My Hazara People String Orchestra - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1728165

My Hazara People is a setting of two texts, the title work by Shukria Rezaei and Lalai, lalai, bobe bacha shikar rafta (Baby’s father went hunting), a traditional Hazari lullaby. Although their characters are entirely different, the two poems share much in common. The importance of family and home and the connection with country and heritage are at the centre of both. Shukria’s poem is a direct expression of love and despair for Afghanistan with intimate moments of terror - a cup falling from her mother’s hand during an explosion, her aunt fainting - set against the suffering of Hazaras across the world. In the context of this devastating contemporary experience Lalai lalai is nostalgic and poignant - open gates, straw latches, a sleeping child.
The tune of the lullaby is heard in two highly contrasted versions. For Shukria’s words it is dark and restrained, a repeating rhythm illustrating the Hazara’s seemingly never-ending pain, and for Lalai lalai it is bright and joyful with sounds of the hunt, a crackling fire and a gentle chorus as the child is rocked. A further thread runs through the music - a quotation of my favourite traditional Afghan Herati lullaby Allah Hu(God is great), reflecting Shukria’s reference to her people’s religious heritage. I have adapted the text at the end of Lalai Lalai to bring it into the Shukria’s world, a reminder that each innocent person caught up in conflict is a mother, a brother, a sister, a father, a daughter….kids like us.

My Hazara People was commissioned by Cayenna Ponchione and the Orchestra of St John’s, for the orchestra’s 2018-2019 Displaced Voices project, which amplifies the voices of young refugees through music. The work was premiered by Charlotte Tetley and the Orchestra of St. Johns (conducted by Cayenna Ponchione) at the OSJ’s 50th Anniversary Concert at Dorchester Abbey on 30 November 2018.