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Sussan Deyhim: Navai

Navai is Deihim's first experiment with Iranian mystical poetry and is influenced by Persian classical and folk modes. The harmonic arrangement of the melodies is rather a European approach since singing harmonies is not part of the Middle Eastern vocal tradition. Navai was composed and recorded in 1987-1988. For the Sufi poets, sounds were uttered melodically into words. They depict the journey of the mind, while melodies draw the path of the soul. Out of this melange comes the poetry of Hafez-Roumi-Tabib.

Susan Deihim has been performing internationally as a vocalist, composer, dancer, choreographer, and performance artist since 1976. She's collaborated with composers Richard Horowitz, Branford Marsalis, Mickey Hart, Peter Scherer, Elliott Sharp, Heiner Goebbels, and Hector Zazou. In New York her work as been presented at Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.