McDowall, Cecilia (1951)

For Upper voices, choir (SATB), solo violin and piano

Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo tells the extraordinary story of Nujeen Mustafa, a Kurdish teenager with cerebral palsy forced by war to flee her home and embark on an arduous journey to Europe with her sister. It sets a specially-written text by Kevin Crossley-Holland and is in five movements: 'Orphans of the World' is centred on Nujeen's life in Aleppo; 'Thousands milling at the border', 'I had never seen the sea before', and 'A lost tribe pushed from border to border' depict a refugee's perilous route across borders and waters; and 'Everyday Wonders', in which the teenager reflects on the 'everyday' joys of her new life. In response to the vivid text McDowall employs a wealth of musical effects, including chorales, rhythmic spoken sections, body percussion, and a solo violin part infused with Middle Eastern flavours. The prevailing mood of Nujeen's story is embodied by the final line of a chorale that opens and closes this unique concert work: 'singing the song of life itself.'

Compelling exploration of the extraordinary story of Nujeen Mustafa, a Kurdish teenager with cerebral palsy forced by war to flee her home and embark on an arduous journey to Europe with her sister

Specially-written text by poet Kevin Crossley-Holland

Includes a part for solo violin that is infused with Middle Eastern flavours

A wealth of musical effects are employed in response to the vivid text

Paperback, 64 Pages | 279x216mm

Duration: 16 minutes

Difficulty: Moderately Difficult

Published: 16 August 2018