Composers

Digital perusal score available from ScoresOnDemand

Premiere:
October 6, 2010
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Zubin Mehta, conductor
Jerusalem, Israel

Related works:
   Azerbaijani Dance (for piano)
   Azerbaijani Dance (for orchestra)

Composer's Note:
Azerbaijani Dance is inspired by a traditional Azerbaijani melody. I use its basic contour and restructure it following principles of Turkish and Central Asian music – most importantly, the concept of alternating beat lengths. Harmonically, the piece is mostly quartal and secondal, in line with the choral tradition of the region. I aim to preserve other traditional elements of Azerbaijani and Middle-Eastern music by incorporating quarter tones, Middle-Eastern percussion instruments, and extended techniques that transform western instruments into their non-western counterparts (most obvious is the imitation of the Kanun by playing inside the piano with drumsticks).

-- Avner Dorman