Premiere of Fayez Al Saeed’s work in Abu Dhabi — The National
In Abu Dhabi, UAE, on September 18, the premiere of Lightning, Thunder & Longing by Emirati composer Fayez Al Saeed will take place. The composition, commissioned by the UAE National Orchestra, will be performed at the Arts Centre at New York University Abu Dhabi. The work will also be performed at Dubai Opera on September 20.
Emirati musical traditions
In his new work, Al Saeed combined Emirati maritime rhythms, the traditions of al-ayyala and al-taghrooda with orchestral sound. The text for the composition was written by Emirati poet Arif Al Hajah.
According to The National, the work is one of three new pieces by Emirati authors in the To This Land, We Belong programme. The programme opens the UAE National Orchestra’s second season and is dedicated to the country’s landscape, musical heritage and history.
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The composer noted that writing for an orchestra and choir differs from writing music for an individual performer or setting poetry to music. According to him, such a work requires finding a balance between the choir and instruments and giving each musician room to contribute.
The composer’s creative experience
Fayez Al Saeed began his career as a singer and songwriter in the 1990s. In 1996, he released his debut album Sa’at Wa’ed, and later wrote hits in the Khaleeji pop genre, including #Selfie and Yensa.
He also composed music to Nabati poems by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, who publishes poetry under the pseudonym Fazza. Sheikh Alya bint Khalid Al Qasimi, managing director of the UAE National Orchestra, said that supporting Emirati composers is one of the ensemble’s main tasks and will help form a new national orchestral repertoire.
