She/He.

In this work the dualist philosophy of ibn “Arabi provided a framework for dealing with the complexities of love and gender in Arabic writing. According to his heterodox thinking, the words “he” and “she” are methods of exploring the supernatural In choosing texts for this project, examples were found that could provide insight and historical context for Arabic philosophies of desire. These texts were then ordered and shaped into a larger dramatic work that could narrate a cohesive “story” using the tropes of joy and despair commonly expressed in Arabic love writing. The work is structured as a classical oratorio; however, standing in for the traditional choir is the saxophone quartet, providing an aural atmosphere that is at once human and organ-like. The central melodic element of the work is comprised of dualistic parts (A and B) that complement each other, as from ibn Arabi. Arabic is unique amongst languages in that it has been tightly preserved since its emergence. A common musical foundation is established that indicates the remarkable continuity of Arabic expression throughout history, while also mapping Arabic expressions of desire onto classical Western musical tropes.AMUMusic: CompositionUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/99869/1/suby_1.pd