Akhet

About Akhet

In 2011, I went to Cairo for the first time as a representative of the American NGO Cultures in Harmony to initiate the project Musical Koshary, in reference to the popular Egyptian dish mixing chickpeas, lentils, tomato sauce, rice, and pasta.

As I was also in the middle of the 88 Concert Tour, I set a goal to perform at the Opera House in Cairo and Alexandria, a goal I would realize in April 2014, as a result of cooperation between the U.S. Embassy and Mohamed Morsi’s Minister of Culture to feature American artists during the period between the first Egyptian revolution and the military coup d’état sometimes called the second revolution.  In this context, I launched various collaborations.  As a guest teacher and performer at the American University of Cairo, I met both John Baboukis and Ashraf Foued whose works are featured on this album.  Dr. Foued’s wrote his works expressly for me to perform at the Cairo Opera House. 

Additionally, I commissioned my classmate from Juilliard, the Egyptian-American composer Ryan Francis, to compose Akhet meaning “Horizon,” for voice, orchestra and piano solo, for performances with El Sakia String orchestra and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Orchestra, featuring the wonderful opera singer, Neveen Allouba. We envisioned Akhet sending a message of hope in a time of turmoil in Egypt.

Akhet

Beloved country, Beloved country, 

The fields are full of good things, 

and it has the provision of every day. 

Beloved, Beloved, country, 

The fields are full of good things, 

and it has provision for every day. 

Its granaries overflow, they reach the sky! 

Its ponds are full of fishes and the lakes of birds. 

Beloved country, Beloved country, 

the fields are green with grass, and its banks bear dates.

He who lives there is content and the 

poor man is like the great elsewhere and the 

poor man is like the great elsewhere.