Woigaye, Don't Cry Anymore

“It was on a cloudy day. Outside it was raining. Without any reason I was depressed. I opened the piano and began to improvise. As the improvisation was going on, suddenly I was aware of a shadow at my window, turning slowly my head I saw my brother Woigaye standing outside careless of the rain watching and listening [to] my improvisation. His beautiful black silky hairs were wet with rain, from his big black eyes tears were running down on his cheeks mixed with the rain drops, I stopped [playing] and prayed him to not stand under the rain, with a faint sad smile, he said: “I was on the road-side listening to your music, and I came to tell you that it is beautiful and one of your best composition[s], and I am asking you to dedicate it to me.” Hiding under a smile the pain I felt to see him so miserable and sad, I replied, “With great pleasure,” and again prayed him to come in out of the rain. “Thank you,” he said, and as he came silently, walked away silently. [A] few months later he died. Maybe the anxiety and sorrow expressed in the music was the cause of the afar presentiment of his death.”

– Emahoy Tsege-Mariam Gebru, written note in private collection

Further liner notes, notes on sources and editorial notes by Thomas Feng, are included in the sheet music download.