Premiere of Adh Dhohr, Benjamin Attahir

Adh Dhohr is the second of five pieces in a cycle that I wanted to undertake based on the Salah or rhythm of an ordinary Muslim. It’s the midday prayer, when the sun is at its zenith. Its duration is calculated using any object planted in the ground; it is while the shadow of this object is equal to its own length. This verticality, altered by time, is found at the heart of musical form. In fact, this is constructed around the “zenithal” moment and unfolds concentrically around it. The macro-form obeys the simple principle of a progressive unveiling, and the solo serpent is revealed gradually. The trajectory is therefore from multiple to one, from tutti to solo; the inverse of what is done in liturgies from the Book that are based on the responsorial game of the celebrant interspersed with the faithful. I also wanted – like in oriental music – to return to the strictest monody, a rather unusual project in the concertante field; to have one voice that is shared by soloist and orchestra.

Adh Dhohr is dedicated to my dear friend Patrick Wibart, who can thank the instrument-voice that is the serpent for all his achievements.

Benjamin Attahir

Concert dates

Orchestre national de Lille 

25 Jan. 2018, Théâtre de Boulogne-sur-Mer

26 Jan. 2018, Auditorium du Nouveau Siècle de Lille

27 Jan. 2018, Cité de la Musique et de la Danse de Soissons

Patrick Wibart, serpent

Alexandre Bloch, cond.

27, 28 May 2018, Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest

Patrick Wibart, serpent 

Marc Albrecht, cond.