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Farshid Samandari is an Iranian-Canadian composer, based in Vancouver, Canada (Coast Salish territory: Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil Waututh First Nations). His work for flute and electronics, If this is a man, was commissioned by flutist Suzanne Snizek in 2016. The work is inspired by the words of Primo Levi, specifically an invocation that prefaced Levi's memoirs as an Auschwitz concentration camp survivor. Samandari frames the author's words in three musical movements: first, Levi invokes his safe and well-fed audience (I. You who live safe, 0:00). Then he recounts forms of degradation and abuse visited upon humanity throughout history (II. Consider if... 2:32). Finally, he stresses the importance of remembering these atrocities so they do not occur again (III. Meditate that... 6:46).

English translation of the Italian text:
You who live safe
In your warm houses,
You who find, returning in the evening,
Hot food and friendly faces:
Consider if this is a man
Who works in the mud,
Who does not know peace,
Who fights for a scrap of bread,
Who dies because of a yes or a no.
Consider if this is a woman
Without hair and without name,
With no more strength to remember,
Her eyes empty and her womb cold
Like a frog in winter.
Meditate that this came about:
I commend these words to you.
Carve them in your hearts
At home, in the street,
Going to bed, rising;
Repeat them to your children.
Or may your house fall apart,
May illness impede you,
May your children turn their faces from you.

Composed by Farshid Samandari
Words by Primo Levi
Performed by Mark Takeshi McGregor
Audio mastering by Piotr Wieczorek
A film by Dejan Radovanovic
Filmed November 2020 at Canadian Music Centre BC Region (Vancouver)

Special thanks to Giovanni Aniello, Paola Borghesi, Don Cesare Nisoli, Walter Quan, Suzanne Snizek, the Casalmaggiore International Music Festival, and the Canadian Music Centre BC Region.

This video was made possible by generous assistance from the BC Arts Council.

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