This year’s ECLAT Festival presents the world premiere of Samir Odeh-Tamimi's new work Timna. Led by Peter Rundel, the SWR Vokalensemble and members of the SWR Symphonieorchester will perform the piece on 9 February at Theaterhaus Stuttgart. Based the composer’s own text inspired by the old Arabic language, the piece incorporates Chinese hand drums and shekeres to be played by the singers.

Timna (2018-2020)

for mixed choir, flute, viola, cello, bass and percussion
World Premiere: 09.02.2020, Stuttgart
Duration: 17'

Composer's note

Timna (Old South Arabian Tmn’) was the capital of the kingdom of Qatabān in ancient Yemen, located 240 km southeast of Sana’a. Timna was founded in the first half of the first century BC and was the political centre of the kingdom of Qatabān, whose written history dates back to the end of the eighth century BC. Following the conquest of Qatabān by Hadramaut around 150 AD, Timna was destroyed and abandoned along with its extensive temple grounds. The remainder of Qatabān around Ghat Ghayl survived for a few decades, but it too was finally conquered and destroyed by Hadramaut. Although I developed the text sung by the chorus myself, it is meant to suggest Old Arabic, which derived from the Sumerian language. The work can be regarded as a ritual that might once have been practised in one of the many temples of Timna.
— Samir Odeh-Tamimi

Score of Timna