Rules of Engagement (2013-2019)

New Music 5

Contemporary Insights Ensemble, conducted by Zach Seely
Festival des Zentrums für Gegenwartsmusik, Leipzig, 16 June 2022

Rules of Engagement (2013-2019)
This cycle of three works focuses on Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip in the winter of 2008/9, commonly referred to as Operation Cast Lead. 

1. Hora’ot Pticha Be’esh (2013)
Fixed media
2. Al-Shifa (2014)
String quartet and fixed media
3. Sumud (2019)
Ensemble

The title of the third piece, Sumud, refers to the principle of steadfastness that has come to play a special part in the Palestinian ethos of resistance, be it overt political or military resistance or simply the everyday resistance of going about one’s life despite the suffering inflicted by the occupation. This piece uses a large ensemble and loosely takes up some of the pre-recorded sounds from the first piece, adapting them to a live setting. As in the second piece, these are references to certain sound worlds rather than actual quotations; a microtonally-tuned guitar mirrors the pre-recorded oud sounds, while the accumulation of percussion sounds and reed textures are taken up and given a new physical presence in the live situation. The principle of sumud manifests itself in the music’s insistence and ultimate distillation of expressive focus from conflict and unease.

The overall direction of the cycle, then, is away from concrete documentation and towards musical sublimation, towards something that is separate from the horrors of Cast Lead despite issuing from them. When I first arrived at this conception, I was slightly disturbed by what could be perceived as a de-politicisation, as a disappearance of the real world in the aesthetic. In the meantime, however, I have reached the position that despite the powerlessness of such music to counteract the ongoing ordeals of Palestinians, it is more meaningful – as long as one operates in the realm of art rather than direct activism – to attempt a transcendence of horror towards something that offers a trace of autonomy. In this respect, it is important that the cycle begins with Hebrew and ends with an Arabic title; although the soldier’s testimony is vital evidence, the voice of the occupier should not be granted the last word, and despite the victimisation of Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere, they must not be reduced to mere victims. That is the ultimate message of the cycle.

https://wielandhoban.wordpress.com/2020/03/06/the-rules-of-engagement-cycle/

Sumud (Rules of Engagement III) (2019, large ensemble)

Part I of the trilogy Rules of Engagement, focused on Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip from 27 December 2008 to 18 January 18 2009, commonly referred to as Operation Cast Lead, which resulted in c. 1,000 civilian deaths and immense structural damage. 
The narration is the account of a soldier who took part in the operation, and was thus able to refute the myth that care was taken to protect civilian lives. The video from which it is taken, made by the Israeli organisation Breaking the Silence, can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDZmRqx4cpQ. The English translation is spoken by the composer. Parts II and III of the cycle are for string quartet and fixed media (Al-Shifa)and for 17 instruments (Sumud) respectively.
The title is Hebrew for 'Rules of Engagement'.
With thanks to Yehuda Shaul.

Hora'ot Pticha Be'esh (Rules of Engagement I) (2013-14, Fixed media)

FRAGILE II for clarinet in B  doubling clarinet in Es, soloist Emil Visenescu, conductor Gheorghe Costin, National Radio Orchestra, 
recording from the concert , 27.05.2016

FRAGILE 2 for clarinet and orchestra (2015)

performed by Marin Cazacu and Violoncelissimo ensemble, conductor Dorel Pascu

The Eternal Return (2000) for 8 celli

Kairos Quartett

Wolfgang Bender & Stefan Häussler, violins
Simone Heilgendorff, viola
Claudius von Wrochem, cello

Unerhörte Musik, Berlin, 20 February 2018

Named after Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza City, where the Norwegian doctors Mads Gilbert and Erik Fosse worked during Operation Cast Lead; they described their experiences in the book Eyes In Gaza (London: Quartet, 2010).

Al - Shifa (Rules Of Engagement II) (2014, string quartet and fixed media)

Doina Rotaru - "Legend III" (2018) for oboe, clarinet, violin, cello and piano
SonoMania Ensemble: Valentin Ghita (ob), Mihai Pintenaru (cl), Raluca Stratulat (vn), Eugen-Bogdan Popa (cello), Mihai Murariu (pno)
Live concert recording from the world premiere, 3Sound Festival, Bucharest, Sutu Palace, 22.09.18

Legend III - SonoMania

Doina Rotaru: VIVARTA for string quartet (2009)
ARCADIA Quartet - Ana Török (vn), Răsvan Dumitru (vn), Traian Boală (vla), Zsolt Török (cello)
Live recording from the "George Enescu" International Festival, September 2017

Vivarta - Arcadia Quartet

Written for and performed by OFF (the French Flute Orchestra)- conductor Pierre Alain Biget.The work is written for  24 flutes (10 fl in C, 6 alto fl, 6 bass fl, 2 dble bass fl)and  and pre-recorded sounds. 5 different Stained Glass windows inspired by a Catholic Cathedral , Byzantine music and shakuhachi Buddist monks music. World premiere in Paris, Moliere Theater, 20.01.2004

Sumud (Rules of Engagement III) (2019, large ensemble)

Wieland Hoban