“Where thou Smile, There is Home” is a duo commissioned by violist Muriel Razavi and violinist Ava Bahari. This piece draws its inspiration from “Ghatar-e Khali,” a composition by the Iranian musician Heydoo Hedayati. I was particularly captivated by its dance-like rhythmic ostinato and the seemingly endless melody. The interplay between the viola and violin in my composition mirrors the sounds of the Ney-anbān, a type of bagpipe cherished in southern Iran, especially around Bushehr. The two instruments closely weave through overlapping melodic and rhythmic patterns, creating a tightly knit musical dialogue.