LOVE, LOSS, LONGING 

(Robin Eaton)

Inspired by Johannes Brahms's Liebeslieder Waltzes, Eric Whitacre's Five Hebrew Love Songs and Abbie Betinis's Behind the Caravan: Songs of Hâfez. The dominant image is a red rose, symbolic of love and passion, and referenced in the poems of Hâfez, here represented at the rose's center by the mosaic dome ceiling over the tomb of Hâfez, from which a lone tear falls. Brahms's waltzes are a collection of love songs for voices and piano four hands, and there is speculation that the pieces were motivated by his longing for the unattainable Clara Schumann. Whitacre's "Kalá kallá, Kulá shelí" translates to "Light bride, She is all mine" in one of the 5 poems written by his lover - and future wife - capturing moments that they shared together.