Ahlan wa Sahlan (orchestra, vocalist, oud) with Oum and Kyriakos Tapakis
Overview
Ahlan wa Sahlan
By John Psathas, Oum El Ghait, Kyriakos Tapakis
1. Ahlan Wa Sahlan (soloists Oum el Gait, Kyriakos Tapakis) 6:30
2. Hijra (soloists Oum el Gait, Kyriakos Tapakis) 6:00
3. Achalino (soloist Kyriakos Tapakis) 5:30
4. Freedom• (soloists Oum el Gait ) 6:00
5. Dhakira (soloists Oum el Gait, Kyriakos Tapakis) 6:00
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Te Tira Pūoro o Aotearoa
To mark the 5th anniversary of the Christchurch Mosque attacks, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra presents a unique collaboration promoting unity and peace through music.
Conducted by Fawzi Haimor, and featuring powerful Moroccan vocalist Oum and oud virtuoso Kyriakos Tapakis, the NZSO performs works from Valerie Coleman, Reza Vali, Arvo Pärt, and the world premiere of a new work from acclaimed Aotearoa composer John Psathas, ONZM.
Psathas’ Ahlan wa Sahlan, composed in collaboration with Oum and Tapakis, uses the Arabic welcome greeting to let people know they are in a place where they belong.
Beyond Words is a symphonic expression of solidarity and peace performed as a prelude to Unity Week.
Repertoire
Valerie Coleman - Umoja, Anthem of Unity
Oum - Daba
Reza Vali - Four Movements For String Quartet And String Orchestra / Mvt. III: Funebre
Traditional - Mantilatos
Arvo Pärt - Silouans Song (My Soul Yearns after the Lord…)
John Psathas - Ahlan wa Sahlan (New Commission)
Listen to the original demos created in long-distance collaboration with Oum and Kyriakos
This was one of the most significant journeys of my entire career as a composer. It was so far beyond music itself.
The idea for the project was formed by, and with, Kirsten Mason at the NZSO. Kirsten and I had been discussing, for years, ways in which the symphony orchestra might cross the divide and connect meaningfully with audiences and communities beyond the normal orchestral concert attendees. Marking the fifth anniversary of the horrific Christchurch Mosque attacks was suggested, and the idea gradually developed substance and momentum. It was a very intimidating undertaking.
From the outset I was aware that there were many more ways to get this wrong than there were to get it right. Personally, there was one primary audience to commune with, and that was the Christchurch Muslim community on the night of the premiere. For me, the project was going to land there and then. Its success or failure would be decided in the Christchurch Town Hall on the night of March 7th, 2024.
I made accepting the commission conditional on being able to select two soloists for the work. The lineup ended up being a dream team; the incredible Moroccan vocalist and composer Oum (who I worked closely with to create the work), Greek Oud-ist Kyriakos Tapakis (who also co-composed some of the music), and the wonderful conductor Fawzi Haimor. What made this project even more special was how the four of us very quickly became a family, and journeyed very much together, sharing the work with audiences in Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland.
Working with Oum in the creation of the work was a rare gift, and one I'll always remember. Every time I would receive an updated vocal track from her, it would be a very special day. I remember the very first time - receiving the first verse to the opening piece - I stopped in the street, listening with headphones, and felt an immense sense of good fortune that my life contained such extraordinary and heartfelt moments. Oum also (and I suspect without intentionally meaning to) kept me honest, and challenged me to uphold a high level of integrity, thorughout the project.
The biggest part of the journey of Ahlan wa Sahlan was meeting and getting to know individuals in the Christchurch Muslim community who had suffered loss, and been affected by the attacks. A great friend to me, and the project, was Tony Green. Tony helped me a lot in seeing and understanding things more clearly than I would have. And Sara Qasem, and Ashraf Omar (both who lost close family members in the attacks), through their incredible honesty and openness, impacted powerfully on my own feelings and understanding of what this work might (or might not) mean.
Commissioned by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra to mark the 5th anniversary of the Christchurch Mosque attacks. A unique collaboration promoting unity and peace through music.
Conducted by Fawzi Haimor, and featuring powerful Moroccan vocalist Oum and oud virtuoso Kyriakos Tapakis, the NZSO performs works from Valerie Coleman, Reza Vali, Arvo Pärt, and the world premiere of a new work from acclaimed Aotearoa composer John Psathas, ONZM.
Psathas’ Ahlan wa Sahlan, composed in collaboration with Oum and Tapakis, uses the Arabic welcome greeting to let people know they are in a place where they belong.
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AHLAN WA SAHLAN - Lyrics by Oum el Ghait
PART 1 AL MAHAL
VERSE 1 (m5)
Men Taht Zarq Essama (Under the blue sky)
Bin AhdanZarqat Al Maa (In the arms of blue waters)
Ma bein Samaw Bhour (Between heavens and seas)
Hadha MakanYahya (May this place live)
W YkounDima Bi salam (And always remain in peace)
VERSE 2 (m40)
Hadi Ard Âachatw Chaft (It is a land that has lived and seen)
AhdatMjalha w Estaqbalat (That offered its domain to welcome)
Nass,Atfal, Rijal w Âyalat (People, children, men and women)
Men KoullÂalam Jat (From all over the world)
Koull Wahdw Ardou fine (Everyone has a land of birth)
Khallaha,Rhal W Chedd Attariq (Left to make the journey)
W MachiDima Sahl Arrahil (Leaving is not always easy)
Ha Ma BghatAl Hayat (That’s the way life goes)
VERSE 3 (m72)
QawafilEkhtarat Al Ôbour (Caravans that chose to cross)
W TalaqatAl Massarat (Their paths meet)
W ChouôubJamaâtha Zouj Jouzour (Peoples united by two islands)
Rahhabatb’Hobb Al Hourriyat (That welcome the love of freedom)
VERSE 4 (m96)
Ch’hal Ma Izid Itoul Essafar (However long the journey)
Ma ‘Lwoussoulilla Bidayet Al Massar (Each arrival is the beginning of the path)
Elli Kan Bâid, Maqam Jdid (What was distant is the new home)
Baâd El Mehna, Ofoq Saïd (After the hard times, happy horizons)
Ikheff Haml Arrahil (May The weight of the exile be lightened)
W Yatayassar Assabil (And may the path be made easier)
VERSE 5 (m113)
Ikheff Haml Arrahil (May The weight of the exile be lightened)
W Yatayassar Assabil (And may the path be made easier)
PART 2 – HIJRA
VERSE 1 (m27)
Jina Koullna L’Eddenia (We all came into the world)
Khouliqna, Roziqna, Maâ Baâdna naâ’ich (We were born, and blessed to live together)
VERSE 2 (m49)
Koull’ha w Triqou Yamchi fiha (Everyone has their own path )
B’Li fiha (With all that it brings)
Wala Waed Rahou Wadou (And nobody is walking alone)
Triq Zina Taftah Lina (Beautiful roads open to us)
Idha Mchina Jamiî (If we walk together)
CHORUS 1 (m68)
Koull’na Nafs Al Hawa Natnaffasouh (We all breath the same air)
Ncharkou Maa w Melh w Waqt w Mkan (We share water, salt, time and place)
Yama Choufna w Yama Gha’Nchoufou (We have seen before, and we will see again)
Hob Wahdou Bih Assalam Yban (Only love can give peace )
VERSE 3 (m97)
Thoql l’hemm ykhef Idha Hna Tqasamnah (The weight of our sorrows lightens if we share it
Tahammalnah (We overcome it)
Al Farh Yatadaâf Idha Hna Tcharaknah (Joy multiplies if we share it)
Ballaghnah, Wassalnah (Communicate it, transmit it)
CHORUS 2 (m114)
Koull’na Nafs Al Hawa Natnaffasouh (We all breath the same air)
Dahkna w Bkana Ykhallina Insan( Laughters and tears make us human)
Toualafna Wakha Ta’Nakhtalfou (We get along no matter the differences)
Hob Wahdou Bih’ Al Haja Tashal (With love, everything is easier)
VERSE 4 (m144)
Jina Koullna L’Eddenia (We all came into the world)
Khouliqna, Roziqna, MaâBaâdna naâ’ich (We were born, and blessed to live together)
VERSE 5 (m166)
Koull’ha w Triqou Yamchi fiha (Everyone has their own path)
B’Li fiha (With all that it brings)
Wala Waed Rahou Wadou (And nobody is walking alone)
Triq Zina Taftah Lina (Beautiful roads open to us)
Idha Mchina Jamiî (If we walk together)
CHORUS 3 (m185)
Koull’na Nafs Al Hawa Natnaffasouh (We all breath the same air)
Dahkna w Bkana Ykhallina Insan (Laughters and tears make us human)
Toualafna Wakha Ta’Nakhtalfou (We get along no matter the differences)
Hob Wahdou Bih’ Al Haja Tashal (With love, everything is easier)
CODA (m199)
Koull’na L’baâdna, Men Dima (We are together, Always)
Koull’na L’baâdna (We are together)
Mnin Ma Kounna jayyine (No matter where we come from)
4 –HORIZONS
VERSE 1 (m5)
Fi Âlamna Chella Ma Chahedna (In our world, so much to observe)
Ch’Hal men hala Âliha Ch’hedna (How many situations have we been witnessing)
VERSE 2 (m25)
Hyatna Fiha Mhayn w Mhenna (In our life, trials and empathy)
Âouassef M’chat w Bahjat Tejina (Storms have passed and joys will return)
VERSE 3 (m45)
Hakda Foussoul Yamatna Katdour (Thus our seasons turn)
Mouja Wara Mouja Tandouqou Qsawt w Hlawt Al Omour (Wave after wave we taste bitter and sweet things)
VERSE 4 (m53)
W Dima Wara l’Amouaj Al Ofouq Khat Mgadd (And still behind the waves, the horizon is always a perfect line)
Tarikhna Yetketeb Âlih (Our history is written on it)
W N’hattou Rajana Fih (Our hopes are placed there)
VERSE 5 (m79)
Ha Hya Afaqna Rassia (Here are our horizons anchored)
Fiha Marchouma Ahlam Al Insanya (Above, drawn are humanity dreams)
Ha Hya Afaq Al Hourrya (Here are the horizons of freedom)
Âliha Marsouma Akhlaq Al Insanya (Above, tattooed are human morals)
CHORUS (m119)
Bab Al Moustaqbal Gouddam Koulla Wahed Fina (The door to the future is before each of us)
W l’Wahda Hya Essarout Alwahida Elli Fi Ydina (And unity is the only key that’s in our hands)
VERSE 6 (m137)
The door to the future is before each of us
Unity
The key
In our hands
PART 5 DHAKIRA
VERSE 1 (m28)
Kif Ma Ykoun El’hal (In any case)
VERSE 2 (m41)
Mazal Amal w’ Ahlam (There are still hopes and dreams)
Dhikra w’ Dhakira (Commemoration and Memory)
CHORUS 1 (m66)
Dhakira Hayya
Ma Mamhyya (An indelible living Memory)
W’ Qloub Moussamiha
B’laqdar Radia (And faithfully forgiving Hearts)
VERSE 3 (m76)
Dhouk Elli Mchaou (Those who’ve gone away)
Rahma Âlihoum (Mercy be on Them)(
VERSE 4 (m90)
W’Elli Baqiyine (And Those who remain)
Lihoum Hikma (Are blessed with a wisdom)
Biha Rouh Arrahiline Tartah (That soothes the Souls of the Loved Ones, gone too soon.)
CHORUS 2 (m115)
Baqi Amal (There is still hope)
Baqia Ahlam (There are still dreams)
W mazal Ahbabna Fi L’bal (Our beloved ones are always on our minds)
Ma Zalou (They remain)
Fi l’Qloub (In the hearts
Fi Dhakira (In memory)
CODA (m144)
Dhakira (Memory)
Dhakira (Memory)
Dhakira (Memory)
