Album Notes

Of Kareem Roustom's score to the award-winning documentary 'Budrus' Variety Magazine wrote "A strong string, wind and percussion score by Kareem Roustom adds to the momentum and underlines key moments." Budrus is a feature documentary film about a Palestinian community organizer, Ayed Morrar, who unites local Fatah and Hamas members along with Israeli supporters in an unarmed movement to save his village of Budrus from destruction by Israel’s Separation Barrier. Success eludes them until his 15-year-old daughter, Iltezam, launches a women’s contingent that quickly moves to the front lines.

Kareem Roustom's score supports the film's narrative in a subtle yet powerful and informed way. Although his score is inspired by a traditional Palestinian line dance called "Dabke" it is by no means a simplistic approach to combining elements of "East & West." Roustom, whose awards include an Emmy nomination, has crafted a truly personal voice that effortlessly flows between musical languages. Combining traditional Arabic instruments with the unique voices of Kinan Azmeh (clarinet) and Hanna Khoury (violin & viola) with powerful string quintet writing and subtle electronic ambiances Roustom's work is that rare film score that not only serves the action on the screen well but can stand on its own as complete and coherent musical work.