Malek Jandali
Syria

“The Hunt for Peace” was composed in 2018 for the 32 Bright Clouds project and received its World Premiere on January 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. It is connected to Beethoven’s Sonata no. 18 in E flat Major Op. 31 No. 3 “The Hunt”.

The piece is dedicated to the Syrian children and their noble quest for peace.

Described as “deeply enigmatic” (Gramophone) and rich with “heart-rending melodies, lush orchestration, clever transitions and creative textures” (American Record Guide), Malek Jandali’s music is widely regarded as “a major new addition to the 21st century’s symphonic literature” (Fanfare magazine). Recent commissions and premieres include a Viola Concerto for Roberto Diaz, a String Quartet for the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, and a world premiere by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop.

Jandali’s compositions not only integrate Middle-Eastern modes into Western classical forms and harmony but also echo UNESCO’s call to preserve and protect the rich cultural heritage of his homeland Syria at a time when it is being eradicated. His repertoire ranges from chamber music to large-scale orchestral works including four symphonies, five symphonic dances, and six concertos. Jandali’s works have been performed by numerous orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Stockholm Solister, Norrlandsoperan Symphony Orchestra, Cairo Symphony Orchestra, and the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra.

Jandali has self-produced seven albums featuring forty of his compositions. His most recent album, scheduled for 2019/20 release, includes his Piano Concerto, recorded by the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra led by Sergey Kondrashev, and his Elegy, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by David Firman.

Dedicated not only to preserving Syria’s cultural heritage but to humanitarian causes, Jandali has been regularly recognized by and invited to speak at key institutions such as Harvard University, the Skoll World Form at Oxford, Duke University, Aspen Ideas Festival, Fordham University, the United Nations headquarters in New York City, the Doha Debates at Georgetown University in Qatar, TEDx Talks at Georgia Tech, and Sydney Ideas at the University of Sydney. Mr. Jandali is the recipient of the 2014 Global Music Humanitarian Award and in 2015, the Carnegie Corporation of New York honored him as a Great Immigrant. He is a strong advocate for peace and was selected as a Visiting Scholar for the 2017/18 academic year in the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights at Rutgers University.

Mr. Jandali is passionate about making the arts accessible to all and is the founder and CEO of Pianos for Peace, a non-profit organization dedicated to building peace through music and education. He embraces young talent from all over the world through the annual Malek Jandali International Youth Piano Competition. Mr. Jandali makes his home in both Manhattan and Atlanta. His music is published exclusively by Soul b Music, and his recordings are available from iTunes, Amazon, and Virgin Megastores worldwide.

Program Note

The “Hunt for Peace” by Malek Jandali is dedicated "to the Syrian children and their noble quest for peace.” Amid all suffering of the country as a whole in these recent years of upheaval and violence, the plight of the children of Syria is especially heartrending.  

The piece is written in an Arabic mode, using the double harmonic major scale in D, and the principal melodic material is stylistically indebted to traditional Syrian folk songs.  The work is connected to Beethoven’s Sonata no. 18 “The Hunt” in its use of the same basic motifs that served as Beethoven’s primary materials for his first movement.  Immediately recognizable are the dotted rhythmic figure, the group of four repeated chords, and the repeating ostinato bass accompaniment.  

 In overall structure, the “Hunt for Peace” adheres closely to the Sonata Form typical of classical period Sonatas.  The Donna Nobis Pacem "Peace motif" from Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis is heard in its entirety in pianississimo at the end of the exposition section. Just preceding the concluding Coda, the final three descending notes of that motif, (with the words “Peace”, “Peace”) repeat themselves insistently as a whisper, a dream-like prayer expressing the wish for peace.