Issa Boulos’s orchestral composition Shortly After Life is a profoundly personal and evocative work that reflects on the profound moment immediately following death when a soul is confronted with judgment. In this piece, Boulos imagines a liminal space where the newly departed is claimed by competing forces—heaven and hell. Each side presents selected memories and episodes from the person’s life, replaying these “clips” as arguments to determine the soul’s ultimate destination. This dramatic interplay captures the tension and uncertainty of the afterlife, exploring themes of morality, memory, and the eternal struggle between redemption and damnation. Boulos composed Shortly After Life as a tribute to his father, Ibrahim Boulos, infusing the work with both personal grief and universal questions about legacy and judgment. Musically, the piece stands out for its innovative blending of Western classical compositional techniques. Boulos’s approach incorporates diverse musical textures, creating a contemporary soundscape. Through this orchestral narrative, Boulos not only honors his father’s memory but also invites listeners to reflect on their own lives and the moments that might define them in the hereafter. The work exemplifies Boulos’s broader artistic vision: using music to address existential questions that resonate across cultures and generations.
 
The purchase price includes all parts and the conductor score. The piece is also available in several other arrangements with different instrumentation. Click here to submit a request or make further inquiries.