Panufnik, Roxanna - Babylonia

Drawing its inspiration from Iraqi Jewish music, this 7.5-minute piano solo is based on an Iraqi folk melody, ‘D’ror Yikra’, and describes in music the text written by Morrocan poet, linguist and musician, Dunash ben Labrat, in 960 CE. Opening with extended techniques (plucking strings inside the piano), the sections of this piece alternate between longing and anger.