| ZEMZEM |
| ZEMZEM © 1983 Laurence Galian. All rights reserved. |
| THE COMPOSING & TALE OF "ZEMZEM" During the Ramadan summer of 1983, I spent three months at the Chautauqua Institution of the Arts (Chautauqua, New York) writing a piece of music for dance entitled “Zemzem.” The story of the piece was suggested to me by my dervish friend and dancer Alif. Zemzem is a spring found in Arabia. It is said that long ago the Prophet Abraham decided to have a child. His wife Sarah was barren and so, as was the custom, she gave Abraham her slave-girl Hagar. Hagar conceived and bore Abraham a son – Ismail. Abraham was very pleased. However, soon after, by a miracle of God, Sarah did in fact conceive and give birth to a son – Isaac. Now that she had her own son, Sarah took a great disliking to Hagar and her baby. She told Abraham to banish them both. God spoke to Abraham and told him to follow the counsel of Sarah, and not to grieve. God promised that Ismail should be blessed. Abraham took Hagar and child deep into the desert and let them in the hands of God. He the dance piece “Zemzem” begins. “Zemzem” is drawn from middle-eastern legend, the Old Testament, and the Koran. It is faithful to the original sources. Zemzem opens with a view of the burning desert as the short overture plays. After the overture, Abraham and agar appear with the infant Ismail swathed in Hagar’s arms. Abraham says goodbye to Hagar and indicates that God will take care of her. They dance together and he leaves. Hagar is alone in the universe. She spins around bewildered, finally abandoning herself to an ecstatic submission to God’s will. She comforts Ismail, as the heat grows steadily more oppressive. The sun shines ever brighter in this transcendental realm. Their thirst is great. Hagar goes in search of water. Here begins on of the well-known legends in middle-eastern culture – Hagar runs seven times between the two hills “Safa and Mawa.” Each time she becomes more desperate and fatigued. Eventually she collapses in despair. She lies clutching Ismail to her. Suddenly a crack in reality opens and there is a beautiful man there - the Archangel Gabriel. He stomps his foot, and out gushes a clean, cool spring - Zemzem. Hagar looks up; Gabriel smiles and is gone. She gives Ismail to drink, drinks herself, and stands and whirls in ecstasy. Evening has descended and so Hagar and Ismail settle down for the night. At dawn a melody is heard – a distant flute. The sound increases and broadens as Hagar awakes and sees a wandering tribe approaching. They are the “Bani Jurham” who have been in search of water. They see Zemzem, Hagar, and Ismail. They approach Hagar and request permission to drink from the spring. Hagar welcomes them. After refreshing themselves, all do a dance of joy, happiness, and thanksgiving to God. Thus ends the piece. The Becca valley soon became a halt for caravans due to the excellence and the abundance of the water. Ismail grew up and was made king of the Bani Jurham. Thus Abraham was the fountainhead of two spiritual streams, two religions, two worlds for God, two circles, therefore two centers – Jerusalem and Mecca (as it soon became known). Zemzem still exists. I have drunk of its waters. ~ Laurence Galian, December 13, 2009 |
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