Composed By: Traditional

Arranged By: Joshua Jacobson

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Voicing: SATB divisi

Language: Ladino

Difficulty: easy/moderate

Country: Sephardic

Solos: none

Instruments: piano (or guitar)

Lyricist: folk

Publisher: World Music Press

Year Composed/Published: 1991

Timing: 3:30

Tempo: moderate

First Line: Tu madre kuando te pario

description: It is unclear whether the origin of this song is from ancient Spain or Violetta’s aria “Addio del passato” from Verdi’s La Traviata (1853). Whatever its history, this sad ballad of unrequited love is well known among the Sephardim (Jews who trace their ancestry to medieval Spain) living in the Balkan countries. The Ladino dialect is related to the language spoken by the Jews of Spain before their expulsion by the Inquisition in 1492. In this setting, the piano imitates the sound of a Spanish guitar. The voice parts can be handled easily by most choirs.