Three Andalusian Love Songs
for TTBB, piano & obligato instruments (hand percussion & or oud/cello)
Poems from the Muwashshah repertoire of Arab-Andalusia compiled and edited by Kareem Roustom
I. In You, All That I See Is Beauty
فيك كل ما ارى
فيك كل ما أرى حَسَنْ مذْ رأيت شكلك الحَسَنْ
جلّ من به عليك مَنّ
ايها الذي الصُدودَ سَنّ مَنْ لسيفِ أدْعَجيكَ سَنّ
لِمْ حرَمتَ مُقلتي الوَسَنْ
مَدْمَعي هما
عندما رمى
رَوّي باللمى
ظما من تألما
انّ صَبّكَ النّحيلَ أنّ جُنَّ كلما الظلامُ جَنّ
في الشَّجى ينوحُ والشُجَنْ
In you, all that I see is beauty since I first saw your beautiful form.
Great is He who bestows upon you this gift.
O you who sharpened the sharpness of estrangement, who sharpened the sharpness of the sword that made you faint?
Why did you deprive my eyes of sleep?
My tears are sorrow when he threw his glance.
The thirst of those who suffered was quenched with pain.
Your meager cups of water has made me frantic whenever darkness has descended.
In sorrow and grief I wail.
II. In The Myrtle Grove
.زارني المحبوب في رياض الآس
روّق المشروب و ملالي الكاس
قلت له يا زين يا أعز الناس
واصل المحبوب ما عليك من باس
ثغره المرغوب عاطر الانفاس
فاز بالمطلوب من له قد باس
قلت له يا زين يا رشيق القد
يا كحيل العين يا نديّ الخد
My beloved visited me in the myrtle grove
He refreshed my drink and filled my cup
I said to him, “O beautiful one, O most precious of people!”
The beloved continued, no harm done.
His desired lips are fragrant with breath.
He who has a handsome figure has attained what he desires.
I said to him, ” O beautiful one, O graceful figure!”
O kohl-eyed, dewy-cheeked!
Zā-ra-nī dénāhīrō shbīḥō
III. O cupbearer
هات أيها الساقى ودندن باسم يا حى
إملى المدامه للندامه حيث لا شى
الحب تجلى وأراد الغير لا شى
يا ساقى أدر من مسك عطر
دع بيا الهوى حى
Come, O cupbearer, and chant in the name of the Living One.
Fill the wineskin for the drinking companions where there is nothing.
Love has manifested itself and desired nothing.
O cupbearer, pour from the fragrant musk.
Leave me alive with passion. Fill the wineskin for the drinking companions