Critical
acclaim for The
Lion of Panjshir
“A stirring tribute. . .
.Mixed meters, ethnic rhythms, and melodic passages are carefully
crafted to flow seamlessly with the narration. . . .a captivating
performance. . . .Audience members wept after a chilling account of
Massoud’s death in the third movement, punctuated by explosive chords
and a shocking silence. . . .Gaines has achieved a milestone in the
canon of symphonic band literature with a substantial work that
transcends cultural barriers.”
— Grace Jean, Washington Post
“. . . .the dancing second movement, propelled by colorful percussion
writing, evokes Middle Eastern/Central Asian musical idioms with
particular panache. . . .Throughout, Gaines demonstrates a keen
affinity for orchestration. Woodwinds and brass are vividly exploited;
percussion applied with as much subtlety as power. This piece, warmly
received by an audience that included members of the Afghan embassy in
Washington and U.N. mission in New York, certainly fulfills its mission
of homage.”
— Tim Smith, Baltimore Sun
“The February 11, 2004 world premiere of The Lion of Panjshir, a symphony
about Ahmad Shah Massoud composed by Dr. David Gaines, was a great
success for all lovers of peace and prosperity. . . .The images of
Massoud, and the mujahedeen
he is the apex of, can speak to us all in a very real, down to earth,
yet spiritually uplifting way. Now we have a symphonic account of them
to savor as well.”
— Omaid Weekly (the
international weekly newspaper for the Afghan community)
“I cannot imagine a more powerful mix of words, images, and music than The Lion of Panjshir. People who
know nothing of Massoud or Afghanistan will be stunned by the sheer
power of the composition, and people who are familiar with these topics
will be reduced to tears. It is a tremendous piece of work.”
— Sebastian Junger (
“Fire,”
“The Perfect Storm”)
“The premiere of The Lion of Panjshir
ranks among my most memorable nights at Peabody. The emotional impact
was extraordinary. I think you have written a wonderful piece of music.”
— Anne Garside, Director of Public Information, Peabody Institute
“. . . .an emotional occasion. . . .the narration gained a deeply
moving authenticity by being spoken by a man who had himself fought
with Massoud."
— Peabody News
Back to The
Lion of Panjshir