Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: Yc Y4508/22 Referenced and notated in: Romancero Sefardi de Oriente, pg. 73, Editorial Alpuerto, 2010 Susana Weich-Shahak. This is a partial version of a Romansa that describes the sadness of King David on hearing of the death of his son Avshalom. Used as a dirge for personal mourning or for collective mourning on the day of Tisha b'Av, the destruction date of both temples in Jerusalem in 586 BCE and then again in 70 CE. It's melody is used as a contrafactum for a Hebrew dirge during prayers relating to Tisha b'Av. Text Triste esta el rey David triste esta de corazon por delibrar las sus ansias subiose al mirador Translation Sad was king David sad to the depth of his heart In order to free himself from his sorrows he climbed up to the watchtower
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025