Rumi: Voice of Longing [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Coleman Barks (Performer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1994

This collection consists of nearly 100 of ancient Persian poet Rumi's most memorable quatrains, translated and performed by Rumi scholar Barks.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

One of the most popular translators of the works of 13th-century Persian mystic Jelaluddin Rumi presents a collection of nearly 100 of Rumi's most memorable quatrains that reflect such universal themes as the search of the highest truth. Musical accompaniment by David Whetstone and Marcus Wise. Abridged. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Coleman Barks was born on April 23, 1937, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He graduated from the University of North Carolina and the University of California at Berkeley. Since 1972 he has taught English at the University of Georgia at Athens. Barks received the New England/Breadloaf Quarterly Narrative Poem Prize and the Southern Poetry Review's Guy Owen Award. His collections of poetry include The Juice and Gourd Seed. Barks is perhaps better known as a translator of the poet Rumi, a thirteenth century Mystic. Rumi is cpnsidered the greatest mystic of the Sufi religion and wrote extensively in Farsi, the language of Iran.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Sounds True, Incorporated (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564552853
• ISBN-13: 978-1564552853
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,061,169 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A spiritual but earthy sound, August 8, 2005

By 

Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Rumi: Voice of Longing (Audio CD)

On this lovely recital of Jelaludin Rumi's poetry, the voice of Coleman Barks is accompanied by Marcus Wise on sitar and David Whetstone on sitar. There is a flute too, but nobody is credited. The 2-CD set contains translations of poems from the following books of translations by Barks: Birdsong, Say I Am You, One-Handed, Open Secret, We Are Three, This Longing, These Branching Moments and Delicious Laughter. The insert lists the first lines of the all the poems recited.

Disc One: 1. Birdsong brings relief 2. This is how I would die 3. Soul of the world 4. Again, the violet bows to the lily 5. Intricate sounds, not words, I catch 6. You said, "Who's at the door?" 7. The soul must suffer secrets 8. I saw grief drinking a cup of sorrow 9. In this river the soul is a waterwheel.

Disc Two: A sufi was wandering the world 2. Love comes with a knife, not some shy question 3. Someone may be clairvoyant, able to see 4. Last night my teacher told me the lesson of poverty 5. On Resurrection Day your body testifies against you 6. Someone says, sanai is dead 7. Those full of fear are not really on the way 8. We tremble, thinking we're about to dissolve 9. Before Muhammed appeared in physical form 10. I, you, he, she, we 11. There is no prison so dark and small 12. Moses heard a shepherd on the road praying.

The combination of devotional playing and the deep voice of Barks create a type of spiritual ambience that is more earthy than ethereal. I find the sound most relaxing and enjoyable, a fitting vehicle for the inspiring words of Rumi.

Total running time for Disc 1 is 70:08 and for Disc 2, 77:33.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Can't Stop Listening!..., January 10, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rumi: Voice of Longing (Audio Cassette)

This collaboration of Coleman Barks reading Rumi, the tabla drum, the flute and sitar is such a perfect marriage of expressive music and delicious Rumi. It brings Rumi's words to life so well, I get levels of understanding and joy from the spoken words that reading them on the printed page alone seldom delivered.

29 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Colemansong, Rumisong., July 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Rumi: Voice of Longing (Audio Cassette)

These songs are not for the quick, the ephemeral, the here and now. Lay back. You're in a hurry, but there is time. There is distance between what you think you have to do, and what needs to be done. There is distance between you. And you. Lay back and come together. Listen . . . Hear it? You can hear yourself coming together. Like a suture.

If you don't have time for this book, let it bleed.