When Words Fail for Viola and Harp

“When Words Fail” is a seven-movement work (c. 14′) commissioned by harpist Rachel Talitman for a 2024 duo album with violist Pierre Xuereb. Based on a profound poem scratched on the wall by a patient of a California insane asylum in 1917 and found after he was carried to his grave, each movement represents an image from the poem.
The story goes that a pastor sat on an empty lemon box and pushed against the wall with a stub pencil and paper to duplicate the words. What he didn’t know, however, was that while that patient wrote those words, he only recited them, for they had been written a thousand years earlier in a Jewish poem called: “Akdamut.”

“Thank you so so much, such a beautiful composition 💯💯💯💯💯 and the fabulous last movement with a Jewish motif.” Tel Aviv Harpist Rachel Talitman

“I finally found the time to listen with full attention to the beautiful short pieces for viola and harp and it will be a great pleasure to learn them.” Pierre Henri Xuereb, viola soloist and faculty, The Paris Conservatory