ongs, hymns, and arias are the primary ways in which words and music are brought together into a unified creative expression.  The relationship between pure poetry and music, however, is rarely explored or developed. Yes, there are more poetry readings, it seems, where live music is played as part of the performance. And this can be a rich experience, adding dimensionality to the sounds and meanings of the words. But what of a more complete integration  of  words and the emotional response that only music can evoke? 

It occurred to me that poetry has it’s own internal music, and that it would be interesting as a musician to interpret that music instrumentally as well as vocally in the recitation of the poem, and to do it in real time. The Poetry of Rumi seemed perfect for this since there are so many levels of meanings and feelings in his poetry.

It is easy to get caught in the ecstatic love and exuberant quality of his amazing images and ideas and to loose something else that is there. His poetry is, after all, guidance and encouragement on a mystic path, one which is fraught with mystery and contradiction. Can that aspect of his poetry be conveyed through musical accompaniment while the words are being recited? These pieces attempt that. 

-Puran Perez