Commissioned by
Duration
Orgelpark, Festival The Roaring Twenties
8':00"
Instrumentation
Premiered by
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Violin, Violoncello, Double Bass, Percussion, Organ
Utrecht String Quartet, Harke Wiersma, Juani Palop, Arno Bornkamp, Daniel Bolba, Laurens de Man
Lyrics by
At a time when war, catastrophe, ruin upon ruin, and the rule of oppressive and criminal dictators cast their shadow over the lives of millions in Iran, glimmers of hope, like rays of light in these dark times, continue to keep the weary spirits of people alive. As Hafez writes, “Musk-diffusing, the breath of the morning breeze (Sabâ) shall be: Again the world old young shall be,” even in the darkest hours, whispers of renewal and the promise of brighter days bring hope for transformation to a new world. Those whispers of renewal reveal themselves in the steadfast defiance and resistance of the people, fathers and mothers who, in the midst of war, mourn the loss of their children not with tears, but with music.
In La Création du Nouveau Monde, I reimagine the birth of a new world through music inspired by the Ashiq folk music of northwestern Iran. In that music, narratives of war and heroic resistance lie at the core of the repertoire, with poetry, storytelling, and music intertwining to express the soul of a people. It is that spirit and underlying message, the courage, resilience, and defiance embedded in Ashiq music, that inspired me to compose this piece. Therefore, this piece is a whisper of the Sabā, carrying the promise of change to a new, peaceful, brighter world.
***
Musk-diffusing, the breath of the morning breeze (Sabâ) shall be: Again, the world old young shall be. To the lily, the Arghavan shall give the cornelian cup: Glancing at the anemones, the eye of the narcissus shall be.
[...]
This tyranny that, from the grief of separation, the nightingale endured
In the rose's pavilion, clamour-making, shall be.
If from the Masjed to the tavern I go, carp not:
Long is the assembly of admonition; and the time shall be.
O heart! if to to-morrow thou cast the joy of to-day,
Surety for the capital of cash of permanency, who shall be?
In the month Shaban, put not the goblet from thy hand. For this sun,
Till the night of the 'Id of Ramazan out of sight, shall be.
Precious is the rose; its society reckon plunder.
For in this way to the garden it came; and, in that way shall go.
O minstrel! the assembly of associate friends, it is: sing the ghazal and the ode:
How long sayest thou: "Passed like this; and like that shall be."
To the clime of existence, came Hafez for thy sake:
Plant thy foot for farewell to him; for passing he shall be.
Hafez (c. 1320–1390) Trans. Henry Wilberforce Clarke (1840-1905) Corrected by Dr. Behrouz Homayoun Far
***
Artwork © Cristina Ataíde, Centro Português de Serigrafia
List of Musicians
This work has been brought to life by the following remarkable musicians.
