"Quid Enim?" genre: Ensembles
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	Quid Enim? (The Eternal Question) focuses on the word why in many different languages. The title itself means “why” in Latin and is used as a rhetorical or philosophical question. For women's voices SSAA.
	CD: Quid Enim? Credits: Composed by and Copyright �2001 Donald L. Appert
	Story Behind the Song Quid Enim began as a discussion on a tour of China in June of 2001 by the Clark College Jazz Ensemble and Women’s Choral Ensemble. April Duvic, Director of the Women’s Choral Ensemble, invited her long time friend Staci Swedeen to accompany us on the trip. During that time I shared with her my idea for a work for the ensemble as well as my ideas for a text. Being an accomplished writer, Staci sent me one of her poems that she dashed off after returning home. I then sent her a text of my own and she also listened to my previous works on my website. Her next poem became the basis for the text of this work. It focuses on the word why in many different languages. The title itself means “why” in Latin and is used as a rhetorical or philosophical question. Here is a list of the languages used in her poem: Pour Quoi – French Naze – Japanese Pa chemu – Russian La maaza – Arabic Varfor- Swedish Karichinay – Tibetan Perche – Italian Warum – German Porque – Spanish Hvor for – Danish Huawi – Vietnamese Dla czego – Polish Neden – Turkish Hver vegna – Icelandic Weishenmel – Chinese Not all were used in this musical composition; those chosen had particular vowel sounds. The word why appear first in its phoneticized version of the syllables oo-ah-ee. This is later compressed to wah-ee and finally as the word why. I am deeply indebted to Staci for what I consider a striking poem and also her encouragement to me as I was composing this work. Lyrics Quid Enim? (The Eternal Question) Why Pour Quoi Naze Can time move so slowly so fast? Pa chemu Le maaza Why Can love disappear or last? Varfor Why Karichinay Is the distance suddenly so near? Why are my parents reflected in the mirror? Perche Warum Porque Is the night filled with doubt? Then, with you beside me, the stars come out? Hvor for Huawi Dla czego This hunger? What’s this longing for? Why Why Why Is there something more? Neden Hver vegna Weishenmel When these questions stretch for mile after mile Why do you smile, love? Why do you smile?

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