{"id":3147,"date":"2017-06-15T18:12:07","date_gmt":"2017-06-15T18:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alzand.com\/?page_id=3147"},"modified":"2026-02-03T10:53:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T15:53:53","slug":"karim-al-zand-music-the-prisoner","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/alzand.com\/?page_id=3147","title":{"rendered":"Karim Al-Zand: Music: The Prisoner"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Prisoner<\/h2>\n

for bass voice & orchestra (also sinfonietta)<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/a>T<\/span>he Prisoner<\/i> is a song cycle for voice and orchestra (or sinfonietta) that tells the story of Adnan Latif<\/a>, one of the first men imprisoned in the US Guant\u00e1namo Bay Detention Camp in 2002. Its text is drawn from Latif\u2019s own letters<\/a>, sent to his lawyer while in captivity, and from other literary sources, including poems of Rilke, Al-Ma\u2018arri, R\u016bm\u012b and the Book of Psalms. Latif ultimately took his own life after languishing in prison for 10 years.<\/p>\n

Never charged with a crime<\/a>, Latif was held at Guant\u00e1namo for more than ten years and endured daily torture and near constant abuse. Although cleared for release by several courts and military tribunals, he remained in custody until his death under mysterious circumstances in 2012. Latif\u2019s affecting letters were collected by human rights lawyer David Remes<\/a>, and his poetry is contained in the 2007 anthology Poems from Guant\u00e1namo.<\/a><\/i> The Prisoner<\/em> alternates the words of Latif, set to music in a dramatic narrative style, with songs reflecting on his tragic plight.<\/p>\n

Adnan Latif’s Story<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In late 2001 Adnan Latif travelled to Pakistan from his home in Yemen seeking affordable medical treatment.The 26-year-old had been experiencing neurological problems brought on by head injuries suffered in a car accident. In December Latif was caught up in a dragnet of young Arab men along the Pakistan\/Afghanistan border, undertaken by bounty hunters in the aftermath of 9\/11. In exchange for a reward, he was handed over to us authorities in 2002 and transferred to the newly opened Guant\u00e1namo Bay Detention Camp. While there, Latif was subjected to repeated and prolonged torture, beatings, psychological abuse and extreme deprivation. With other prisoners he participated in an extended hunger strike, during which inmates were painfully force-fed, and he attempted suicide on numerous occasions. Latif was held for almost 11 years without charge. According to documents, military tribunals had concluded multiple times that he posed no threat, and that there was no evidence to justify his continuing incarceration. He was cleared for release by officials as early as 2004 and again in 2007. A further court ruling in 2010 ordered the administration to \u201ctake all necessary and appropriate diplomatic steps to facilitate Latif\u2019s release.\u201d On each occasion his release was denied, first by the Bush administration and later, by the Obama administration. In September of 2012 Latif was found dead<\/a> in his cell, the ninth prisoner to die at Gu\u00e1ntanamo. An autopsy was performed but its results are classified. A year later his body was returned to Yemen, to his wife and now 14-year old son. Forty-one prisoners remain at Guant\u00e1namo today. President Trump has pledged to add to its prison population, Attorney General Jeff Sessions calling it \u201ca very fine place.\u201d<\/br><\/br><\/p>\n

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purchase score & parts<\/span><\/h4> <\/span>Learn More<\/span><\/a> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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DATE
\n2017<\/br><\/br><\/p>\n

DURATION
\n28 minutes<\/br><\/br><\/p>\n

INSTRUMENTATION
\norchestra:<\/strong> bass\/bass-baritone voice | 3*3*3*3* | 4431 | harp | piano\/celeste | timpani | 4 percussion | strings
\nchamber:<\/strong> tenor voice | 1*1*1*1* 1110 | harp | piano | strings (11111)<\/br><\/br><\/p>\n

COMMISSION
\nCabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and Dick & Diane Klein<\/br><\/br><\/p>\n

PREMI\u00c8RE
\norchestra:<\/strong> August 12, 2017, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music<\/i>, Cristian Macelaru, cond.; Jonathan Lemalu, bass
\nchamber:<\/strong> April 17 & 18, 2025, Musiqa<\/i>: Emily Senturia, cond.; Chris Bozeka, tenor; Doug DeVries,Stanley Chyi, Maiko Sasaki, Xayvion Davidson, Jacob Speakman, Sophie Urban, Sophie Volpe, Nanki Chugh, Emily Richardson Molly Wise, Caio Diniz, Zachary Wuorinen, Chelsea de Souza, Hope Cowan, Bensen Kwan, Terry McKinney <\/br><\/br><\/p>\n

MOVEMENTS
\n1. From this darkness
\n2. I am weary
\n3. This prison is a piece of hell
\n4. I wish my death would happen in a desert
\n5. I will be sent to a world
\n6. It\u2019s so long since I spent the night with you
\n7. This is my testimony
\n8. Before us stands great death
\n9. The cry of death
\n10. You left ground and sky weeping
\n11. Do whatever you wish<\/br><\/br><\/p>\n

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VIDEO<\/p>\n