"Ararat" is the place named in the Book of Genesis where Noah's Ark came to rest after the great flood. After a devastating catastrophe, humanity had to start re-building itself.
This dramatic and inspiring moment symbolizes for me the period after the Second World War, commonly referred to as "Stunde null" (zero hour). This somewhat problematic term raises interesting questions - Is it truly possible to start from a "zero hour" without being effected by past events? In my short piece, I humbly address this complex issue and use it as a starting point for my music.
The piece starts with a "catastrophic" event, after which, the soloist, the main protagonist, if you will, is left alone playing only a long single note. At this point, he is still very introverted and hesitant. As the piece unfolds, slowly but surely the soloist gains confidence and attempts to "self-define" his own personal voice. Nevertheless, all along this process, memories of the first event surface and keep on haunting him in different shapes and forms, while he keeps on struggling to break free from their influence.