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Premiere: May 6, 2018
Mujeres de Juárez
Choral, SSAA with alto solo, piano and flute
Words by, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651-1695)
Beginning in 1993, women in Juarez, Mexico began disappearing. Some bodies have been found, but often those bodies are not even properly identified. Forensic evidence and stories from the very few women who have escaped point to horrific abuse and torture. Since 1993, hundreds of women have gone missing, and very little serious investigation has gone into the disappearances. The international community is largely unaware of the mass disappearances and murders in Juarez. This work is dedicated to the missing and murdered women of Juarez. The text is by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651-1695).
Translation:
Since you've died, Laura, may the affection
that pursues you die as well,
may these eyes perish that you now deprive
of ever seeing such beautiful light again.
May my ill-fated lyre die, in which you provided
resonance, and which mournfully calls your name,
and may even these badly-scrawled words serve as
the dark tears of my sad pen.
May death itself be moved to compassion,
knowing that, true to its nature, it could not spare you;
and may love lament its bitter fate.
Because if, before, eager to enjoy you,
it (Love)sought eyes to see you,
now those eyes could only weep for you.
–translation by Matthew Bentley
Run Time and Level
This piece runs at about 4 minutes 30 seconds. It was written for Collegiate levels.