MUSIC IN RESPONSE TO A CONFLICT
This page features music in response to the 7 October attack in Israel. The collection presents new and reflective piano compositions for remembrance that address the events and the subsequent war.
THE WAITING HOURS
for solo piano
Duration:
14 minutes
Instrumentation:
piano solo
Year Composed:
2023
Premiere Performance:
July 2025
Jerusalem, Israel
Lior Navok
About Silent Streets
The Waiting Hours is a 14‑minute solo‑piano work composed in response to the events of 7 October 2023 in Israel and the war that followed. The piece reflects the emotional landscape of that period: the suspended time, the unanswered questions, and the unbearable uncertainty experienced by families waiting for news about loved ones. Through restrained textures, quiet tension, and gradually unfolding gestures, the music captures the psychological weight of waiting — listening to distant aircraft, following the news, and living in a state of fear and hope intertwined.
For the Performers
Level: Ideal for professional pianists; also suitable for advanced students exploring atmospheric writing, emotional restraint, and long‑line pacing.
Programming: Works well in contemporary piano recitals, memorial or reflection‑themed programs, and concerts addressing conflict, remembrance, or personal testimony.
Style: Reflective, somber, and emotionally charged.
Program Notes
The horrible events that took place on 7 October, 2023 in Israel and the war that started right after, brought me to compose a new piece for solo piano, The Waiting Hours. Many people were waiting, some are still waiting for some news and information: who is alive and who is not? who was kidnapped and who is safe? Would the next bomb destroy this house or that house? Hearing the airplanes, following the news, anxious waiting.