JĀNAMĀZ

PROGRAM NOTE

JĀNAMĀZ is my homage to the Persian prayer mat that has long fascinated me, even though I’m not Muslim. As a student of mysticism and religion, I’m drawn to the way certain objects—like the jānamāz—seem to open a channel to something beyond ourselves. The prayer mat’s intricate patterns and profound role in Islamic worship inspire the composition, with the violin and cello woven together like the threads of the mat itself.

Within these musical lines, I wanted to evoke the stillness and introspection that a prayer mat can foster, as well as the quiet celebration of devotion. The interplay of violin and cello traces filigrees of sound, reminding me of the careful artistry that goes into each stitch of a jānamāz.

My hope is that in listening, we’ll find a sense of reverence and spaciousness—much like stepping onto a prayer mat, ready to connect with a presence that feels both universal and deeply personal. May this piece be a soft place to land, reminding us that reverence and daily life can be beautifully entwined.

—SC

Persian jānamāz