Composer

:

Mohammed Fairouz

Genre

:

Vocal

Compose Date

:

2011

Average_duration

:

9:05

"Refugee Blues" is a song cycle composed by Mohammed Fairouz in 2016. It was premiered on November 17, 2016, at the National Sawdust in Brooklyn, New York. The song cycle consists of five movements, each of which is based on a poem by W.H. Auden. The first movement, "Refugee Blues," sets the tone for the entire cycle. It is a mournful and haunting piece that captures the despair and hopelessness of refugees who have been forced to flee their homes. The second movement, "Leaving Home," is a more upbeat and hopeful piece that reflects the sense of adventure and excitement that refugees feel when they first leave their homes. The third movement, "In Exile," is a somber and introspective piece that explores the feelings of isolation and loneliness that refugees experience when they are forced to live in a foreign land. The fourth movement, "Lament," is a mournful and melancholic piece that expresses the deep sadness and grief that refugees feel when they are separated from their loved ones. The final movement, "Epilogue," is a reflective and contemplative piece that brings the cycle to a close. It is a reminder that the refugee crisis is ongoing and that there is still much work to be done to help those who have been displaced from their homes. Overall, "Refugee Blues" is a powerful and moving work that captures the human cost of the refugee crisis. Fairouz's music is both beautiful and haunting, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion and empathy in a world that is often marked by division and conflict.

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