Scenes of a Palestinian Childhood
for Piano Solo and Four Hands Piano
Composed for the elementary to early intermediate piano student
This suite invites students and audiences alike into a vivid, heartfelt musical journey through memories and imagined moments of a Palestinian childhood. Written for early-level pianists — Levels 1, 2, and 3 — these four solos and three duets blend playful storytelling with accessible technique, offering young musicians a chance to grow their skills while exploring music’s power to express place, culture, and friendship.
Each piece captures a distinct scene: the mirrored laughter of two friends whose hands dance together on the keyboard before embracing in harmony; the darting energy of squirrels racing up a tree; the lively exchange between teacher and student, young and older hands shaping sound together; and, at the suite’s heart, a tender weaving of Palestinian and Hebrew folk melodies — a musical vision of peace and shared humanity. Both charming and meaningful, Scenes of a Palestinian Childhood offers pianists a first taste of music as storytelling, connection, and hope.
Commissioned by Penny Lazarus Piano Studio
Edited by Penny Lazarus
“In every note I write, I try to plant a seed of peace in a land exhausted by war, and to offer the children of Palestine a window to a wider sky. These pieces are not just music, but a prayer from the keys of the piano—that every child in Gaza may sleep in safety, dream without fear, and wake to a morning of light and freedom.”