Songs Of Kabir
Judah Adashi
About this work:
The fifteenth-century Indian mystic Kabir, a weaver by trade, “was essentially a poet and musician: rhythm and harmony were to him the garments of beauty and truth” (Evelyn Underhill, Introduction to Rabindranath Tagore's Songs of Kabir). These pieces for flute and guitar – inspired by poems by Kabir which make literal or figurative mention of the flute, or of various plucked string instruments – are, in a sense, songs without words. Much of the musical material evolved from the process of “setting to music” translations of Kabir’s poetry by Robert Bly (songs 1, 3, and 5) and Tagore (songs 2 and 4). The rhythms and overall flavor of these English versions significantly informed the writing for both instruments, as did the unique blend of mischievous humor and passionate devotion so integral to Kabir’s style.
Songs of Kabir was commissioned by, and is dedicated to the Arc Duo.
Year composed: 2005
Duration: 00:18:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 2-5 players
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Guitar (Classical/Acoustic)