Two Reflections on The Belovèd (2016) – soprano and percussion quartet (8′)*
*commissioned by the ICon Arts Festival in 2016 as Composer-In-Residence.
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-This set of two songs for soprano and percussion quartet are settings of two Sufi texts. These two texts each reflect on “The Belovéd:” a Sufi ideal and extreme desire for close intimacy and oneness with god; however, this line is often blurred, and “The Belovéd” takes on different forms (especially in prose and poetry). For some, this becomes a person with whom they desire intimacy (platonic or sexual), a partner, or friend, for others, a goal, accomplishment, or object of some sort. Whatever form “The Belovéd” takes, this desire for intimacy is always present and encompassing. In both songs the soprano and percussionists play equal roles, blending timbres and colors of various shades to create a reflection on this Sufi tenant which explores the nature of intimacy, desire, and mystic love.

Recording of performance at National Sawdust with Contemporaneous and Amal El-Shrafi.

Radio Romania Cultural called the premiere with the ICon Arts Percussion Group (Mircea Ardeleanu, cond.) and Veronica Anușca, “perhaps the most interesting part of the program.”