Love Be All

Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207-1273)

​

SATB (div.) choir, a cappella

Dedicated to the Concert Choir at Palmyra Area HS (Palmyra, PA); Alexis Farrell, conductor

​

Available through manuscript

​

This is a setting of quite possibly one of my favorite texts in existence.  Rumi's timeless text reminds us all about the fire of love that is desperate to burn in each of us.  Not only do his words remind us to be ever present in the "now," his text calls us to serve love, sustain love, and actually be love.  My setting of Love Be All is gentle yet exhibits compelling forward momentum through ostinato-like rhythmic patterns and subtle harmonic sequences.  The ultimate text of the poem "Make me your servant, your breath, your core" is juxtaposed against an eternity note representing love itself, creating what I hope is a tender, powerful moment before returning to the opening strains for the piece's coda.

​