Eid Al-Fitr is a Muslim celebration that marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, re ection, and spiritual stillness. It begins at dawn with prayers, followed by visits, shared meals, laughter, new clothes, and the simple joy of togetherness. For many, Eid is not only a religious occasion, but a memory of warmth, family, and belonging.

Eid, Long Ago is a personal recollection of childhood Eids, remembered from the quiet hours of the night before the celebration when anticipation was heavier than sleep, and joy felt in nite. Written from a distance in time and place, the piece reflects on memories formed in Gaza, where Eid once meant crowded streets, familiar voices, and the comfort of being surrounded by loved ones.

The solo clarinet moves slowly and introspectively, unfolding in a Hijaz-based mode whose color carries both longing and tenderness. Its line descends into the instrument’s dark, low register, then gradually rises, as if searching upward for a lost brightness, before returning again to depth and shadow. This motion mirrors memory itself—how it wanders, lifts, and ultimately settles into quiet acceptance.

This is not a celebration as it once was, but an echo of it. A remembrance of an Eid that existed before growing up, before distance, before exile an Eid, long ago.