Issa Boulos composed Shīrāzād (Shāhrāzād), a solo flute piece, in 1995. The composition is divided into four movements, each representing a different aspect of Shahrazad’s journey in confronting the brutal King Shahrayar. The first movement portrays Shahrazad’s internal conflict and fear as she decides to face the king, seeking a way to survive the dangerous first night. In the second movement, Shahrazad prevails and faces the challenge of appealing to the king in a non-sexual manner. The third movement explores how she maintains momentum by telling stories, keeping the king engaged while he struggles with his desires. The final movement depicts Shahrazad’s exhaustion and inner turmoil as she approaches the end of her ordeal, ultimately finding the courage to save herself. Musically, Boulos aimed to challenge Orientalist composers and confront stereotypes about Eastern music. Despite the flute’s limitations in playing microtones essential to maqām music, he explored innovative ways to expand and connect ajnās (structural components of maqām) beyond traditional Western and maqām composition methods. Boulos also incorporated the 7/4 rhythmic cycle, which has roots in ancient Andalusian musical traditions. Through this composition, Boulos demonstrates his ability to blend traditional Middle Eastern musical elements with contemporary Western techniques, a characteristic that has been evident throughout his career as a composer and musician.
 
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