Samir Odeh-Tamimi

Samir Odeh-Tamimi (1970) developed an unique language which draws upon his intense involvement with western avant-garde music and Arabic music performance practice. Passionate about the European and New Music, the Palestinian-Israeli composer studied musicology and composition in Germany. Alongside studying the works of Giacinto Scelsi and Iannis Xenakis a.o., he questioned also the musical culture of his native country.
His work can be heard at well-known festivals, and he received commissions from Deutschlandfunk, the Donaueschingen Festival, European Centre of the Arts in Hellerau a.o. His music theatre piece Leila und Madschnun received its world premiere in 2010 at the Ruhrtriennale. Samir composed also a piece for Ensemble Modern inspired by his stay in Istanbul, and collaborated with the Boulanger Trio and the Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart.
His oratorio Hinter der Mauer, commissioned by the RIAS Kammerchor for the 20th anniversary of German reunification, was performed in the Berlin Radialsystem, Jerusalem and Dresden. His oeuvre is also permeated by other political and historical issues, Hálatt-Hissár (State of Siege), e.g., refers to the violent siege of Ramallah in 2001.
Samir Odeh-Tamimi is currently composing part of a large collaborative music theatre work together Stefan Goldmann and the Zafraan Ensemble a.o. Further projects include a new piece for the WDR Choir, a viola concerto for the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, and a large orchestral piece for the new SWR Orchestra.