Portfolio of original compositions: Taking musical inspiration from Kuwaiti traditional music through the lens of a pianist

This project aims to create original compositions based on elements from traditional Kuwaiti music and explore their adaptability to the piano, bridging cultural heritage with contemporary artistic practices. The submission comprises a portfolio of 8 notated pieces (total duration of 57-61 minutes) plus the ensuing commentary. Recordings of the pieces are provided for reference.

Even though the piano is not part of Kuwaiti musical traditions, this project explores how its expressive and technical capabilities can articulate and preserve Kuwaiti traditional elements. Combining analysis of traditional Kuwaiti musical elements and creative practice, this research addresses key questions of compositional method, such as how to overcome the challenge of using relatively minimalistic resources (monophonic, repetitive) to create satisfying piano pieces.

Methodologically, the research employs extraction of key elements from Kuwaiti traditional songs and transcription/analysis of archival recordings to develop a portfolio of original compositions that reimagine Kuwaiti repertoire. The written commentary highlights the Kuwaiti elements such as melodic phrases and rhythmic cycles that are incorporated in each piece and reflects on the challenges of the creative process, the approach and the execution of each idea to achieve the goal of preserving Kuwaiti
elements while transforming/adapting them into new compositions.

This research contributes to advancing Kuwaiti art by presenting a portfolio based on Kuwaiti elements aimed at the global stage for pianists of various levels and backgrounds. This project challenges the Eurocentric narratives of pianism while expanding the instrument’s idiomatic possibilities.