Aidan Patrick Cook, composer

This piece was commissioned by the En Fuego quartet for their performance at the 2015 International Society of Bassists convention in Fort Collins, Colorado. It was my first composition featuring the bass, my native instrument. At the Boulder premiere of the piece, it was a great pleasure to introduce the ensemble to many members of the audience. It is a uniquely versatile group.

 

This piece was written to a piece of Islamic theology called a Hadith, or 'narrration,' which are roughly analagous to the apocrypha of Christianity. The text, in english, reads:

 

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: The people will soon summon one another to attack you as people when eating invite others to share their dish. Someone asked: Will that be because of our small numbers at that time? He replied: No, you will be numerous at that time: but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent, and Allah will take fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and last enervation into your hearts. Someone asked: What is enervation? The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, replied: Love of the world and dislike of death.