Composed and dedicated to Mona Kriegler, Nocturne No. 1 explores the emotional complexities surrounding her final visit to Gaza City. The piece was born out of Mona’s poignant question: “Do I go back to Gaza again?”

This nocturne expresses the inner tension and sadness of uncertainty, woven through delicate melodies and shifting harmonies. The music captures a sense of both longing and apprehension, reflecting the emotional journey of a person torn between a desire to return and the weight of unresolved fears.

As the piece unfolds, it mirrors the anxiety and introspection in Mona’s mind, her silent questioning echoing through the waves of sound. The music grows increasingly fragile and unresolved, with moments of reflection that seem to suspend time itself. The work serves as both an intimate portrayal of Mona’s experience and a universal meditation on the bittersweetness of revisiting a place where history and emotion are deeply intertwined.

Through Nocturne No. 1, the listener is invited to share in this deeply personal moment of contemplation, witnessing a dialogue between memory and possibility, and ultimately, the unanswered question of return.