Works List

2019

HONEY RIVER (2019)
Approximate Duration: 4 minutes
Baritone and Piano
more info

BHUTTO (2019)
Approximate Duration: 120 minutes
Opera in 3 Acts
more info

2017

DIVERSIONS (2017)
Approximate Duration: 8 minutes
Choir SATB
I. Memento
II. The Shoulders of Giants
III. Psalm 14
more info

EVERMORE (2017)
Approximate Duration: 30 minutes
A Song Cycle for Male Voice (high voice), String Quartet
Commissioned by the Aspen Music Festival and School, Robert Spano, Music Director Funded by a generous gift from Linda and Stuart Nelson
I. Israfel
II. Annabel Lee
III. The Raven
more info

THE NEW PRINCE (2017)
Approximate Duration: 100 minutes
Opera in 4 Acts
more info

2015

ZABUR (2015)
Approximate Duration: 55 minutes
Tenor, Baritone, Mixed Chorus, Children’s Choir and Orchestra (2222.4230.timp+1 perc,hp,pno,celesta, strings)
Commissioned by the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir for The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir and The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
more info

PAX UNIVERSALIS (2015)
Approximate Duration: 8 minutes
Orchestra (3322.4331.timp+3 perc,hp,pno+celesta, strings)
Commissioned by the Santa Rosa Symphony Orchestra
more info

CELLO CONCERTO “DESERT SORROWS” (2015)
Approximate Duration: 30 minutes
Amplified Cello Solo and Orchestra (3333.4430.timp+3 perc,hp,pno (celesta), strings)
Commissioned by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for Maya Beiser
Commission made possible through the generous support of Peter D. Cummings
I. Yowm Ad-Dīn (The day of Reckoning)
II. Al- Maccaber (The Graves)
III. Jannat: Saud Al-Faisal In Memoriam (Heavens)
more info

GABRIEL (2015)
Approximate Duration: 12 minutes
Solo Cello
Commissioned by Matt Haimovitz
A Soliloquy for Solo Cello
I. Lullaby: Rock Me to Sleep
II. Profanation
III. Meditation
more info

MUQQADAMAH (2015)
Approximate Duration: 7 minutes
String Quintet
more info

2014

DOMINATION OF DARKNESS (2014)
Approximate Duration: 28 minutes
Countertenor and Flute
For Anthony Roth Costanzo and Claire Chase
I. O Florida, Venereal Soil
II. Fabliau of Florida (To Elizabeth Sobol)
III. Infanta Marina
IV. A High-Toned Old Christian Woman
V. Domination of Black
more info

GERMAN ROMANTIC SONG (2014)
Approximate Duration: 6 minutes
Soprano and Piano
Commissioned by Lyrica Chamber Music for Kiera Duffy and David Kaplan
more info

LOCALES (2014)
Approximate Duration: 18 minutes
Oboe and String Trio
Commissioned by Ian Shafer
I. Liwa: Sheikh Zayed Road at Dawn
II. Dabkeh: Shar’i Hamra at Dusk
III. Chanson: Rue d’Argentine, 2am
IV. Ayre: Exhibition Road, 9am
V. Musical Number: 26th/9th, Hudson Guild at Midnight
more info

PIANO SONATA NO. 3, “PROUST AMONG THE NATIONS” (2014)
Approximate Duration: 26 minutes
Piano
Commissioned by ROK Inc for Steven Spooner
I. Proust Among the Nations
II. The House of Memory
III. Engame: Proust and Genet in the Middle East
more info

2013

THE ROGUES GALLERY (2013)
(Piano Miniatures 14-17)
Approximate Duration: 10 minutes
Piano
Commissioned by the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts
for the National Young Artists Competition
more info

KOL NIDREI (2013)
Approximate Duration: 6 minutes
Solo ‘cello, Prerecorded sounds
Commissioned by Maya Beiser
more info

VIOLIN CONCERTO “AL-ANDALUS” (2013)
Approximate Duration: 30 minutes
Solo Violin, Orchestra (2.2.2.2 – 4.2.3 – timp+2 – hp– pno (cel) – strings)
Commissioned by ROKI INC for Rachel Barton Pine and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra
more info

PIANO MINIATURE NO. 13, “AMERICA NEVER WAS AMERICA TO ME” (2013)
Approximate Duration: 4 minutes
Piano
Commissioned by Myrna Cook for Nicholas Phillips
more info

PIANO MINIATURE NO. 12 (2013)
Approximate Duration: 3 minutes
Piano
more info

EL MALE RACHAMIM (2013)
A prayer for solo piano
Approximate Duration: 18 minutes
Piano
Commissioned by Premiere Commission for Bruce Levingston
I. אל מלא רחמים
(God, full of mercy)

II. אני,שקטפתי פרחים בהר
(I, who pluck flowers from the hilltops)

III. אני,שהבאתי גוויות מן הגבעות
(I, who brought corpses from the mountains)

IV. אני שמשתמש רק בחלק קטן
מן המילים במלון
(I, who use but a tiny portion
of the words in the dictionary)

V. אני,שמוכרח לפתור חידות בעל כורחי
(I, who am forced to decipher riddles)
more info

SADAT (2013)
Ballet in 5 Scenes
Approximate Duration: 26 minutes
Percussion (xlyophone, marimba, tenor drum, tamborine, chimes) and Chamber Orchestra (fl.cl.bsn/2 hrn/strings)
Commissioned by ROKI for Ji Hye Jung
I. July 23rd 1952
II. Jehan
III. The Death of Nasser/ The Leader
IV. Jerusalem
V. The Day The Leader Was Killed
more info

AL-SHAM (2013)
Approximate Duration: 20 minutes
‘Cello
Commissioned by VisionIntoArt for Jeffrey Zeigler
I. Barada
II. May 25th 2012
III. Naaman’s Song
IV. Shora
more info

MIGHTY TRIBOROUGH (2013)
Approximate Duration: 7 minutes
Chamber Orchestra (1.1.1.1/1.1.1./timp./1perc./pno./hrp./strings)
Commissioned by The New Juilliard Ensemble
“It has long been a cherished ambition of mine to weave together the loose strands and frayed edges of New York’s metropolitan arterial tapestry”
– Robert Moses
more info

A WORLD I LOVED (2013)
Approximate Duration: 21 minutes
Flute, String Quartet
Commissioned by Capital City Concerts, Montpelier VT for Karen Kevra and the Borromeo String Quartet
Dedicated to the memory of Mary Anne Kevra
more info

PIERROT LUNAIRE (2013)
Approximate Duration: 45 minutes
A Theatrical Song Cycle
Pierrot (high male voice), Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Piano (Celeste)
Commissioned by the Da Capo Chamber Players with assistance from the Roger Shapiro Fund for New Music
A Theatrical Song Cycle
Music by Mohammed Fairouz/Lyrics by Wayne Koestenbaum
more info

2012

A PRAYER TO THE NEW YEAR (2012)
Approximate Duration: 12 minutes
Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Cello, Piano
Commissioned by the New York Festival of Song for Corinne Winters, Sasha Cooke and Steven Blier
more info

PIANO MINIATURE NO. 11, “FOR SYRIA” (2012)
Approximate Duration: 3 minutes
Piano
Commissioned by the International Beethoven Project, 2012
To the men, women and children who were brutally massacred in Syria
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AUDENESQUE (2012)
Approximate Duration: 20 minutes
Mezzo Soprano, Chamber Orchestra (fl. cl. hn. bsn. perc. pno (cel). strings)
Commissioned by ROKI for Kate Lindsey and the Metropolis Ensemble
Audenesque is dedicated to my friends Kate Lindsey and James Zakoura without whose support, the cycle would not exist.
In Memory of W.B. Yeats
I.
II.
III.
IV. Audenesque
more info

A SOURCE OF LIGHT (2012)
Approximate Duration: 15 minutes
Male Vocal Ensemble Commissioned by Cantus
more info

THE NAMED ANGELS (2012)
Approximate Duration: 28 minutes
String Quartet
Commissioned by ROKI for The Borromeo String Quartet
I. Mikhail’s Thunder
II. Azrael, Malak al-Maut
III. Jibreel at Hira
IV. Israfel’s Spell
more info

HINDUSTANI DABKEH (2012)
Approximate Duration: 4 minutes
Clarinet, String Quartet
Commissioned by Zodiak Active and BBC World News for Collaboration Culture Series 1
more info

SYMPHONY NO. 4, “IN THE SHADOW OF NO TOWERS” (2012)
Approximate Duration: 40 minutes
Commissioned for The University of Kansas Wind Ensemble
and made possible through the funding and gracious support of Reach out Kansas Inc.
more info

PIANO MINIATURE NO. 10, “LIBERACE” (2012)
Approximate Duration: 2 minutes
Piano
To Steven Blier on his wedding
more info

PIANO MINIATURE NO. 9, “LULLABY FOR A CHELSEA BOY” (2012)
Approximate Duration: 4 minutes
Piano
Commissioned by Tribeca New Music for Kathleen Supové
more info

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN (2012)
Approximate Duration: 25 minutes
Solo Baritone, Mixed Chorus, Amplified Viola
Co-commissioned by The Grinnell Singers with generous support from the Curd Fund, Cantori New York’s Jeffrey D. Silver Fund, The Back Bay Chorale (Boston), and The Marsh Chapel Choir of Boston University
more info

2011

INCANTATION AND DABKEH (2011)
Approximate Duration: 10 minutes
Clarinet, String Quartet
Commissioned by The Seattle Chamber Players for Laura
more info

AKHNATEN, DWELLER IN TRUTH (2011)
A dance scene
Approximate Duration: 15 minutes
Cello, Piano, Orchestra (2.2.2.2/4.2.3/timp, perc, strings)
Commissioned by The Foundation for Modern Music
more info

POSH (2011)
Approximate Duration: 12 minutes
Baritenor, Piano
Song cycle on texts by Wayne Koestenbaum
Commissioned by Roki
more info

JEBEL LEBNAN (2011)
Approximate Duration: 20 minutes
Flute, Oboe, Carinet, French horn, Bassoon
I. Bashir’s March
Interlude: Nay
II.Lamentation: Ariel’s Song
III. Song and Little Dance
IV. Mar Charbel’s Dabkeh
Commissioned by Imani Winds
more info

REFUGEE BLUES (2011)
Approximate Duration: 9 minutes
Mezzo, Soprano, Piano
Commissioned by the Five Boroughs Music Festival for Blythe Gaissert Levitt
more info

PIANO SONATA NO. 2, “THE LAST RESISTANCE” (2011)
Approximate 25 minutes
Piano
Commissioned by ROK Inc for Steven Spooner
I. The Last Resistance
II. Retro Recollections on 21st and 8th
III. Freud Goes to Abu Ghraib
IV. Men and Women in Dark Times
more info

PIANO MINIATURE NO. 8, “BARGEMUSIC” (2011)
Approximate Duration: 2 minutes
Piano
Commissioned by Beth Levin
more info

PIANO MINIATURE NO. 7 (2011)
Approximate Duration: 2 minutes
Piano
For Justin Snyder
more info

ADZEL (2011)
Approximate Duration: 12 minutes
Two Bb Clarinets
Commissioned by Adzel for Mariam Adam and Stephanie Zelnick
more info

NATIVE INFORMANT – SONATA FOR SOLO VIOLIN (2011)
Approximate Duration: 25 minutes
Violin
Commissioned by RBP Music LLC for Rachel Barton Pine
I. Lyric Sketch
II. Rounds
III. For Egypt
IV. Scherzo
V. Lullaby of the Ex Soldat
more info

TAHRIR (2011)
Approximate Duration: 12 minutes
Bb Clarinet, Orchestra (2.2.2.2/4.2.0/timp,perc,hrp,strings)
For David Krakauer
Commissioned by Cynthia Chan; Pamela Esser; Kaitilin Nicholas; John Griffin; Rueben K. Jenkins and Wayne Leonard; Rina Langer; Duane Lyons; Larry Melniker; John Otis; Martin Reichel; Brian Sands; Ken Tannenbaum; Will Weinstein; Any Chen-Hew Wing to the memory of Herb Greenhut
more info

FOR VICTIMS (2011)
Approximate Duration: 15 minutes
Baritone, String Quartet
Developed in association with American Opera Projects
more info

MEDITATION (2011)
Approximate Duration: 5 Minutes
Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, Amplified Double Bass
Commissioned by the Two Rivers Ensemble
more info

JEDER MENSCH (2011)
Approximate Duration: 10 minutes
Mezzo Soprano, Piano
Song cycle on Alma Mahler
Commissioned by and written for Kate Lindsey
Jeder Mensch was commissioned for, inspired by, and is dedicated to my friend Kate Lindsey.
I. The Eternal Source
II. Today I Realized Something Very Strange
III. The Celebration of the Spirit
more info

2010

UNWRITTEN (2010)
Approximate Duration: 20 minutes
Soprano, Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano
Commissioned by the Lunatics at Large as part of The Sanctuary Project
I. Condemnation
II. Scherzo
III. Elegy
IV. Coda
more info

SYMPHONY NO. 3, “POEMS AND PRAYERS” (2010)
Approximate Duration: 60 minutes
Mezzo Soprano, Baritone, Mixed Choir, Childrens’ Choir, Orchestra (2.2.2.2/4.2.3./timp./perc/ hrp/strings)
Commissioned by the The Middle East Center for Peace, Culture and Development at Northeastern University for The Zamir Chorale of Boston
I. Kaddish
II. Lullaby
Minyan
III. Night Fantasy
Oseh Shalom
IV. Memorial Day for the War Dead
more info

DOUBLE CONCERTO, “STATES OF FANTASY” (2010)
Approximate Duration: 25 minutes
Solo Violin, Solo Cello, Orchestra (2.2.2.2/2.2.0./timp. /strings)
Commissioned by Ensemble 212 for Nicholas Kitchen and Yeesun Kim as part of the 2010-11 Composer in Residence Program
I. Fantasy
First Elegy
II. Funeral March: A State of Mourning
Second Elegy
III. Variations on an Imaginary Hymn of State
more info

CHORALE FANTASY (2010)
Approximate Duration: 7 minutes
String Quartet
For the Borromeo String Quartet
more info

UGHNIA’T MARIAM (2010)
Approximate Duration: 5 minutes
2 Bb Clarinets
Commissioned by the Ach-Zed Duo
more info

RUBIYAAT (2010)
Approximate Duration: 7 minutes
Tenor, Flute, Cello, Piano
Commissioned by Musical Chairs Chamber Ensemble, Inc as part of the 2009-10 Composer in Residence Program
more info

FURIA (2010)
Approximate Duration: 30 minutes
Baritone, Wind Quintet, String Quartet
I. The Birth of Light
II. The Ballad of the King’s Mercy
Commissioned by Musicians For Harmony for Randall Scarlata, the Borromeo String Quartet and the Imani Winds
more info

THREE FRAGMENTS OF IBN KHAFAJAH (2010)
Approximate Duration: 10 minutes
Soprano, Flute, Guitar, Violin, Cello
Commissioned by the Cygnus Ensemble
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2009

NO ORPHEUS (2009)
Approximate Duration: 14 minutes
Mezzo Soprano, Cello
Commissioned by Christina Ascher
more info

PIANO MINIATURE NO. 6, “ADDIO” (2009)
Approximate Duration: 2 minutes
Piano
more info

SYMPHONY NO. 2 (2009)
Approximate Duration: 17 minutes
Chamber Orchestra (1.1.1.1/1.1.1./timp./1perc./pno./hrp./strings)
Commissioned by Alea III
more info

TWO VENETIAN FRESCOES (2009)
Approximate Duration: 7 minutes
Flute, Piano
Commissioned by Laura Falzon
more info

WE ARE SEVEN (2009)
Approximate Duration: 7 minutes
Baritone, Piano
more info

KA-LAS (2009)
Approximate Duration: 12 minutes
Clarinet, Viola
Commissioned by counter)induction for their 11th Season
I. Invovation
II. Illumination
III. Meditation
more info

SUMEIDA’S SONG (2009)
Approximate Duration: 60 minutes
2.2.2.2/4.2.3./timp./1 perc./pno./strings
An Opera in Three Scenes based on Tawfiq El-Hakim’s Song of Death
more info

OK, HIT, HIT BUT DON’T RUN (2009)
Approximate Duration: 6 minutes
Prerecorded electronic sounds
Music to accompany animation by Shadi Habib. For the 53rd Venice Biennale
more info

AFTER THE REVELS (2009)
Approximate Duration: 4 minutes
Baritone, Piano
For Kyle Alexander Cronin
more info

FOUR CRITICAL MODELS (2009)
Approximate Duration: 12 minutes
Alto Saxophone, Violin
Commissioned by the Second Instrumental Unit for David Fulmer and Eliot Gattegno
I. Catchword: A Modernists’ ‘Dilemma’
II. Intervention: Une Musique Informelle
III. Catchword: An Oriental(ist) Model
IV. Intervention: A Dialectical Synthesis
more info

2008

TAHWIDAH (2008)
Approximate Duration: 7 minutes
Soprano, Clarinet
Commissioned by Alwan for the Arts for Christine Moore and Kinan Azmeh
more info

AIRS (2008)
Approximate Duration: 11 minutes
Guitar
Commissioned by David Gutkin
more info

THREE NOVELETTES (2008)
Approximate Duration: 14 minutes
Alto Saxophone, Piano
Commissioned by the and written for Michael Couper
more info

LAMENTATION AND SATIRE (2008)
Approximate Duration: 10 minutes
String Quartet
Commissioned by the Béla String Quartet
more info

2007

BONSAI JOURNAL (2007)
Approximate Duration: 20 minutes
High Soprano, Piano Commissioned by Emily Spear
I. Fanfare
II. Nocturne
III. Interlude No. 1
IV. Chorale: Meditation
V. March: Burlesque
VI. Interlude No. 2
VII. Caprice
VIII. Aria
IX. Impromptu
X. Pastorale
more info

SYMPHONY NO. 1, “SYMPHONIC APHORISMS” (2007)
I. Funeral March: The Order of the Burial of the Dead
II. Scherzo
III. Intermezzo: Remembrances of Things Played
IV. Homage to a Belly-Dancer
more info

COLLISIONS (2007)
Approximate Duration: 7 minutes
Percussion Ensemble
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LITANY (2007)
Approximate Duration: 6 minutes
Flute Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Double Bass Commissioned by and written for Nathaniel Chase
more info

LAN ABKEE (2007)
Approximate Duration: 5 minutes
Mezzo Soprano, Piano
more info

PIANO SONATA, “REFLECTIONS ON EXILE” (2007)
Approximate Duration: 15 minutes
Piano
I. Edward Said in Memoriam
II. Between Worlds
III. Scherzo—Homage to Michael Gandolfi
Commissioned by and written for Katie Reimer
more info

2006

TWO SHORT DIVERSIONS (2006)
Approximate Duration: 4 minutes
Saxophone, Harp
more info

THREE SHAKESPEARE SONGS (2006)
Approximate Duration: 12 minutes
Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet, Trombone, Harp, Mezzo Soprano, Violin, Double Bass
more info

ELEGY FOR NAGUIB MAHFOUZ (2006)
Approximate Duration: 3 minutes
Violin, Cello
more info

PIANO MINIATURE NO. 5 (2006)
Approximate Duration: Indeterminate time
Piano
more info

REQUIEM MASS (2006)
Approximate Duration: 20 minutes
Mixed Chorus
more info

PANOPTICON (2006)
Approximate Duration: 7 minutes
Tenor, Piano
more info

2005

CHAMBER SYMPHONY NO. 1, “SABRA” (2005)
Approximate Duration: 30 minutes
Chamber Orchestra (1.1.1.1/0.1.1./timp./1perc/pno/strings), Actors
more info

CANTO (2005)
Approximate Duration: 6 minutes
Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Piano
more info

THE STOLEN CHILD (2005)
Approximate Duration: 3 minutes
Baritone, Piano
more info

PIANO MINIATURE NO. 4 (2005)
Approximate Duration: 1 minute
Piano
more info

ELEGY FOR DAVID DIAMOND (2005)
Approximate Duration: 5 minutes
Violin, Cello
more info

PIANO MINIATURE NO. 3 (2005)
Approximate Duration: 1 minute
Piano
more info

PIANO MINIATURE NO. 2 (2005)
Approximate Duration: 1 minute
Piano
more info

PIANO PRELUDE NO. 4 (2005)
Approximate Duration: 3 minutes
Piano
more info

PIANO MINIATURE NO. 1, “NOCTURNAL SNAPSHOT” (2005)
Approximate Duration: 1 minute
Piano
more info

TWO SONNETS AND A CLOSING COUPLET (2005)
Approximate Duration: 10 minutes
Harp
more info

CELLO SONATA, “ELEGIAC VERSES” (2005)
Approximate Duration: 15 minutes
Cello, Piano
Also in a version for Piano, Cello, Actor, Singer and Dancer
Dedicated to Michael Katz
more info

2004

THE 89TH STREET RAG (2004)
Approximate Duration: 3 minutes
Clarinet, Piano
more info

MEMORIAM (2004)
Approximate Duration: 15 minutes
String Orchestra
more info

FOUR HAIKU POEMS (2004)
Approximate Duration: 4 minutes
Tenor, Piano
more info

NAAMAN’S SONG (2004)
Approximate Duration: 15 minutes
Soprano, Tenor, Chamber Orchestra (1.1.1.1/0.1.1./timp./1 perc/strings)
more info

PIANO PRELUDE NO. 3 (2004)
Approximate Duration: 4 minutes
Piano
more info

2003

PIANO PRELUDE NO. 2 (2003)
Approximate Duration: 3 minutes
Piano
more info

PIANO PRELUDE NO. 1 (2003)
Approximate Duration: 5 minutes
Piano
more info

ELEGY FOR EDWARD SAID (2003)
Approximate Duration: 4 minutes
Violin, Cello
more info

2002

THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE (2002)
Approximate Duration: 5 minutes
Soprano, Piano
more info

DUO FOR PIANO AND VIOLIN (2002)
Approximate Duration: 16 minutes
Piano, Violin
more info