Reflection
on Tikkun Olam
(16:12)
“Suite for
Mother and
Child”
began as a
made-up-on-the-spot
name for a
collection of
piano pieces of
mine and ended
taking on a life
of its own,
developing
around two
incidents
involving
friends of
friends of mine,
one of urban
violence and one
of domestic
violence, ending
the lives of two
precious,
vibrant and
beloved young
women. If an
aura of sadness
pervades this
collected work,
it is no
accident. If
beauty and joy
shine through,
it is
deliberate, and
a testament to
these gentle
souls, Haruka
and Jessica,
that graced the
lives of their
families and
communities.
 Of
“Jessica” I
wrote of this on
the 31st of
December, 2012:
This
piece came to me
the day after
Christmas, 2000.
I had taken a
telephone
message, and I
misremembered a
name as Jennifer
as I was
noodling on the
piano. Somehow,
Jennifer became
the name of the
song.
“The
original ending
was
conventionally
consonant, not
containing that
bitter-sweet
triplet figure
in the soprano
voice. I
wondered why it
came to me and
wanted to stay,
then I heard
that the notes
were singing
“Jennifer” and
finally knew why
it had named
itself.
“When
I heard of
Jessie’s death,
I cannot say why
that song came
back to me.
After all, her
name, I first
heard, was
Jessica. Then I
read that her
full name was
Jennifer.
Jessica. Jean.
Kingeter.”
If
what you hear
does not sound
quite
homogeneous, it
is because I
edited
computer-generated
music files with
recordings of
live and studio
performances.
That is the
reason for some
small
inconsistencies
and, in places,
a rather
mechanical
sound. I trust
you will forgive
the
incongruences,
and and
recognize the
spirit of the
work.
Just
one other thing.
I have, as yet,
been unable to
record the songs
with lyrics, so
you will hear
instrumentals in
their place. The
lyrics will,
though, give a
better sense of
the narrative.
“Jennifer”
(Instrumental)
“Cat's Play”
“Lullaby
Triptych”:
“As
I Watch You
Sleeping”
(First Part of
“Lullaby
Triptych”)
As
I watch you
sleeping in my
arms,
Faerie dust and
moonbeams all
around us.
As
I watch you
dreaming in my
arms,
Quietness and
peacefulness
surround us.
Lullaby,
sweetness,
lullaby;
I’ll not let
the darkness
harm you,
Only
light will
touch your
face.
Lullaby,
sweetness,
lullaby;
I
could watch
you dream
forever,
Knowing you
will wake to
me.
Ev’ry time I look at you I see myself,
All my fears
revealed.
Ev’ry time I
look inside I
see you there
And my soul is
healed.
As
I watch you
sleeping,
As I watch you
dreaming in my
arms …
“Music Box” (Instrumental)
“Lullaby for Tiffany” (Conclusion of “Lullaby
Triptych”)
Sleep,
little one,
sleep, my
darling
Floating upon
the gentle
stream.
Through the
forest, cool and
green,
Sleep, my
darling, sleep.
Sleep,
little one,
sleep, my
darling
Rising through
fleecy clouds so
grand,
Gazing upon the
peaceful land,
Sleep, my
darling, sleep.
Close
your pretty
eyes, And before
you realize
Into a dreamland
you’ll
fly,Changed in
the wink of an
eye
Into a fairy
princess, fairy
princess …
Sleep,
little one,
sleep, my
darling
Resting within
the hand of God,
Safely within
His warm
embrace.
Sleep, my
darling sleep.
“Jennifer”
(Reprise,
instrumental)
Proceed to the Liturgy of the
Eucharist
“God is a
frequency.
Stay tuned.”
—Alan Cohen
Eirana
Contact
me at: MissaTikkunOlam@PeaceHost.net
All music,
arrangements
and text copyright
© 2020 by Daniel
B. Zwickel
(ASCAP),
All rights
reserved
Proud member,
Local 1000,
American
Federation of
Musicians (when I
can afford the
dues.)
Jazz
Sacra
Publications
1825 Sonoma Blvd.,
Suite 427
Vallejo,
California
94590-60630)
JazzSacra@PeaceHost.net
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