El-Khoury: New York, Tears and Hope

EL-KHOURY: New York, Tears and Hope / The Rivers Engulfed

About the composer:

Bechara El-Khoury (b. 1957) is a French-Lebanese composer living in Paris. Interestingly, the first post-independence President of Lebanon had the same name, who ruled until 1952 and died in 1964. I wonder if the composer was named for the President? (See comment, below, for the answer – thank you, Charlotte!)

In addition to the excellent Naxos biography and interview with Viviane Ackerman, another brief bio and photograph can be found at the 2003 Masterprize Web site. A fuller biography can be found at the world-memorial.org the Web site for the September 11, 2006 memorial.

About the music:

I am very curious to hear how composers attempt to convey horror and loss through music.

Ohki’s Symphony No. 5 “Hiroshima” and “New York, Tears and Hope” by El-Khoury both attempt to do this. I would like to hear a piece that attempts to express General Dalliare’s emotional experience during the Rwandan Genocide as chronicled in his book,”Shake Hands with the Devil.”

“New York, Tears and Hope” is an excellent piece – I’ve heard it 4 times now. I think he succeeds in conveying the sadness, horror, and yet end with hope. – November 21, 2006

“New York, Tears and Hope” continues to capture my attention, listened to it a couple more times today. Some parts remind me of Howard Shore’s “Fellowship of the Ring” – especially at about 5m00sec, 7min45sec, 9min0sec, etc… I love the ending. – November 22, 2006