A Palestinian Ambassador of Music in Europe

One wonders how a young musician from a war-torn country such as Palestine could become a respected and appreciated musician within Italian society in Europe. Indeed, a musician who left Palestine in the immediate aftermath of the tragic events of 1948 could face immense challenges in the pursuit of professional growth and expertise.

Common to all composers is the task of finding coherence between their creativity and a specific music genre. The music of Nasri Fernando Dueri, however, resists easy classification. At times romantic, at times classical, neoclassical, or even modern, Dueri’s musical diversity attests to his unique talent and skill.

Nasri Fernando Dueri was born in Bethlehem in 1932. As a child, he studied music with his brothers, Raphael and Khalil. At age ten, he joined the brass band of the Salesian school in Bethlehem, during which time he studied wind instruments and became well-known in the town for his exceptional abilities in playing the clarinet, trumpet, and saxophone. He also studied music theory and elementary harmony. During these early years of his life, he was well-founded in music, and his early mastery of orchestration of harmony, though simple, created in him the spirit for composing and orchestration. He also studied violin and piano.

At age 16, he was often invited to play music in famous hotels (for example, the Orient House, the Grand of Ramallah, etc.). These opportunities awakened in him the desire for a career in music.

Creativity and professionalism reject the constraints of boundaries; ambition is an ongoing driving force for excellence. For this reason, Dueri moved to Amman and then to Beirut. He continued his career as a musician, performing in hotels and at celebrations. As it happened, during one music event, a German ensemble was set to perform. Shortly before the performance, however, the pianist became ill and was required to return immediately to Germany. This became the golden opportunity for the young Fernando to take a major step forward. He joined the ensemble to replace the pianist and performed to the great appreciation of all around. After being encouraged to continue to develop his skills, he decided to leave Lebanon and travel to Europe.

For three years he studied, practised, and performed in Germany. Evening performances were the source of his livelihood. Towards the end of these years, he formed a quartet ensemble. The quartet’s European tour included Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg. While performing in Switzerland, his heart seemed to find a home. He decided to marry and settle down in Switzerland’s Italian region.

He was offered the position of choral director and church musician, as well as music teacher for the young generation. He teaches several instruments, including violin, piano, and wind instruments, and also teaches vocal performance. He lives in the city of Gambaroneo, in southern Switzerland, where he is the maestro of three groups: the Mandolin Ensemble, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Gambaroneo, and the Choir of Gambaroneo.

Dueri’s works are versatile. His main published works are those for wind orchestras. One of his most well-known works is the Overture for The Grand Canal. It is written for several wind instruments and follows a structure that could be classified as neo-romantic, if it is possible to use such a term. His melodies are well-expressed and composed of short phrases, yet logically combined. The harmony he uses seems to be romantic in nature. However the listener can sense a yearning for classicism. Nevertheless, in other works, such as the Prelude in E flat major, the passionate yearning of late-nineteenth-century composers can be felt. Although Rachmaninov’s music comes to mind, Fernando’s music provides more freedom and time to follow the chasing of melodies from the left hand to the right.

Other works of Dueri include “Deltaplano,” “Anticipadamente,” and other chamber pieces. He has produced a number of CD recordings as well.

Although Fernando can now be considered a European musician, he remains Palestinian at heart. Even during performances he makes a point of highlighting his non-European identity.

We should all look forward to the time when Fernando’s music is performed here in Palestine.