Rhyme By Rhyme (2019)
Commissioned by Amaranth Quartet
For String Quartet
Based on the poetry by: Táhirih Qurrat al-Ayn (1817-1852)
Translated by Sholeh Wolpé
Táhirih
Táhirih (Ṭāhira) (Persian: طاهره, "The Pure One," also called Qurrat al-ʿAyn (Arabic: قرة العين "Solace/Consolation of the Eyes") are both titles of Fatimah Baraghani/Umm-i Salmih (1814 or 1817 – August 16–27, 1852), an influential poet, women's rights activist and theologian of the Bábí faith in Iran. She was one of the Letters of the Living, the first group of followers of the Báb. Her life, influence and execution made her a key figure of the religion. The daughter of Muhammad Salih Baraghani, she was born into one of the most prominent families of her time. Táhirih led a radical interpretation[9] that, though it split the Babi community, wedded messianism with Bábism.