-The Other Side of the Story for alto singer and ensemble
Introduction: The Other Side of the Story is based on “Leili o Majnun’s” tale which is a narrative poem composed by the master Persian poet “Nezāmi Gánjávi 1141-1209”.Although the main poem is from Gánjávi the lyrics chosen for this piece are from “Rumi 1207-1273” the Persian mystic, theologian, and poet.
Rumi incorporated the tale in a poem from his masterpiece book of poetry called Masnavi. Summary of the tale: Qays and Leili fall in love with each other when they are young, but when they grow up Leili’s father doesn’t allow them to be together. Qays becomes obsessed with her, and his tribe Banu ‘Amir and the community gives him the epithet of Majnun (crazy). When he asked for her hand in marriage, her father refused because it would be a scandal for Layla to marry someone considered mentally unbalanced.
Shortly after, Leila was wedded to another noble and rich merchant. When Majnun heard of her marriage, he fled the tribal camp and began wandering the surrounding desert. His family eventually gave up hope for his return and left food for him in the wilderness. He could sometimes be seen reciting poetry to himself or writing in the sand with a stick. Leili moved to a place in Northern Arabia with her husband, where she became ill and heartbroken from not being able to see her would-be lover and she eventually died. Majnun was later found dead in the wilderness near Leila’s grave.
In this work, my aim is to show The Other Side of the Story of “Leili o Majnun’s” tale in which you can witness from Leili’s eyes and feel her wave of emotions andthoughtstowardMajnun.
Movements:
1.Leili A normal day for Leili and she is thinking and fantasizing about Majnun. Then Khalifé enters and asks something sarcastically… (Leili’s theme enters as the Khaliféh enters and calls her name)
2.Majnun Khalifé: Is that you whom Majnun turned insane and demented for love? (Upon the word Majnun, the music takes a turn becoming more dissonant and heart throbbing. while maintaining the general flow.
3.What Khaliféh Asked… Khalifé then continues: you are not different from other people, why is he in love with you? Leili gets slightly sad…
4.In Leili’s Thoughts! She then starts to fantasize again about Majnun. (The intertwining of the flute and clarinet act as the metaphorical dance of them both in Leili’s mind)
5.What She Replied… Leili then replies with a serious tone: You are not him, you are not Majnun.* *Pointing to the fact that only the ones in love can understand their affection and the depth of the emotion toward each other.
6.In Leili’s Thoughts! II Once again Leili goes back to her fantasizing about Majnun but this time, even more,/ (A new sub-theme is introduced which is derived from the texture of the first movement) (The excitement intensifies as the music gradually rises to the climax of the piece)
7.One Drop of Tear Suddenly she comes back to reality and remembers that Majnun is not there …and a tear drops. (The melody in the double bass is an unfinished sequence, A metaphor for her longing which just like the unfinished sequence it never ends. Conductor: Jurrien Sligter Alto: Annely Leinberg Flute: Saul Ferrer Noya Clarinet: Elisa Sgorbini Celeste: Yuqi Han Harp: Annemieke Breunesse Vibraphone: Gordon Williams Violin I: Liina Tamminen Violin II: Isaac Pérez Riera Viola: Rodrigo de Freitas Cello: Camillo Cabassi Doublebass: Lucas Kerkyras www.homayoonkazemi.com
