A sophisticated, though not difficult piece, the composer has this to say about the Rumi text (translated by Coleman Barks) and the performance of the music: Rumi had such great insight into the human soul and condition-his message of peace, love, and beauty transcends time and all cultures. I encourage the performers to meditate upon the text for some time before studying the music so that they may bring their own insights, thoughts, and interpretations to the process. The director should take great liberty with tempo – the text is timeless, and the musical phrases should likewise have a liquid, timeless feel to them.