I’ve decided to start a new series of posts with recordings of some of the Argentine art songs I’ve been studying. Hopefully, some of these songs will pique the interest of musicians and listeners not familiar with the repertoire.

La silenciosa (The Silent One)
Poet: Tomás Allende Iragorri (1881-1954)
Composer: Andrés Gaos (1874-1959)

Mis transidas esperanzas
llorosas y sin consuelo
preguntan por la su madre
por la su madre que ha muerto.
Cuando lloran por el día
las campanas del silencio.

Enlutaré mis alcobas
hasta hoy tan florecidas
y agostaré mis jardines
y sus fuentes de agua viva
que la rosa más preciada
murió agostando mi vida.

Despedido ha todo encanto
y el monje del desconsuelo
dice a mi oído palabras
mas amargas que el pan negro.
La silenciosa no llega
y a la silenciosa espero.

–

My longing tears overwhelm me
spilling without a hope of consolation,
Yearning for my mother,
For my mother who is dead.
The evening bells cry out,
the bells of death’s silence.

I will drape my alcoves in black,
that once were in full bloom,
and I will starve my garden plants,
and I will choke the wells of living water.
My most precious rose
has died, extinguishing my life.

Life’s charm has disappeared
and the monk of sorrows
whispers words in my ears
more bitter than black bread.
The silent one does not come,
yet I wait for the silent one.

[English translation by Allison L. Weiss]

Soprano: Allison L. Weiss
Piano: Silas Bassa

–

For more information regarding the Latin American art song, please visit LAASA.org and the LAASA social network.