Phoenix in Exile 

Composed in New York City and recorded in London on May 21, 2014 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Jandali in exile remained a proud Syrian and his unique personal voice is heard with even greater clarity and definition in this work, speaking in a tone steeped in the ardor of his will and the aspiring idealism of his echoes. 

As the oboe introduces the main melody, we hear the piercing cry of the Phoenix’s lament.  In his search for freedom, he is exiled from his beloved homeland to seek a peaceful refuge. The strings interrupt the bird’s cry, depicting howling winds and clouds scudding across the sky. As the Phoenix flies up and away, a cloud of birds of all shapes and sizes rises up from the earth and flies behind him, singing together. The solo violin finale is the cry of the Phoenix as he continues on his journey alone to fulfill his destiny and rise again from the ashes. 

Beyond its musical richness, Phoenix in Exile carries an urgent cultural message. In echoing UNESCO’s call to safeguard the endangered heritage of Mesopotamia and the broader Arab world, Jandali uses his music to advocate for preservation through creation. “As an American composer and a musician with a mission, it is my duty to preserve and present this rich heritage of my beloved homeland,” he states, “to tell the world that we are part of you and contributing to the modernity of classical music.”

Jandali’s prolific output includes eight symphonies, seven concertos, a full opera, a musical, and a variety of tone poems and symphonic dances. His recent album ‘Concertos’, featuring the Clarinet Concerto written for New York Philharmonic principal clarinetist Anthony McGill, was selected among the ‘Best of Classical Music of 2024’ by The Washington Post.

Ultimately, Phoenix in Exile is both a celebration and a plea—a celebration of unity through art, and a plea for memory, peace, and the shared humanity that music so powerfully expresses. “We must be light when the world is dark,” Jandali reminds us, “and it is always better to be together in a symphony for peace.”