Description

Voicing: SATB a cappella choir

duration: 4 minutes

Commissioned for Conspirare and Craig Hella Johnson. Performed by Conspirare, under the direction of Craig Hella Johnson, May 2019.

“For Nadia” is one of the most poignant moments in Hagen’s evening-length work Songs for Muska. The story of Nadia Anjuman is a tragic one. She was a rising literary star in Afghanistan, and her life was taken too early from her. You can read more about her in Farzana Marie’s incredible book Load Poems Like Guns, which features this translation of Samaia Ramish’s tender poem.

View the perusal score here.

level: 4

Text

The sky died

for the wind that split open its chest

We all died for you

though fate’s sleight of hand snuck you from us

And you smiled from the sky

for us

and for the moments we carry away from our memories

~ Somaia Ramish, translated by Farzana Marie, used with permission from Load Poems Like Guns, Holy Cow! Press, 2015