The Peacock's Feather: Irish-Turkish maqam I

During the Irish Famine (1845-52) Ottoman Sultan Khaleefah Abdul-Majid I decided to send £10,000 to alleviate the sufferings of the Irish people. Queen Victoria asked the Sultan to send only £1000 as she herself had donated £2000. The Sultan sent £1000 but secretly sent 5 ships full of food as well. The English courts attempted to block the ships but they nevertheless arrived at Drogheda harbour on the east coast of Ireland. This piece, in memory of the event, is based on the Irish tune The Peacock's Feather.