Elegy 

The warmly nostalgic Elegy, the only work on the Piano Concerto album commissioned by Queens University of Charlotte without piano, dates from the summer of 2013, composed in New York City and recorded in London on May 21, 2014, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of David Firman. Again, following his basic aim to preserve Syrian culture, Jandali bases the piece on an old Syrian tune, in this case drawing on the form of a tahmīla in the Saba maqām. A tahmīla is a dance form in a simple 4/4 or 2/4 meter that alternates between short improvisational solos and composed ensemble refrains in a call and response format. In this context flute, clarinet, and horn take on significant roles, with an especially lovely flute solo making a tender statement over steady pizzicato midway through the piece. Gently sustained countermelodies add texture, leading to a lush presentation of the main melody. Toward the end Jandali introduces a heartrending violin solo, which dies away to an ethereal final utterance by the flute.

Jane Jaffe