Poems and Prayers
Poems and Prayers is Mohammed Fairouz's third symphony. It sets texts in Arabic, Aramaic and Hebrew for choir, solo voices and orchestra and explores the Arab-Israeli Conflict.[1] The symphony was commissioned by the Middle East Center for Peace, Culture and Development at Northeastern University.[2] It was completed in 2010.[2]
Instrumentation
[edit]The symphony is scored orchestra, a mixed choir and two soloists (mezzo-soprano and baritone).[2]
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Form
[edit]The piece consists of four movements and two interludes:[3]
- Kaddish
- Lullaby
Minyan - Night Fantasy
Oseh Shalom - Memorial Day for the War Dead
Composition and premiere
[edit]Poems and Prayers lasts 60 minutes.[2] The symphony sets poetry by Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai alongside Palestinian poets Mahmoud Darwish and Fadwa Tuqan against the backdrop of the Kaddish,.[1][4]
The work was given its world premiere at Columbia University's Miller Theatre.[4]
Recording
[edit]A recording of Poems And Prayers was released together with Fairouz's clarinet concerto "Tahrir" on the Sono Luminus record label in May 2014. [5]
Sources
[edit]External links
[edit]- "NPR: Three Poetic Traditions Inspire a Mideast Symphony", NPR.
- "Poems and Prayers webpage", Poems and Prayers Page.