“FALL AND RISE“ is a transcultural interdisciplinary performance, research, and creation by Alireza Ostovar in collaboration with Tember Ensemble and guests.
The piece is about "life and death" inspired by Maulana's (Rumi's) poetry called "When I die."
This is a music recording from our live performance on 17 September 2022 in Berlin. For more info about the piece, please check:
aliostovar.com/fallandrise/
The poem in English:
On the day of my death,
when my coffin is going by,
Don't think that I have any pain
about leaving this world.
Don't cry for me, and don't say,
"What a pity! What a pity!"
If you fall into the traps of the Devil,
that would really be a pity!
When you see my corpse is being carried,
don't say, "Parting, separation!"
Since, for me,
that is the time for union and meeting.
And when you leave me in the grave,
don't say, "Good-bye! Good-bye!”
The grave is only a curtain for hiding
the gathering of souls in Paradise.
Having seen the fall,
Consider the rise.
Why should there be any loss
because of
The setting of the sun and moon?
It seems like a setting to you, but it
is rising.
The tomb seems like a prison, but is the soul's liberation.
What seed ever went down into the earth
that didn't grow?
Why should you doubt
about the human’s "seed"?
What bucket ever went down
and didn't come out full?
Why lament for a soul
when it can return
like Joseph from the well?
When you have closed your mouth
on this side,
open it on that side
to raise up your voice
beyond place and time.
[Molana, Ghazal 911]
released September 15, 2023
Fall and Rise (2022) - Tember Ensemble & guests
Alireza Ostovar (concept, artistic direction, composition, live-electronics, and recorded/processed video).
Azin Zahedi (santur, flute & voice recitation, interpretation/improvisation).
Petros Tzekos (percussions & voice recitation, interpretation/improvisation).
Poem from Molana Rumi
Mix, Mastering, and artwork by Alireza Ostovar.
Live recorded on 17.September.2023, in Berlin.