Al-jabr (الجبر)

“The word 'Algebra' comes from the Arabic: الجبر, romanized: al-jabr, lit. 'reunion of broken parts, bonesetting' from the title of the early 9th century book “cIlm al-jabr wa l-muqābala” “The Science of Restoring and Balancing” by the Persian mathematician and astronomer al-Khwarizmi. In his work, the term al-jabr referred to the operation of moving a term from one side of an equation to the other.” (Wikipedia)

Not only al-Khwarizmi coined the word algebra — his name gave origin also to “algorithm”! We really owe so very much to this Arabic mathematician...

“Al-jabr” is indeed the result of a reunion of spurious parts provided by a Steinway D piano, assorted Arabic percussions (darbuka, riq, etc.), and Rickenbacker bass (plain and “treated” with various effects; kindly lent to me by dear friend Jan). The whole emerging from those parts is a minimal piece. Surprisingly, at least to me, is the fact that I had not decided to write one such composition. The piece wanted it thus. Sometimes I feel more like a midwife than a composer...

The piece is available

Share with me your opinions, if you like! Thanks in advance,

栄屯