This week on Choral Concert we will feature the Vancouver-based Elektra Women’s Choir, led by Morna Edmunson, and their adventurous foray into Farsi poetry.
Elektra has taken many adventurous turns in their music over the past quarter century, and the centrepiece in this concert is no exception – it’s an exotic, thrilling and evocative work by Abbie Betinis called From behind the Caravan: songs of Hafez. It’s set in Farsi, the language of Persia.
The words are by Mohammed Hafez-e Shirazi, the author of almost 400 poems called Ghazals.
Ghazals are lyric poems in the Sufi tradition about longing for truth, love, kindness and ultimately for the Beloved. It’s beautiful stuff.
Abbie Betinis is not Persian, she’s American, but she pushed herself to hear the qualities of these words, to let them evoke sounds and images that express this deep and rich culture. One image that rushed upon her was “a distant memory of being four years old and dancing – joyfully and tirelessly – to music that whirled feverishly around me.”
You’ll also hear a wonderful performance with the Elmer Iseler Singers teaming up with the Canadian Brass from back in 1973, and some incredible Schubert with the Immortal Bach Ensemble.
Don’t forget that CBCMUSIC.CA has lots to offer for classical music lovers, there are 10 classical streams, available 24 / 7. You can also check out the Choral Concert blog plus extensive videos and concerts in all genres.
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