Walter Arlen: Arabesques for Solo Piano

Also available as Digital Device Download (not printable): GSP80956DGT

Movements
I. Intrada: Persepolis
II. Petra
III. Luxor
IV. Sana’a

Composer note
“Arabesques” as a title was used by Robert Schumann and by Claude Debussy. In both cases, the term had no ethnic significance. It only denoted the decorative aspect, typified by geometric tiles used in Islamic architecture. My use of the term came about after visits to Iran, Jordan, Egypt and Yemen, in an attempt to portray these localities in a historical context.

Persepolis is arguably the most important place in the history of Western civilization. This is where it all begun. This is where Alexander the Great defeated Darius, King of Persia, making it possible for ancient Greece to become the cradle of Western civilization and all that implies.

Petra is a unique unforgettable caravan crossroads site, built in 500 BC. The access to its world-famous heart is through a long slot canyon, often only 9 feet wide, prone to flash flooding, with sheer pink stone walls 100 feet high. Most of the original palatial tomb buildings were cut into solid stone. The memories have remained vivid.

Luxor is located on the Nile, the lifeline of Egypt. The area touching the river directly, or by way of canals, is lush and green. Beyond that is desolate desert, strewn with abandoned train tracks, settlements in ruins, and an occasional tuft of dead vegetation. The great attractions of Luxor are the massive remains of the Karnak temple complex, surrounded by fields of random architectural fragments and mysterious burial caves with wall paintings and hieroglyphs.

The capital of Yemen, Sana’a is uniquely beautiful, incomparable, with its nine story crenellated houses built of stone and mud, its market, incredibly crowded, with turbaned men, each man with a large curved sheathed dagger hanging across his chest. Sana’a is totally isolated, on the top of a high mountain. For 2000 years it had a large Jewish population. Many centuries-old original homes still have embedded ancient stars of David. Nearly 50,000 Jews were airlifted to Israel in 1950. Sad that their unique culture was lost, but they are out of the turmoil Yemen.

— Walter Arlen

About the Exilarte Edition
G. Schirmer/Wise Music’s Exilarte Edition exclusively publishes works by composers who were persecuted, forced into exile or murdered by the Nazi regime. Nearly all original manuscripts of these works are archived in the Exilarte Center at the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna in Austria.