(b. 1973, Cairo).

Egyptian composer of mostly orchestral, chamber, vocal, and piano works that have been performed in Europe and elsewhere.

Mr. Sabry studied composition and harmony privately with Aziz El-Shawan in Cairo from 1991–93 and counterpoint and harmony privately with Kamel El-Remali in Cairo in 1994–95. He also studied interior design at Helwan University in Helwan from 1992–96 and there earned his BFA. He later studied analysis with Reiko Füting and Nils Vigeland and composition with David Noon at the Manhattan School of Music in 2000, on the Fulbright Scholarship.

Among his honours are the State Art Prize of Egypt (2002), which enabled a residency in Italy in 2002–03, and First Prize for Composition from the Highest Council of Culture in Cairo (2005, for Movements and Moments in the Rast Mode). His music has been performed in Egypt, Italy, Switzerland, and the USA.

COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS

STAGE:

Daniel in the Lion's Den (opera in 1 act, libretto by the composer, after the Bible [Arabic translation]), 2 tenors, baritone, bass-baritone, bass, male chorus, flute, oboe, French horn, trumpet, percussion, string orchestra, 2003 (also version for 2 tenors, baritone, bass-baritone, bass, male chorus, flute, oboe, French horn, trumpet, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, percussion, 2003)

ORCHESTRAL:

Qambiez (overture to an unfinished opera), large orchestra, 1994

Dark Romance, cello, string orchestra, 1995

Symphony No. 1, large orchestra, 1995

I Will Break My Bonds to the Dream of Freedom (symphonic poem), large orchestra, 1996

Symphony No. 2, large orchestra, 1997

Rhapsody, piano, string orchestra, 1998

Suite No. 1, 1999

Suite No. 2, 'Traditional Echoes', 2000

Concerto, piano, large orchestra, 2000

Splinters, large orchestra, 2002

Beats and Moods, large orchestra, 2002

Coptic Lines, string orchestra, 2005

Verses from a Strangled Poem, string orchestra, 2005

CHAMBER MUSIC:

Three Duets, violin, piano, 1994–95

Trio No. 1, violin, cello, piano, 1995

Trio No. 2 (in memoriam Aziz El-Shawan), violin, cello, piano, 1996

Dance, flute, harp, 1996

Sonata, violin, piano, 1998

Little Suite, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 1998

Sonata, oboe, 1998

Movements, cello, piano, 1999

Love Song, oboe, harp, string quartet, 1999

Variation on a Masked Theme, oboe, violin, cello, piano, 1999

Suite for Three Violins in Quarter-Tone Scales, 3 violins, 2000

Vortex, E-flat clarinet, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2000

Bom Bom, timpani, 2001

Blurred Vision, flute, 2001

Three Dances for Dead Mountain, tenor recorder, guitar, violin, double bass, 2001

The Snow Song, flute, viola, vibraphone, marimba, 2001

Clear Visions, 2 flutes, 2002

Five Romantic Pieces, guitar, 2003

Between the Sword and Love (divertimento), string quartet, 2003

String Quartet No. 3, 'Transformations', 2003

Romance, viola, piano, 2003

Rotated Cycles (vocalise), soprano, flute, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 2003

Moments in the Rast Mode, qanun (zither from the Middle East), cello, percussion, 2004

Octet, oboe, clarinet, French horn, trumpet, harp, violin, viola, cello, 2005

Areeg – The Sweet Scent of Roses, clarinet, ensemble (flute, oboe, 2 clarinets, French horn, harp, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 2 percussion), 2005 (its 13 movements may be performed separately)

Sounds from the West Shore, trumpet, trombone, harp, double bass, marimba, 2005

Three Glimpses, clarinet, violin, cello, 2005

A dot in the beginning, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, 2005

CHORAL:

Kyrie eleison, mixed chorus, 2002

From Darkness to Light (oratorio, text by Tawfiq Gad), 2 female voices, male voice, mixed chorus, small orchestra (flute, oboe, French horn, trumpet, harp, piano [+ celesta], percussion, strings), 2005

VOCAL:

When the Birds Sing (aria, text by Shenouda Mamdoh), tenor, piano, 1995

Raindrops (hymn), 3 sopranos, small orchestra, 1996

The Rain Song (text by Amal Donkol), soprano, piano, 1997

I Crucified You (hymn, text by Michael El-Komos), soprano, small orchestra, 1998

The Christmas Cycle (text from the Bible [Arabic translation]), soprano, flute, piano, fixed media, 1998

Waiting Cycle (text by Ahmed Abd El-Mooty Hegazy), soprano, piano, 1999

The End (aria, text by Ahmed Abd El-Mooty Hegazy), soprano, piano, 1999

An Elegy for a Man (text by Usama Abu Taleb), soprano, clarinet, piano, 2000

Two Lullabies (text by Mohamed Ramadan), soprano, harp, 2000

Andalusia (song-cycle, text by Ibn Zaidon), female voice, ney (flute from the Middle East), oud (lute from the Middle East), qanun, violin, cello, double bass, 2 percussion, 2003

Rasoui – Dream (4 pictures, text by the composer [Coptic translation by Emad Sidhom]), mezzo-soprano, clarinet, viola, piano, 2004

PIANO:

Three Arabesques, 1994–95

Four Preludes, 1994–95

Six Simple Waltzes, 1997

The Maze (sonatina), 2001

Ages of Sadness and Love, 1998–2002