Homage to Hafiz - OB/PN

Homage to Hafiz
for oboe and piano
by Simon Sargon (1938-2022) -American composer, pianist, and music educator of Israeli and Indian descent  
This piece was performed to great acclaim at the 2005 IDRS Conference by Erin Hannigan. A wonderful addition to the oboe repertoire with its own unique tonal colors.
The Persian poet Hafiz (1320-1389) was born and lived in Shiraz, a beautiful garden city. Known as a famous spiritual teacher as well as a poet, his Divan (collected poems) is a classic in the literature of Sufism and mystical verse. The work of Hafiz became known in the West largely through the passion of Goethe, who remarked that "Hafiz has no peer". Ralph Waldo Emerson translated Hafiz into English in the 19th century, and he was venerated by such distinguished figures as Nietzsche, Federico Garcia Lorca, and Brahms. It is only in the last half century that Hafiz has become widely known to western readers. His poetry- along with his great contemporary, Rumi, has been referred to as one of the seven great literary wonders of the world. 
In this three mod pieces for oboe and piano, I have tried to create a musical statement reflecting Hafiz's unique humor, wisdom, and joyous love of life. As the poet himself expressed it: "one regret, dear world, that I am determined to have when I am lying on my deathbed, is that I did not kiss you enough".
--Simon Sargon