{"id":6771,"date":"2025-04-01T16:11:29","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T21:11:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alzand.com\/?page_id=6771"},"modified":"2026-02-03T09:23:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T14:23:50","slug":"karim-al-zand-music-al-jazaris-ingenious-clocks","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/alzand.com\/?page_id=6771","title":{"rendered":"Karim Al-Zand: Music: Al Jazari’s Ingenious Clocks"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Al Jazari’s Ingenious Clocks<\/h2>\n

for orchestra<\/h4>\n

A<\/span>l-Jazari\u2019s Ingenious Clocks<\/i> is an evocative time piece, a journey to a vivid world of invention and imagination. It is organized as a sequence of three scenes (played without pause) that mingle together imagery inspired by medieval inventor Ismail Al-Jazari\u2019s (1136\u20131206) magnificent clocks: the elements that drive them (fire, water, air); the kinetic forces they manifest (rhythm, momentum, acceleration); and the embodiment of the world seen in their \"\"<\/a>\u200avisual design (animals, people, music). The candle clock<\/strong><\/i> tells a wafting time. Seconds, minutes, hours drift by, coiling from the candle\u2019s wick in thin tendrils of smoke as the flame draws ever higher. As the hour approaches, the wax melts, its trail dripping a memory of time passed. The hands of the musical clock<\/strong><\/i> are the hands of drummers, who play a rhythmic dance. Together they try to beat time, but time will not succumb! Time can be kept but not saved, its passing marked with increasing intensity, building to an ecstatic climax. The elephant clock<\/strong><\/i> advances slowly, with a steady and gentle time that never forgets\u2014but neither does it tarry. It moves forward, inexorably, irresistibly. And we all travel on its back, in a long caravan of time, each tolling bell a milestone on our journey to the future.<\/p>\n

\u2009Ismail al-Jazari was a 12th century Islamic polymath: a scholar, inventor, engineer, artist and mathematician. He was born in 1136 in Upper Mesopotamia and served as the chief engineer for the Artuqid dynasty at the Artuklu Palace (located in modern-day Turkey). \"\"<\/a>His remarkable treatise, The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical\u200a\u200a\u200aDevices (1206)\u200adescribes fifty machines al-Jazari crafted to perform various tasks. Coupled with his own colorful illustrations, the book evokes a fairy-tale world of automated devices: a dancing water fountain, a band of mechanical musicians, a hydraulic \u201cperpetual flute,\u201d a self-cleaning washbasin, and a mechanized \u201cbutler\u201d who prepares drinks. But all of the devices were fully operational (and have been re-created in modern times). In his pioneering work we encounter for the first time many of the foundational mechanisms of engineering: the crankshaft, segmental gears, escapement mechanisms, conical valves, advanced pulley rigs, and various mechanical systems of bolts and locks. Known as the \u201cfather of robotics\u201d for his revolutionary work in automation, al-Jazari\u2019s devices are fascinating both functionally and aesthetically.<\/br>
\nBut perhaps his most beautiful and captivating designs are his many mechanical clocks. These include elaborate candle clocks (triggered by melting wax), \"\"<\/a>an astronomical \u201ccastle clock,\u201d (including a Zodiac dial), programmable clock of mechanical drummers (who beat out the hours!), a portable \u201cscribe clock\u201d and a giant \u201celephant clock\u201d (left). These enchanting time machines are captivating to envision, but they are built with technology and a prescience that anticipates our automated
\nmodern world.<\/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
\n2024<\/br><\/br><\/p>\n

DURATION
\n15 minutes<\/br><\/br><\/p>\n

COMMISSION
\nHouston Symphony Orchestra<\/br><\/br><\/p>\n

INSTRUMENTATION
\norchestra:<\/strong> winds: 3*3*3*3* brass: 4441 | 5 percussion | timpani | harp | strings <\/br><\/br><\/p>\n

PREMI\u00c8RE
\nMarch, 14, 15, 16 2025, Houston Symphony Orchestra; Juraj Val\u010duha, cond<\/br><\/br><\/p>\n

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VIDEO<\/p>\n