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. The symphony was commissioned by the Middle East Center for Peace, Culture and Development at Northeastern University. It was completed in 2010.

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


 * 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:


 * I. Kaddish
 * II. Lullaby
 * Minyan
 * III. Night Fantasy
 * Oseh Shalom
 * IV. Memorial Day for the War Dead

Composition and Premiere
Poems and Prayers lasts 60 minutes. The symphony sets poetry by Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai alongside Palestinian poets Mahmoud Darwish and Fadwa Tuqan against the backdrop of the Kaddish,.

The work was given its world premiere at Columbia University's Miller Theatre.

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.