Three songs, setting fragments of poetry by the 13th century Persian poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī , (generally known as Rumi).

For Soprano (D – G#) and Marimba
Duration: 8 minutes

Gentle was composed in the autumn of 2013 and first performed by Ana Beard-Fernandez and Zoe Craven in July 2015 at the Unitarian Chapel, York, as part of the Late Music concert series of that year.

The Firmness Under You
My friend, our closeness is this:
Anywhere you place your foot
You will feel me in the firmness under you.
How is it with this love I see your world and not you?

Dance
Dance when you’re broken open.
Dance when you throw it all away.
Dance in the middle of the fight.
Dance in your blood.
Dance when you’re perfectly free.

Gently
Gently, you drive me away,
As a flute does a dove from the eaves.
Then gently, and with the same song
You call me back.

The Firmness Under You
My friend, our closeness is this:
Anywhere you place your foot
You will feel me in the firmness under you.
How is it with this love I see your world and not you?

Dance
Dance when you’re broken open.
Dance when you throw it all away.
Dance in the middle of the fight.
Dance in your blood.
Dance when you’re perfectly free.

Gently
Gently, you drive me away,
As a flute does a dove from the eaves.
Then gently, and with the same song
You call me back.