Pure Water

Poetry of Rumi

By: Coleman Barks

Narrated by: Coleman Barks, Eugene Friesen (cello)

A 2009 Nautilus Gold Award Winner, Pure Water is Coleman Barks’ inspired live performance of the poetry of Jellaludin Rumi (1207-1273) - with Sufi stories and jokes, accompanied with music by Bach, O’Carolan, Friesen and others.

The performance captured in this recording recalls the essence of the communal celebrations of poetry, stories, jokes, prayer, and music in which Rumi’s work was first uttered, but presents it in a distinctive contemporary setting. Coleman’s words combine with the cello of Grammy Award-winner Eugene Friesen, carrying the language directly into the heart of the listener with a diverse menu of world folk melodies, Bach, and improvisation.

As Rumi wrote: "What is the soul? Consciousness. The more awareness, the deeper the soul, and when such essence overflows, you feel a sacredness around. It’s so simple to tell one who puts on a robe and pretends to be a dervish from the real thing. We know the taste of pure water...."

©2011 Coleman Barks (P)2011 BetterListen! LLC

Lightweight Poetry Experience

Would you consider the audio edition of Pure Water to be better than the print version?

Not really, as the readings of poems felt less a focal than the story telling and music

Has Pure Water turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, but this was a hybrid of other things, poetry just one aspect.

Any additional comments?

I'd listen to this again, but I was really seeking a Rumi poetry primer and this was more performance piece with a musical theme

Live performance, perfectly imperfect w/ cello acc

A lovely mixture of Rumi, Coleman Barks originals, and others with cello accompaniment, that adds another layer of delicious texture to the performance creation. This was my first introduction to Rumi, and I have enjoyed revisiting this collaborative creation, when wrestling with the western modern man's reductionist mentality.

great narration and stories of poems by rumi

I love this book and the interpretation of the great poems captures the essence of the human soul and mind

Timeless

Coleman Barks has done a wonderful thing here in the translation and reading of Rumi.

Calm healing

Wonderful concert-like performance. Exceeded my expectations. Pure Water combines the ancient poetry of a great seer with modern sensibility. Barks is a master of this performance form.