogs.
A wall was built.
Like cattle, the machine takes us.
A wall was built.
Tanks follow my boy home.
A wall was built.
How will the world reach us?
A wall was built.
& it divides me from my life.
A wall was built.
We ask God to accept our fasting.
A wall was built.
so we crawl through the sewers.
A wall was built.
How else can we reach the world?
A wall was built.
Please take me with you.
A wall was built.
Something's closing in my heart.
--Beth Marzoni