Wisdom's call

I could not write an oratorio about creation without including something from Proverbs 8. The first verses here are 1-4, an allegretto, strangely enough. Not every set of verses presents itself as recitative. The cymbal and wood blocks are an insistent invitation. Then there is an aria based on Proverbs 8:22-24, 27, 29-31. One thing I have noticed is that there are a large number of words in the Biblical song and one has to select representative texts for one's libretto. The aria is a duet between soprano and alto. Finally we finish with a choral conclusion verses 32, 34, and 35. I have put the chapter below from verses 22-35 to show what I left out as well. (Reminder - the whole score is here.)

Performing this work requires not only a musical commitment but an artistic and theological commitment as well. Would it be worth the effort? How would people react to the translation? Given the music is derived from the word itself, what would people think who are not musicians or are even anti-music? 

As usual the recurring words show the rhetorical focus of the chapter. The final recurring word is 'find'. Wisdom is an active force seeking a response. We too are to seek her. I see that verses 1-4 are not in the full score in their primitive form so I have reproduced them below. The application of the deciphering key for these signs above and below the text always produces a suitable musical line.

Proverbs 8:1-4 interpreting the deciphering key of Suzanne Haïk-Vantoura

It has been a while since I have worked with the music, so I am reminding myself both of the basic concepts and of the work I did to arrange these. I will need to explain myself if anyone gets interested in performing them, and I will need to be able to make changes. For a full introduction to the music, please see my book, The Song in the Night, available through this link.

I read some stuff this morning while preparing the carnival on textual criticism. 'How You Can Know We Have the Right Books in the Bible.' Impressive new site on first glance. This article sounds circular to me. There may be enough circles to define a centre - I haven't pushed the article too much. My intro to The Song in the Night on the sale page says this about what is 'right' and about 'knowing': 

How valuable it is to hear the Word of the Most High with its tone of voice, and realize that it is not the same voice that we have imagined. It is, of course, a voice of kindness, a voice of truth, a voice of love, and a voice of grief, calling all creation into everlasting praise.

I would just say - don't read without music - and don't imagine you are 'right'. You might not be. 

Proverbs 8

The opening of Proverbs 8:1-4

Wisdom's call
Syllables: 59. Words: 27. Roots: 24. Root Recurrence: 22%. Average per verse: 1.5.

adm aiw al (2) bin bit bn bva drc id kcm la ntb ntn nxb ph ptk qra (2) qrh qvl (2) raw rnn rvm wyr yl

הֲלֹֽא־חָכְמָ֥ה תִקְרָ֑א וּ֝תְבוּנָ֗ה תִּתֵּ֥ן קוֹלָֽהּ		1 Does not wisdom call, and understanding give her voice?
a hloa-kcmh tqra utbunh titn qolh	6 7	h/la kcm\h t/qra vt/bvn\h tt\n qvl\h
בְּרֹאשׁ־מְרוֹמִ֥ים עֲלֵי־דָ֑רֶךְ בֵּ֖ית נְתִיב֣וֹת נִצָּֽבָה		2 At the head, from the high ground, by a way, the house of pathways, she stands firm.
b braw-mromim yli-drç bit ntibot nixbh	8 7	b/raw m/rvm\im yl\i drc bit nt\ibvt nxb\h
לְיַד־שְׁעָרִ֥ים לְפִי־קָ֑רֶת מְב֖וֹא פְתָחִ֣ים תָּרֹֽנָּה		3 From the hand at the gates, to the edge of the town, she shouts at the entrance of the doors.
g lid-wyrim lpi-qrt mboa ptkim tronh	8 8	l/id wyr\im l/p\i qr\t m/bva ptk\im t/rn\h
אֲלֵיכֶ֣ם אִישִׁ֣ים אֶקְרָ֑א וְ֝קוֹלִ֗י אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י אָדָֽם		4 To each and every one of you I call, and my voice is to the children of humanity.
d alicm aiwim aqra vqoli al-bni adm	7 8	al\icm aiw\im a/qra v/qvl\i al bn\i adm

Recurrence: al qvl qra

Word / Gloss	1	2	3	Vs	Stem
תקרא call	▒			1	קרא
קולה her voice		▒		1	קול
אליכם to you			▒	4	אל
אקרא I call	▒			4	קרא
וקולי and my voice is		▒		4	קול
אל to			▒	4	אל

Proverbs 8

The verses struck out below were not used.

The origins of Wisdom
Syllables: 263. Words: 114. Roots: 77. Root Recurrence: 56%. Average per verse: 4.3.

adm ain (2) amn amx ani arx (4) at axl az bn cbd cl cvn drc 'tby 'trm gby hih (2) hr ihvh im isd ivm (2) kq kqq (2) kvg kvl (2) kvx la (2) mim (2) nsc ph pnh (3) pyl qdm (2) qnh raw (3) tbl (2) thvm (3) wkq (3) wm wmim wvm wyy (2) ybr yd yin (2) yl (2) ylm ypr yt ywh yzz

יְֽהוָ֗ה קָ֭נָנִי רֵאשִׁ֣ית דַּרְכּ֑וֹ קֶ֖דֶם מִפְעָלָ֣יו מֵאָֽז		22 Yahweh bought me, the beginning of his way, preceding his work from then.
cb ihvh qnni rawit drco qdm mpyliv maz	9 7	ihvh qn\ni raw\it drc\v qdm m/pyl\iv m/az
מֵ֭עוֹלָם נִסַּ֥כְתִּי מֵרֹ֗אשׁ מִקַּדְמֵי־אָֽרֶץ		23 ♪g From everlasting I have offered libation from the beginning, out of the precedents of earth.
cg myolm niscti mraw mqdmi-arx	12	m/yvlm nsc\ti m/raw m/qdm\i arx
בְּאֵין־תְּהֹמ֥וֹת חוֹלָ֑לְתִּי בְּאֵ֥ין מַ֝עְיָנ֗וֹת נִכְבַּדֵּי־מָֽיִם		24 When there were no abysses, I was birthed, when there were no springs, heavy with water.
cd bain-thomot kollti bain myiinot ncbdi-mim	8 9	b/ain thm\vt kvl\lti b/ain m/yin\vt n/cbd\i mim
בְּטֶ֣רֶם הָרִ֣ים הָטְבָּ֑עוּ לִפְנֵ֖י גְבָע֣וֹת חוֹלָֽלְתִּי		25 From ere hills were ringed, before the presence of hillocks, I was birthed.
ch b'trm hrim hu'tbyu lpni gbyot kollti	8 8	b/+rm hr\im h/+by\v l/pn\i gby\vt kvl\lti
עַד־לֹ֣א עָ֭שָׂה אֶ֣רֶץ וְחוּצ֑וֹת וְ֝רֹ֗אשׁ עָפְר֥וֹת‬ תֵּבֵֽל		26 While he had not made earth or outsides, or the preeminent fauna of the world.
cv yd-la ywh arx vkuxot vraw yprot tbl	9 6	yd la ywh arx v/kvx\vt v/raw ypr\vt tbl
בַּהֲכִינ֣וֹ שָׁ֭מַיִם שָׁ֣ם אָ֑נִי בְּח֥וּקוֹ ח֝֗וּג עַל־פְּנֵ֥י תְהֽוֹם		27 In the establishing of the heavens, there am I, when he engraved the ambit on the face of the abyss.
cz bhcino wmiim wm ani bkuqo kug yl-pni thom	9 9	bh/cin\v wmim wm ani b/kvq\v kvg yl pn\i thvm
בְּאַמְּצ֣וֹ שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל בַּ֝עֲז֗וֹז עִינ֥וֹת תְּהוֹם		28 When he assured the skies from above, in the strength of the springs of the abyss.
ck bamxo wkqim mmyl byzoz yinot thom	9 7	b/amx\v wkq\im mm/yl b/yzz yin\vt thvm
בְּשׂ֘וּמ֤וֹ לַיָּ֨ם ׀ חֻקּ֗וֹ וּ֭מַיִם לֹ֣א יַֽעַבְרוּ־פִ֑יו בְּ֝חוּק֗וֹ מ֣וֹסְדֵי אָֽרֶץ		29 In his defining to the sea his decree, and the waters not to bypass his mandate, when he engraved the foundations of earth,
c't bwumo lim kuqo umim la iybru-piv bkuqo mosdi arx	14 7	b/wvm\v l/im kq\v v/mim la i/ybr\v p\iv b/kvq\v mv/sd\i arx
וָֽאֶהְיֶ֥ה אֶצְל֗וֹ אָ֫מ֥וֹן וָֽאֶהְיֶ֣ה שַׁ֭עֲשֻׁעִים י֤וֹם ׀ י֑וֹם מְשַׂחֶ֖קֶת לְפָנָ֣יו בְּכָל־עֵֽת		30 And I was next to him as confidante, and I was reveling day by day, gamboling in his presence all the time,
l vahih axlo amon vahih wywuyim iom iom mwkqt lpniv bcl-yt	7 9 10	va/hih axl\v amvn va/hih wy\wyim ivm ivm m/wkq\t l/pn\iv b/cl yt
מְ֭שַׂחֶקֶת בְּתֵבֵ֣ל אַרְצ֑וֹ וְ֝שַׁעֲשֻׁעַ֗י אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י אָדָֽם פ		31 ♪g gamboling in the world of his earth, reveling with the children of humanity.
la mwkqt btbl arxo vwywuyii at-bni adm p	9 11	m/wkq\t b/tbl arx\v v/wy\wyi at bn\i adm
וְעַתָּ֣ה בָ֭נִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִ֑י וְ֝אַשְׁרֵ֗י דְּרָכַ֥י יִשְׁמֹֽרוּ		32 So now, children, hear of what is mine. Happy are those keeping my ways.
lb vyth bnim wmyu-li vawri drcii iwmoru	8 9	v/yth bn\im wmy\v l\i v/awr\i drc\i i/wmr\v
שִׁמְע֖וּ מוּסָ֥ר וַחֲכָ֗מוּ וְאַל־תִּפְרָֽעוּ		33 Hear chastening and be wise, and do not be negligent.
lg wmyu musr vkcmu val-tpryu	13	wmy\v mv/sr v/kcm\v v/al t/pry\v
אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי אָדָם֮ שֹׁמֵ֪עַֽ֫ לִ֥י לִשְׁקֹ֣ד עַל־דַּ֭לְתֹתַי י֤וֹם ׀ י֑וֹם לִ֝שְׁמֹ֗ר מְזוּזֹ֥ת פְּתָחָֽי		34 ♪f Happy a human that has heard of what is mine, to be alert at my gateways day by day, to watch from the posts of my doors.
ld awri adm womy li lwqod yl-dltotii iom iom lwmor mzuzot ptkii	8 8 8	awr\i adm wmy l\i l/wqd yl dl\tti ivm ivm l/wmr m/zvz\t ptk\i
כִּ֣י מֹ֭צְאִי מָצָ֣א‬ חַיִּ֑ים וַיָּ֥פֶק רָ֝צ֗וֹן מֵיְהוָֽה		35 ♪B For who finds me finds life, and will draw forth acceptance from Yahweh.
lh ci moxai mxa kiim vipq rxon mihvh	7 8	ci mxa\i mxa ki\im vi/pq rx\vn m/ihvh
וְֽ֭חֹטְאִי חֹמֵ֣ס נַפְשׁ֑וֹ כָּל־מְ֝שַׂנְאַ֗י אָ֣הֲבוּ מָֽוֶת פ		36 ♪g But who sins against me does itself violence. All who hate me love death.
lv vko'tai koms npwo cl-mwnaii ahbu mvvt p	7 10	v/k+a\i kms npw\v cl m/wna\i ahb\v mvt

Selected recurrence: adm ain arx awr bn drc hih kvl kqq ihvh ivm cl l la mim mxa yin yl pnh qdm raw wkq wmy wmr wyy tbl thvm

Word / Gloss	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	20	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Vs	Stem
יהוה Yahweh	▒																											22	יהוה
ראשית the beginning of		▒																										22	ראש
דרכו his way			▒																									22	דרך
קדם preceding				▒																								22	קדם
מראש from the beginning		▒																										23	ראש
מקדמי out of the precedents of				▒																								23	קדם
ארץ earth					▒																							23	ארץ
באין when there were no						▒																						24	אין
תהמות abysses							▒																					24	תהום
חוללתי I was birthed								▒																				24	חול
באין when there were no						▒																						24	אין
מעינות springs									▒																			24	עין
מים water										▒																		24	מים
לפני before the presence of											▒																	25	פנה
חוללתי I was birthed								▒																				25	חול
לא not												▒																26	לא
ארץ earth					▒																							26	ארץ
וראש or the preeminent		▒																										26	ראש
תבל the world													▒															26	תבל
בחוקו when he engraved														▒														27	חקק
על on															▒													27	על
פני the face of											▒																	27	פנה
תהום the abyss							▒																					27	תהום
שחקים the skies																▒												28	שחק
ממעל from above															▒													28	על
עינות the springs of									▒																			28	עין
תהום the abyss							▒																					28	תהום
ומים and the waters										▒																		29	מים
לא not												▒																29	לא
בחוקו when he engraved														▒														29	חקק
ארץ earth					▒																							29	ארץ
ואהיה and I was																	▒											30	היה
ואהיה and I was																	▒											30	היה
שעשעים reveling																		▒										30	שעע
יום day by																			▒									30	יום
יום day																			▒									30	יום
משחקת gamboling																▒												30	שחק
לפניו in his presence											▒																	30	פנה
בכל all the																				▒								30	כל
משחקת gamboling																▒												31	שחק
בתבל in the world of													▒															31	תבל
ארצו his earth					▒																							31	ארץ
ושעשעי reveling																		▒										31	שעע
בני the children of																					▒							31	בן
אדם humanity																						▒						31	אדם
בנים children																					▒							32	בן
שמעו hear																							▒					32	שמע
לי of what is mine																								▒				32	ל
ואשרי happy are																									▒			32	אשר
דרכי my ways			▒																									32	דרך
ישמרו those keeping																										▒		32	שמר
שמעו hear																							▒					33	שמע
אשרי happy																									▒			34	אשר
אדם a human																						▒						34	אדם
שמע that has heard																							▒					34	שמע
לי of what is mine																								▒				34	ל
על at															▒													34	על
יום day by																			▒									34	יום
יום day																			▒									34	יום
לשמר to watch																										▒		34	שמר
מצאי who finds me																											▒	35	מצא
מצא finds																											▒	35	מצא
מיהוה from Yahweh	▒																											35	יהוה
כל all																				▒								36	כל