Charlotte Symphony concert honoring MLK features a world premiere 10 years in the making
For pianist and composer Malek Jandali, the Queens University of Charlotte motto holds special significance.
It’s “non ministrari sed ministrare,” or for non-Latin speakers, “not to be served, but to serve.” The Queens alumnus and its first composer-in-residence said that motto “has been embedded in my musical journey.”
The German-born man Jandali was raised in Syria. And as war continues to ravage his beloved country, Jandali has dedicated his career to preserving and celebrating Syrian and Mesopotamian culture through music.
That includes an orchestral piece he wrote in 2013 called “Elegy,” based on an ancient Syrian melody, a call and response format of Arabic music known as tahmila.
That work finally will get its world premiere as part of the Charlotte Symphony’s “Together We Rise” concert honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The concert will be held at Queens on Jan. 18, just two days after the federal MLK Day holiday.
“Together We Rise” will feature music from several composers exploring the themes of freedom, strength, and justice in observance of MLK Day, according to the symphony.
For Jandali, a quote from King’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize lecture, “The Quest for Peace and Justice,” felt appropriate to what the musician is trying to achieve, and the state of the world today: “We must see that peace represents a sweeter music, a cosmic melody that is far superior to the discords of war.”
He named his composition “Elegy” in reference to the loss of Syrian culture and its people, especially the children.
“It’s my attempt to give tribute to (them), to do my part as an American, as an artist and as a human to preserve what is left ... through the soft power of music,” he said.
About the Charlotte Symphony concert
In addition to Jandali’s piece, the concert also will feature:
▪ Beethoven’s overture to his only opera, “Fidelio,” which tells the story of a man unjustly imprisoned.
▪ Carlos Simon’s “Portrait of a Queen.” It traces the evolution of Black people in America through the lens of a Black woman.
▪ Nia Imani Franklin’s “Chrysalis Extended” explores the idea of reaching one’s full potential through the life cycle of a butterfly. Franklin also was Miss America 2019.
▪ And Daniel Bernard Roumain’s “La, La, La, La.” The orchestra described Roumain as a prolific genre-bending composer, performer, educator, and social entrepreneur.
CSO Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees will lead the orchestra.
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About Malek Jandali
Jandali is a 1997 graduate of Queens University, and has performed with a number of orchestras. His works often involve a mix of his Middle Eastern heritage with Western styles, and have been performed by such orchestras as London’s Royal Philharmonic and the Russian Philharmonic.
The London group recorded “Elegy” a decade ago for one of his albums.
Charlotte also may be familiar with Jandali through his Atlanta-based Pianos for Peace program. He’s the founder and CEO of the organization.
In Charlotte, colorfully painted pianos debuted in a number of spots around town in September 2021 to coincide with International Day of Peace. The program populated pianos around communities and encourages people to play and enjoy them.
Jandali will be at the Queens concert, and plans to invite friends and family.
When asked why a decade passed before his composition would see its public debut, Jandali spoke of how challenging it is for living composers to get orchestras to play their music when most companies solely play works from previous centuries.
“I’m gonna be very emotional,” Jandali predicted. He also expressed gratitude to the university and its president, Dan Lugo, for supporting the arts.
“We are truly uniting and bringing unity back to the community,” Jandali said. “Here we are bringing the entire community to Queens for a symphony for peace on a campus that is preparing the leaders of tomorrow.”
Want to go?
What: “Together we Rise” concert
Where: Sandra Levine Theatre in the Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts and Civic Engagement at Queens University of Charlotte, 2319 Wellesley Ave., Charlotte
When: 7:30 p.m., Jan. 18
More info and tickets: calendar.queens.edu/event/together-we-rise; charlottesymphony.org/events/
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This story was originally published January 11, 2023 at 5:56 AM.
