In Farsi language, Āshéghāné-hā means love dedications, love songs. These songs are based on spiritual poetries of Eastern spiritual masters, with the intention of capturing a deeper meaning behind the text and sharing the beautiful sounds and diction of the poetic Farsi language. The words are such strong words and can be applied to many of us in different situations regardless of our race and age. The first song, Unattainable Love, is based on Hafiz poetry, and is about the pain of not being able to have a mutual communication and relationship with a distant beloved and thus burning in fire of passion. The second song Transcendent Omnipresent Love is based on poetry of a female spiritual master, Malik Jan Nemati, she was blind and used to live in a very small village. She had many flowers. The song is about admitting that wherever we go and whatever we look at, we see a manifestation of a distant beloved, who is present in every moment and everything. And the third song of the cycle, Hidden Existence is based on Rumi’s poetry. He wrote it when he lost his spiritual Master Shams, who turned his life upside down and gave him a new perspective in life. The song brings up joyful memories of being with this distant beloved and fear of lost, loneliness and abandonment. These songs were commissioned by Canadian Art Son (CASP) as part of a Royal Conservatory of Music recital celebrating the 250th anniversary of Beethoven, and was developed as a response to An die ferne Geliebte, Op. 98.
