Customer Reviews

Rumi: Voice of Longing

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Coleman Barks is my favorite translator of Rumi but this CD is not. Maybe it will work for the seasoned Rumi lover but for a new person I found Coleman having to rush to speak over the music. I couldn't enjoy the poetry because of the drums and fast paced music. I have no relationship yet with Rumi's poetry and just could not enjoy all the distractions. If you already know the poems the loud music may suit you. I was glad when it ended which is not what I was looking for. It didn't let me pace through the poetry, the loud drums and sitar were too forceful.

at first, I was put off by coleman barks' gruff voice, didn't seem appropriate to the words. but then it grew on me and now it seems like I can hear his love of the subject.
all in all, pretty good.

Though I agree Coleman Barks Southern accent and voice are a out of place for me when reading Rumi myself, his passion for Rumi more than makes up for it. I am in my car a lot, so this set allows me to enjoy the poetry. It's relaxing, the music is perfect.

Wonderful Rumi poetry as read by Coleman Barks who is my special favourite Rumi translator. Words to open the heart and make the spirit sing.

It may not be for everyone, but if you like the works of Rumi as translated and spoken by Coleman Barks, this is definitely worth having. I purchased this work of Coleman Barks a while back. Sometimes a work must be revisited before it is recognized as having an enduring value. The music may be too exotic for many western ears but is quite pleasing and wonderful in combination with the poetry of Rumi. The production is well composed and clean, leaving a satisfying fluid meeting between the vivid, deeply touching words of Rumi in a sea of delightful music.

Wonderful idea, good music, but the voice of Coleman Barks just doesn't fit

The poetry of Rumi is enchanting. Coleman Barks' translation is lyrical. Bravo!

I find two imperfections in the audio quality of these CD's, though:

1) Mr. Barks' voice is not the best for public reading. He sounds as if he is sitting some distance from the microphone and speaking loudly so his voice will be picked up.

2) Sometimes the music is so loud it drowns out some words where Mr. Barks' volume goes down, such as at the ends of sentences.

Overall, though, I enjoy listening to these readings and I plan to get more of Barks' CD's of Rumi.