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Kareem Roustom

Kareem Roustom

Syrian-American composer

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Concert Works

Chamber
Solo/Duo
Chamber Orchestra
Orchestra
Vocal
Opera & Dance
Wind Ensemble
Arrangements & Transcriptions
Youth Orchestra
Withdrawn Works
Chamber

Crépuscule (2025)

Commissioned by L’Etoile Violin Duo. For 2 violins & piano. Work-in-progress.

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“…and every hour will tell its own tale” (2025)

Commissioned by Groundwork(s) & Dallas Symphony Orchestra principal harpist, Emily Levin. For flute, viola, & harp. Duration ca. 12 – 14 minutes

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Oud Quintet (2024 – 2025)

Composed for the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music and the Apple Hill String Quartet. For oud, 2 violins, viola and cello. Duration ca. 27 minutes.

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Syrian Folk Songs – Book 1 (2023)

Composed for the Willamette Valley Chamber Music Festival. For String Quartet Duration ca. 12 minutes.

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Four Dances from Clorinda Agonistes (2021)

Duration: ca. 17 minutes Instrumentation: String Quartet

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Palestinian Songs & Dances (2024)

for Clarinet, String Quartet, or String Quintet, & Audio Playback. Duration ca. 18 minutes

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String Quartet No. 1: Shades of Night (2018. revised 2023)

Duration: ca. 27 minutes Instrumentation: String Quartet

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Tesserae (2015)

Duration ca. 12′ Instrumentation: brass quintet (two trumpets in C, french horn, trombone, & tuba)

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Traces (2013 rev. 2018)

Duration ca. 23′ Instrumentation: Clarinet, Piano and String Quartet

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A Voice Exclaiming (2013)

Duration ca. 27′ Instrumentation: Triple String Quartet

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Abu Jmeel’s Daughter (2011)

Duration ca. 35 minutes Instrumentation: Narrator, Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Viola & Cello

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Buhur (2008)

Duration 19 minutes Instrumentation: Clarinet, Violin, Viola & Cello

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Solo/Duo

Prelude & Dance (2025)

For solo viola. Duration ca. 10 minutes World-premiere available!

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Tranquillamente (2021/2025)

for Violin & Piano. Duration 5′ 30″ ca.

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Pavane (pour les enfants défunts) (2024)

Commissioned by the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin for Michael Barenboim and Gilbert Nouno. For viola & electronics or cello & electronics. Duration ca. 9 minutes.

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Hymn No. 2 (2021/2025)

Commissioned by cellist, Leo Eguchi. Duration: ca. 9′ 30″ Instrumentation: solo cello or solo viola

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Hymn (2023)

From Violin Concerto No. 1 Commissioned by the Pierre Boulez Saal and the Daniel Barenboim Stiftung. Duration ca. 7′ 30″ Instrumentation: violin & piano

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Reflections & Refractions (2023)

Commissioned by and dedicated to Hsin-Lin Tsai and Miguel Perez-Espejo, the L’Etoile Violin Duo. For violin duo or viola duo. Duration ca. 11 minutes.

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Gnizo (2021)

Duration: ca. 14 minutes Instrumentation: Violin & Percussion, or Cello & Percussion, or Viola and Percussion

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Soliloquia No. 1 (2017 rev. 2018)

Duration ca. 12′ Instrumentation: piano solo

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Hanjale (2017)

Duration ca. 12′ Instrumentation: solo Cello (or solo Mandolin)

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Xarja (2017)

Duration ca. 13′ Instrumentation: Soprano & Percussion

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A Muffled Scream (2016)

Duration ca. 13′ Instrumentation: Clarinet & Electronics

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Aleppo Songs (2016)

Duration ca. 16′ Instrumentation: piano solo Also available for orchestra.

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Letters Home (2011 rev. 2018)

Duration ca. 6 minutes Instrumentation: Clarinet & Viola (Also available for Clarinet & Cello, Violin & Cello)

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Chamber Orchestra

Hushed (2025)

Composed for the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. SATB and string orchestra. Duration ca. 16′

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Min Baladi (From My Homeland) (2025)

For Beginning String Orchestra Grade Level 2

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Ḥawwāsh (2024)

Commissioned by Palaver Strings. For String Orchestra. Duration ca. 17′

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Syrian Folk Songs (2023/24)

This arrangement of the string quartet version was commissioned by Palaver Strings. For String Orchestra. Scores and parts will be available in January 2026.

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Sostenere (2022)

Commissioned by Community MusicWorks. Duration: ca. 10′ Instrumentation: Solo violin and string orchestra

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Shades of Night Suite (2021)

Commissioned by the Boston Landmarks Orchestra. For String Orchestra. Duration ca.  18′

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Violin Concerto No. 1 (2019)

Duration ca.  26′ – For Violin & Chamber Orchestra Instrumentation: 1.1.1.1(cbsn.)-2.1.1.0-2perc-pno-VlnSolo-str(1.1.1.1.1) – For Violin &  Orchestra Instrumentation: 2(Picc.).2(E.H.).2.2(CBsn.).2.1.1.0.2perc-hp-VlnSolo-str.

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Dabke for string orchestra (2014)

Duration: ca. 7′ Instrumentation: String Orchestra.

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Orchestra

Trumpet Concerto (2025)

Commissioned by the Tonhalle Düsseldorf. For trumpet & orchestra. Duration ca. 13 minutes

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The Clustered Vine – Songs of Love, Loss, and Remembrance (2023)

Commissioned by John Kongsgaard and the Grand Teton Music Festival. Duration: ca. 29 minutes Instrumentation: Mezzo Soprano and Orchestra

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Strange Sea (2022)

Commissioned by Robert Trevino and the Malmö Symphony Orchestra Duration ca. 20 minutes Instrumentation: 3(picc.).2.EH.2.BClr.2Cbsn-4.2.3.1-timp.2perc-hp-cel-str

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Violin Concerto No. 2: with might and main (2021)

Duration: ca. 25 minutes Instrumentation: 2(Picc).2.2.2(Cbsn).3.2.2.0.timp.1perc.hp.str

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Ice, Wind, War & Spring (2020)

Duration ca. 26 minutes for Orchestra and Mixed Voices Instrumentation: 3(picc.)1.ca.2.2(cbsn)-4.3.3.1-timp.2perc-hrp-SATB-str Languages: French, English and German

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Violin Concerto No. 1 (2019)

Duration ca.  26′ – For Violin & Chamber Orchestra Instrumentation: 1.1.1.1(cbsn.)-2.1.1.0-2perc-pno-VlnSolo-str(1.1.1.1.1) – For Violin &  Orchestra Instrumentation: 2(Picc.).2(E.H.).2.2(CBsn.).2.1.1.0.2perc-hp-VlnSolo-str.

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Aleppo Songs for orchestra (2017)

Commissioned by Boston Landmarks Orchestra Duration ca. 16′ Instrumentation: 2.2.(eh).2.2-2.2(tpt in D).3.0-timp.2perc-hp-str Also available for solo piano.

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Clarinet Concerto: Adrift On The Wine-Dark Sea (2017)

Duration ca. 29′ For clarinet & orchestra Instrumentation • Solo Instruments: Clarinet • Orch: 2(picc.)2.eh.2.bcl.2.cbsn-4.3.3.1-timp.2perc-hp-str

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Ramal (2014)

Duration ca. 12′ 30″ Instrumentation: pic.2.2.2.bcl.2.cbsn-4.3.3.1-timp.2perc-hp-cel-str

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Vocal

ܥܰܠ ܒܶܝܬ ܠܚܶܡ I Passed By Bethlehem

For SATB, Oud (or cello), and organ. Duration ca. 7′ minutes

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Hushed (2025)

Composed for the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. SATB and string orchestra. Duration ca. 16′

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There Will Come Soft Rains (2025)

Commissioned by Coro Allegro, Boston. Duration ca. 28 minutes. For mixed chorus, French horn, and string orchestra.

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Lenten Prayer (2023)

Commissioned by Emmanuel Music, Boston. Duration ca. 4 minutes. For unaccompanied chorus

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The Clustered Vine – Songs of Love, Loss, and Remembrance (2023)

Commissioned by John Kongsgaard and the Grand Teton Music Festival. Duration: ca. 29 minutes Instrumentation: Mezzo Soprano and Orchestra

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Vigilando (2021)

Duration ca. 9 minutes for Vocal Octet or Chamber Choir unaccompanied

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Ice, Wind, War & Spring (2020)

Duration ca. 26 minutes for Orchestra and Mixed Voices Instrumentation: 3(picc.)1.ca.2.2(cbsn)-4.3.3.1-timp.2perc-hrp-SATB-str Languages: French, English and German

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Hurry To The Light (2019)

Duration ca. 37 minutes Instrumentation: S.S.A. & String Orchestra (5, 4, 3, 3, 2 minimum)

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Gnen Abdē (2018)

Duration ca. 4:30 minutes for SATB divisi, unaccompanied.

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Rage Against the Tyrant(s) (2018)

Duration ca. 26′ Instrumentation: SATB Chorus & String Orchestra

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Embroidered Verses (2015)

Duration ca. 19 minutes Instrumentation: S.A.T.B. and takht: Nay (ad lib.) qanun, oud, percussion, violin & cello.

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Hot Tea, Mint & Olives

Duration ca. 12 minutes Instrumentation: S.S.A. & Piano

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The Son of Man (2011)

Duration ca. 58 minutes A six movement oratorio for Soli, (Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Tenor & Bass Baritone) Chorus (SATB), Trumpet, Harp, Percussion and Organ.

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Opera & Dance

DOWNFALL [working title]

A chamber opera in 60 minutes. Set in one location with three main actors, it addresses human and psychological issues within a tense political and social context.

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Clorinda Agonistes (2021)

Co-commissioned by the Shobana Jeyasingh Dance company, Sadler’s Wells Theatre, & the Royal Philharmonic Society. Duration: 30 minutes Instrumentation: Mezzo-soprano, tenor, string quartet and pre-recorded audio. Languages: Italian & Arabic

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Wind Ensemble

Dabke for Wind Ensemble (2015)

Duration ca. 7′ Instrumentation: 2(picc.)2.ca.3.bcl.2-2asx.tsx.bsx.-4.3.3.1-cbs-timp.3perc.

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Arrangements & Transcriptions

Min Baladi (From My Homeland) (2025)

For Beginning String Orchestra Grade Level 2

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Armenian Dances (2016)

Commissioned by the Boston Landmarks Orchestra Duration ca. 12′ 30″ Instrumentation: 2(picc.).2.2.2-4.3.3.0-timp.3perc-hp-str

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Youth Orchestra

Min Baladi (From My Homeland) (2025)

For Beginning String Orchestra Grade Level 2

Aleppo Songs for orchestra (2017)

Commissioned by Boston Landmarks Orchestra
Duration ca. 16′
Instrumentation: 2.2.(eh).2.2-2.2(tpt in D).3.0-timp.2perc-hp-str
Also available for solo piano.

Dabke for string orchestra (2014)

Duration: ca. 7′
Instrumentation: String Orchestra.

Withdrawn Works

Turn To The World – A Whitman Cantata (2019)

Duration ca. 17 minutes
Instrumentation: 3(picc.)2.eh.2.bcl.2.cbsn-4.3.3.1-timp.2perc-pno-SATB-str

Hewar (2015)

Duration ca. 25′
Instrumentation: takht (nay, oud, qanun, violin, 2 hand percussion & double bass) Orchestra: 2(picc.).2.2.2-4.3.3.1-timp.2perc-hp-str

Resonances (2011)

Duration ca. 32 minutes.
Instrumentation: Arabic violin, solo cello, hand percussion & string quartet.

Amar es Combatir (2007)

Duration 7 minutes
Instrumentation: Alto, Viola & Piano
[Not available for performance. Removed from active repertoire]

That Which Is Adorned (2007)

Duration 27 minutes
Instrumentation: Mezzo Soprano, Violin, Viola & Cello
[Not available for performance. Removed from active repertoire]

© 2006–2025 Kareem Roustom, Layali Music