Poems and Prayers

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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]

Contents

Instrumentation

The symphony is scored orchestra, a mixed choir and two soloists (mezzo-soprano and baritone). [2]

Woodwinds
2 Flutes
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets
2 Bassoons
Brass
4 French Horns in F
2 Trumpets
3 Trombones
Percussion
Voices
Mezzo-Soprano Solo
Baritone
Mixed Chorus
Strings
Harp
First and Second Violins
Violas
Violoncellos
Double basses (with low C extension).

Form

The piece consists of four movements and two interludes: [3]

Composition and Premiere

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

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

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