In modern-day Persia, the 14th-century
poet Hafiz remains the most treasured voice of his homeland—a place
where his work outsells Rumi, and even the Koran. Yet only recently have
Westerners come to know this wild Sufi mystic's astonishing verses on
love and spiritual longing.
Now, with Hafiz: The Scent of Light, you will join Daniel Ladinsky—the acclaimed translator of The Gift—to
revel in more than 30 of Hafiz' most stirring works. Offered here in
the manner that Hafiz composed them, namely spoken or sung spontaneously
amid companions and inspired music, each of these exquisite love songs (ghazals) shimmers with a nuance, depth, and passion rarely captured in previous translations.
Hafiz
once said: "A poet is someone who can pour light into a cup, then raise
it to nourish your beautiful parched holy mouth." From his vision of an
all-embracing Beloved who sees beyond our religious beliefs to his
revelations on the oneness of worldly ecstasy and spiritual awakening,
Hafiz continues to pour the light of his poetry forth today.
Music
composed and performed by Stevin McNamara (sitar and nylon string
guitar), with special guest artists and composers Steve Gorn (bansuri
flute), Jeffrey Rodgers (tabla, santoor, ethnic drums, percussion),
Annette Cantor (vocals), Pandit S.N. Sopori (drupad/khyal/tarana
singing), Bhushan Sopori (tabla), and Aurelia Roze (violin). Read by
Nataraja Kallio.