About the creation

The idea of composing without text and yet on a specific text, is not new. I thought about it when I was asked to compose a piece for a special evening devoted to a book of poems by Shin Shifra, A Woman Who Practices How to Live - planned for the winter of 2002.

One of my favorite poems in the book, The Primal Cause, is rather introverted and meditative and suited me particularly well, though not as a song, but as a work in one art medium (literary) from which something radiates upon another medium (musical); the source of light and a "Silhouette".

I intended neither to illustrate Shin Shifra's text nor to provide background music to its reading. The Silhouette follows in the footsteps of the poem, exists alongside it but also without it.

I am grateful to Michal Tal, the pianist who gave this piece its first performance. Her remarks were of great help.