Summary: The Freer and Sackler Galleries celebrated the 800th anniversary of the birth of the Sufi poet Jalal-a-Din Rumi with a day of concerts, poetry readings, family activities, and gallery tours. The Persian National Music Ensemble, based in Baltimore, told stories of Rumi's life, reflected on his philosophy, recited selected poems, and performed traditional musical settings of Rumi's lyrics sung by vocalist Firoozeh Zarrabi, accompanied by santur (hammered zither), tar (lute), and daff and tombak (percussion). This studio recording presents the same program performed at the Freer Gallery of Art on October 27, 2007. See images, program notes and related artwork at http://www.asia.si.edu/podcasts
