Rumi by Candlelight
“At any gathering I am there,
mingling in the laughing and grieving,
a friend to each.”

Experience the timeless poetry of Rumi brought to life through a fusion of music and verse in the intimate and acoustically enchanting Saint Anne’s Chapel at Oak Grove Retreat in Tarboro, NC. “Rumi by Candlelight” intertwines original compositions with the enchanting sounds of the West African kora, bansuri flute, piano, violin, and percussion. Join us for an immersive, soulful evening featuring recitations in both English and Persian, bridging cultures and traditions.

Doors open at 4:00pm with a Wine and Cheese Social with the show starting at 5:15pm in Saint Anne’s Chapel. Bring a cushion for your chair.

Our 2024 collective:
Majid Bastani: Poetry in English and Persian, Percussion
Betsy Bevan: Piano, Percussion
Will Ridenour: Kora, Percussion
Daniel Chambo: Bansuri Flutes, Vocals, Percussion

About Rumi:

Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207–1273), born in present-day Afghanistan, was a 13th-century Islamic scholar and poet who became one of the most celebrated Sufi mystics. After his family fled the Mongol invasions, they settled in Konya (now Turkey), where Rumi succeeded his father as the head of a religious school. In 1244, his spiritual life was transformed by his meeting with Shams-i-Tabriz, a wandering dervish whose sudden disappearance plunged Rumi into grief and inspired his most famous mystical poetry, which continues to resonate across cultures.

“A road might end at a single house, but it’s not love’s road. Love is a river. Drink from it.” - Rumi