From Behind the Caravan: Songs of Hafez

We're meticulous in AYS about knowing the meaning of a work. When you know why, you can answer the audience's questions in your performance.  On March 23, when we sing From Behind the Caravan: Songs of Hâfez, the choir will sing ancient Persian poetry from a time and place worlds away. From Behind the Caravan: Songs of Hâfez by Abbie Betinis brings to life ancient Persian poetry written by Kwajeh Shams al-Din Muhammed Hafez-e Shirazi, dating back to ca. 1320-1390. His poems reflect Sufism, a tradition of Islam present in both Sunni and Shi'a denominations.
    
My first impressions of this piece led me to believe that the music was traditionally Persian, maybe a sacred Persian piece? Nope, but it is inspired by traditional Persian music. The harmonies really transport the listener to somewhere exotic and steeped in tradition. So what story are we really telling? In the program note, Abbie Betinis says she was inspired by Hâfez's poems, how they depict longing. Now I'm longing to know more! We've successfully worked dynamics and proper pitches, pronunciation and translation. In the final stretch of performance, it's time to find the story behind this work.

As well as translating ancient poems in Farsi into contemporary choral music while keeping the poems' original intonations, she has managed to create a piece that connects modern audiences in one world to an ancient culture in another.

ABBIE-O: http://abbiebetinis.com/wp/biography/
Information on the piece from Abbie's website: Behind the Caravan

-Lydia, five year AYS member, Youth Chorale