List of Works

Orchestral & Symphonic Works

  • CovidHaydn-21 (100 Jahre Burgenland in Variationen) (2021) – Grand Orchestra. Commissioned by Komponisten und Interpreten im Burgenland (KiBu) for the 100 years of Burgenland celebrations. Instrumentation: 2 Flutes, Piccolo, Alto Flute, 3 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in B♭, Bass Clarinet in B♭, 2 Bassoons, Contrabassoon, 6 French Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in B♭, 2 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Bass Tuba, Timpani, 4 Percussion players (Bass drum, Tam-tam, Glockenspiel, Tambourin), Piano, 24 Violins, 7 Violas, 7 Cellos, and 4 Double basses.
  • Lisztomania – Symphonic Poem (2011) – Symphonic Orchestra. Commissioned by the Josef Haydn Konservatorium in Burgenland for its 40th anniversary and the 200th birthday of Franz Liszt. Program Notes: Franz Liszt was a well-traveled Burgenland composer—and so am I! However, he never visited Egypt. Lisztomania translates literally to being “crazy about Liszt.” I imagined something whimsical: What if Franz Liszt lived beside the pyramids, met a mummy for tea, and took a camel ride through the Sahara?
  • Ode an die Freude – S’is woa (2011) – Orchestra and Choir. Premiered in Puchberg/Schneeberg in cooperation with local community structures and Andre Kombinat.
  • Badr (2005) – Symphonic Orchestra. Commissioned by the Cairo Symphonic Orchestra and the Arab Perspectives Festival (2007). A symphonic poem depicting the historic Battle of Badr (March 13, 624 AD).
  • Destiny (2005) – Bassoon, Strings Orchestra, and 10 Percussion players. Commissioned by the Cairo Symphonic Orchestra and dedicated to bassoonist Tamer Fahmi. Awarded the Jury Prize in the Egyptian Supreme Council of Culture Composition Competition (2005).
  • Wheat Tonight (2004) – Harp, Nay (Egyptian Bamboo Flute), Percussion, and String Quintet. Commissioned for harpist Manal Mohy Eldin as a contemporary reimagining of Mohamed Abdel-Wahab’s folksong El-Qamh Ellilah.
  • The Lonely One on the Other Side of the Story (2006) – String Orchestra (4:4:3:2:1). Commissioned for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina chamber orchestra CD project Egyptian Works for String Orchestra.

Chamber Music & Ensembles

  • Oida, macht freude (2025) – Commissioned work by Komponisten und Interpreten im Burgenland (www.kibu.net) for female singer, e-guitar, and live electronics; premiered and performed at Offenes Haus Oberwart (OHO) (see performance details at OHO Program).
  • Zaubertrank (2016) – Ensemble. Commissioned by the Europäisch-Ägyptische Gesellschaft für Zeitgenössische Musik. Instrumentation: Piccolo, Flute, Alto Flute (one player), Clarinet in B♭, Bass Clarinet in B♭ (one player), Bassoon, Percussion (Bass drum, Tam-tam, Temple blocks, Triangle – one player), Vibraphone, Baritone solo singer, and String quintet.
  • verbindungen (2015) – Ensemble. Commissioned for the Forum Wallis Festival (Switzerland). Instrumentation: Bass clarinet, Percussion, Violoncello, and Live-electronics.
  • Chaos (2014) – Ensemble and MIDI Controller with Live Digital Signal Processing (Stereophonic). Instrumentation: Flute, Bass Clarinet in B♭, Bassoon, Percussion (Bass Drum, Tam-tam, Temple Blocks – 5 pieces), Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass. Program Notes: Explores the concept of chaos theory—when the present determines the future, but the approximate present does not approximately determine the future.
  • Ala, Amoi ala (2012) – Monodrama for Soprano and Ensemble (available in 2 versions: Ensemble version with Flute, 3 Clarinets in B♭, Bass Clarinet in B♭, 3 Trumpets in B♭, Bass Tuba, Piano four hands, 2 Violins, and Soprano solo; Duet version with Soprano and Piano). Text by Eva Maria Bannert (Vienna, 1978).
  • Friendly Fire (2011) – 2 Recorders, Piano, and Live Electronics. Winner of the Prima la musica competition (2011).
  • Asphalt’s Womb (2008) – Octet commissioned by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and the Austrian Eu-Art-Network Society. Instrumentation: Clarinet in B♭, Bassoon, French Horn in F, Piano + E-piano (one player), Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double bass. Program Notes: Tells the story of three homeless street children, urban conflict, and the loss of innocence. Inspired by the pencil drawings and exhibition “In the womb of Asphalt” by Amru Salahuddien (2008). World premiere in Austria (August 29, 2008); Italian premiere at Teatro la Fenice (2009).
  • Inside a Human Being (2008) – Ensemble. Instrumentation: Oboe, Clarinet in B♭, Bassoon, French Horn in F, Timpani (4 pieces), Triangle, Tabla, Vibraphone, Piano, and String Quintet. Program Notes: Dedicated to every Egyptian tormented by the daily routine of searching for a livelihood, facing injustice, and the gradual loss of human dignity under an oppressive system.
  • The Phoenix and the Turtle (2008) – Quartet for Clarinet in B♭, Soprano, Violin, and Double bass. Text by William Shakespeare.
  • White (2006) – Ensemble and Stereo Tape (7 min). Commissioned by Musik der Jahrhunderte (Stuttgart) for the New World Music Festival (Frankfurt). Instrumentation: Flute, Clarinet in B♭/E♭ (one player), Bass-clarinet, Timpani, Bass Drum, Triangle, Mortar, Celesta, Piano, String Quartet, and Tape. Program Notes: Explores the birth ritual and the traditional Egyptian celebration of Al-Sepouo (The Seventh Day), featuring the symbolic scattering of seven crops over guests while beating on a mortar.
  • Dancing on Dead Bodies (2005) – Piano Trio. Commissioned by the Egyptian Youth Society. Program Notes: 1st Movement (Adagio – Current Events) reflects on the tragic aftermath of massacres and war victims collected by ambulances. 2nd Movement (Allegro Agitato – Flash Back) portrays the warmonger whose rhetoric triggers devastation and death.
  • String Quartet No. 1 / Nightmare (1996 / 2004) – Classical string quartet exploring early structural counterpoint and psychological tension.

Instrumental Duos & Solo Works

  • Egyptian Suite (2003) – Duet for Cello and Piano (arranged from 5 Egyptian folk themes: Salma Ya Salama, Ya Nakhlitin fil Alaly, Atshan Ya Sabaya, Ayyob, Kont fen ya Alli). Winner of the First Prize for Composition from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Culture (2003).
  • Violin Sonata No. 1 / Misty (1997 / 2012) – Works for Solo Violin exploring melodic lyricism and atmospheric tension (“Above the frozen lake, there was a…”).

Electronic, Electroacoustic & Algorithmic Works

  • Respekt (2019) – Screen audiovisual algorithmic miniature for 25 speakers (Stereophonic).
  • Divide et Impera (2012–2018) – Concerto Grosso for 24 Loudspeakers. Master’s thesis composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (IEM). Program Notes: Addresses religious conflict, the pursuit of absolute power, and resource competition as root causes of war. Composed in three movements: 1. Moses Berge und Höhlen, 2. Arabischer, 3. Keine Angst, es ist NUR fürchterlich.
  • Dumpf dann Hell (2015) – Quadraphonic work for Percussion (5 types: Stone, Wood, Metal, Plastics, Carton) and Live Electronics (Max/MSP).
  • KlangFahrtben (2015) – Solo instrument, 8 loudspeakers, and live electronics (available in 3 versions: Bassoon, Bass Clarinet in B♭, and Saxophones [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone player]).
  • Ultras (2014) – Electric Cello and Live Electronics. Program Notes: Opens with the voice of Egyptian surgeon and broadcaster Bassem Youssef honoring football fans who stood for truth, followed by stadium cheering (“When I stop cheering, I would definitely be dead”). Built upon four figures: 1. Rhythmic cheering motifs, 2. Micro-cluster quarter-tone cello long tones, 3. The Arabic Saba Maqam theme, and 4. Catastrophic sound creations reflecting the panic and brutality of stadium violence. Awarded the Egyptian State Incentive Award for the Arts.
  • laute LAUTE!! (2011) – Electroacoustic composition responding to the sociopolitical uprising of the Arab Spring in Egypt.
  • El-Tahrier Platz (2011) – Orchestral/Ensemble work for 16 instruments and an A=440 Hz electronic oscillator. Program Notes: Traces the dynamics of the Egyptian revolution—starting from digital media calls, the unifying tuning pitch of the A=440 Hz oscillator representing collective action, the chaos of diverse individual demands, and the eventual peaceful cleanup of Tahrir Square that shocked the world.
  • Tone Color (2007) – Oboe and Live Electronics.

Vocal, Choral & Stage Music

  • Mundartliches Beatboxen (2010) – A cappella choir for 12 mediators. Text by Michael Hess.
  • Choral Works for Children (2004) – Collection including Al-taero al-Saghyro (The small bird), Hal ta’lamoun (Would you know), and Ummi (My mother). Winner of the Gamal Abdel Rahim Composition Prize from the Egyptian Youth Musicians Association.
  • Birth Certificate (2003) – Singers ensemble and piano. Quartet for Soprano, Alto, and Bass-Baritone. Text by Mukhtar Abu Ghali.
  • Zoroni (Visit me) (2004) – Mixed choir (SATBB) and Piano solo. Text and melody by Sayed Darwish.
  • The Knight & The Hostage – Incidental theatre score awarded the Best Composition Prize by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Universities.
  • Tastentiger beißen nicht (2011) – Live sound design, lighting, video, and music playback for school theatre in Burgenland (Franz Liszt Year collaboration with Gerhard Krammer).
  • Ritter Roland rastet aus (2010) – Live sound engineering and original music production for musical theater at Burg Forchtenstein.
  • Karnak Sound and Light Scoring (2008) – Full score reconstruction from audio tape commissioned by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism.

Film Scoring & Cinematic Works

  • Moment – Music for the Egyptian short film about reincarnation, directed by Hazim Saeed. Plot Summary: A newly reborn child instinctively visits familiar places without prior knowledge of them to meet his mother and father from a past life, ultimately leading both the old and new parents to discover that the child was the son who previously died in an airplane crash. Cast: Lubna Wanas, Reda Idris, Shaimaa Nassar, Hazim Saeed, Mohammed Wahid, Arkan Mahmoud, and Nashwa Rashad.
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