Loose Winds – Concerto for Andalus ensemble and Orchestra (World Premiere)

Excited to premiere this exciting piece –

Program notes:

Loose winds (2022) – Alon Nechuhstan for Manhattan Wind Ensemble and Andalus Ensemble.

part I : “Hamseen” From the Arabic word for “fifty”, these dry, sand-filled windstorms blow sporadically in Egypt over a fifty-day period in spring, hence the name. The term is also used in the southern Levant (Israel, Palestine, Jordan), where the phenomenon takes a partly different form and blows both during spring and autumn. It is also alluded In the Book of Exodus 14:21 of the Hebrew Bible, the “ruah kadim” or “east wind” is the cause of the parting of the Red Sea.

part II: “Simoom “ A strong, dry, dust-laden wind. The word is generally used to describe a local wind that blows in the Sahara, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, and the deserts of Arabian Peninsula. Its temperature may exceed 54 °C (129 °F) and the relative humidity may fall below 10%. The name means “poison wind” and is given because the sudden onset of simoom may also cause heat stroke. This is attributed to the fact that the hot wind brings more heat to the body than can be disposed of by the evaporation of perspiration.

Part III: “Sharqi” A wind in the Middle East that comes from the south and southeast. It is seasonal, lasting from April to early June, and comes again between late September and November.

The winds are dry and dusty, with occasional gusts up to 80 kilometres per hour and often kick up violent sand and dust storms that can carry sand a few thousand metres high, and can close down airports for short periods of time. These winds can last for a full day at the beginning and end of the season, and for several days during the middle of the season.

Do you want to use the poems I embedded in the score ? they are attached.

Performed by members of NY Andalus Ensemble:

Dr. Samuel Torjman Thomas – nay

Arielle Korman – Vocals, Violin

Jeremy Brown – Violin

Alon Nechushtan – Accordion

Yoshie Fruchter – Oud

John Morchinson- Qanun

Daniel Ori – Bass

Nezih Antakli – Darbuka

Jeremy Smith – Riq

LINKS:

Alon Nechushtan ‘Loose Winds’ For Andalus Ensemble And A Concert Band World Premiere Announced, December 10

The piece will be performed during the Manhattan Wind Ensemble fall concert and conducted by Sarah Fernandez.

by A.A. Cristi Nov. 21, 2022

Alon Nechushtan 'Loose Winds' For Andalus Ensemble And A Concert Band World Premiere Announced, December 10

The world premiere of Alon Nechushtan’s “Loose Winds” for Andalus Ensemble and a concert band will be December 10, 2022 at 8pm at Sally A. Rocker Theater at The Trevor Day School, 312 E. 95th Street, NYC.

The piece will be performed during the Manhattan Wind Ensemble fall concert and conducted by Sarah Fernandez. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door, and $10 in advance or $12 at the door for students and children under 12. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit eventbrite.com/e/mwe-fall-concert-2022-loose-winds-tickets-467787504017.
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