SATB, a cappella
A tender, yearning melody expresses this text of love and devotion.
Listen
Program Note
Yonati is a setting of verse 14 from Canticle 2 of the Song of Songs (Song of Solomon.) It is one of two settings for unaccompanied mixed choir from the Song of Songs, composed for Seattle Pro Musica. Both of the settings uses a different language – You have ravished my heart in English, and Yonati (O my dove) in Hebrew.
Yonati was premiered by Seattle Pro Musica on May 14, 2010; and won the 2011 Almquist Choral Composition Award.
Notes on preparation and performance
The two movements may be performed as a set, or individually.
Text
Hebrew text
Yonati bekhagvei hasela
beseter hamadregah
hareini et-marayikh hashemiini et-kolekh
ki-kolekh arev umarekh nave.
English translation
O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret places of the stairs,
let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice;
for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.