The Appointment in Samarra
For Solo Violin
"I was astonished to see him in Baghdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra."
The Appointment in Samarra is a story that I have known for a long time. It is a story about a servant of a merchant in Baghdad whom one day encounters Death in a market, quickly fled to Samarra in an attempt to escape his fate, however, it was revealed that he was appointed with Death at Samarra later at night.
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The piece is an attempt at ‘musical storytelling’, much like an opera but without words. The piece is written in a loose theme and variation form, which incorporates two themes: The servants and the Death. The idea of determinism and destiny is portrayed by Death’s theme which follows the Servant’s, that is in fact, a fragmentation of mirrored Servant’s theme; much like a shadow. The piece follows the course of ternary form which again is an emphasis on inevitability.
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