Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

January 5, 1970 in Tel Aviv, Israel

 

Samir Odeh-Tamimi is a Palestinian composer of classical music who was born on October 28, 1970, in the city of Ramallah, located in the West Bank. He grew up in a family that valued music and culture, and his father was a well-known poet and writer. From a young age, Odeh-Tamimi showed a strong interest in music, and he began studying the piano and the oud, a traditional Middle Eastern stringed instrument, at the age of six. Odeh-Tamimi's musical education continued throughout his childhood and adolescence. He studied at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Ramallah, where he learned about Western classical music as well as traditional Middle Eastern music. He also studied at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, where he received a degree in composition. After completing his studies, Odeh-Tamimi began to establish himself as a composer. He has written works for a variety of ensembles and instruments, including orchestral works, chamber music, and solo pieces. His music is characterized by a fusion of Western classical music and traditional Middle Eastern music, and he often incorporates elements of improvisation and non-Western scales and rhythms into his compositions. One of Odeh-Tamimi's most notable works is his composition "Sukkot in Jerusalem," which was commissioned by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra in 2004. The piece is inspired by the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which celebrates the harvest and the wandering of the Israelites in the desert. The work features a combination of Western and Middle Eastern instruments, including the oud, the qanun (a Middle Eastern stringed instrument), and the ney (a Middle Eastern flute). The piece has been performed by orchestras around the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic. Another notable work by Odeh-Tamimi is his composition "The Silence of the Sonorous," which was commissioned by the Berlin Philharmonic in 2016. The piece is inspired by the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish, a Palestinian poet who is considered one of the most important literary figures in the Arab world. The work features a combination of Western and Middle Eastern instruments, including the oud, the ney, and the daf (a Middle Eastern drum). The piece has been praised for its haunting beauty and its ability to bridge the gap between different musical traditions. In addition to his work as a composer, Odeh-Tamimi is also a respected educator and cultural ambassador. He has taught at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music and the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, and he has given lectures and workshops on Middle Eastern music and culture around the world. He has also served as a cultural ambassador for the Palestinian Authority, promoting Palestinian culture and music on the international stage. Despite the challenges of living and working in a politically volatile region, Odeh-Tamimi remains committed to his art and to promoting cultural understanding through music. His work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the Palestine Award for Culture in 2006 and the Prince Claus Award in 2013. He continues to compose and perform music that reflects his unique cultural background and his commitment to artistic expression and cultural exchange.

More....