Confessions of the Mulberry Tree

Confessions of the Mulberry Tree is inspired by the final poetry collection of Baktash Abtin (1974–2022). Abtin, an Iranian poet, filmmaker, and 2021 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award recipient, was a committed advocate of freedom of expression and peaceful opposition to censorship. His relentless fight led to his imprisonment and, ultimately, his tragic death. The poems he wrote during his imprisonment were published in his own handwriting in a book titled An Elegy for Withered Flowers, released in 2024 in Sweden.

Inspired by Abtin's poems, Amin Tafreshi responds to the political suppression of art, literature, and music in Iran and globally. His piece thus resonates with others in the program, such as Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto, composed under Stalin’s totalitarian regime despite intense oppression. To highlight this connection, Amin Tafreshi uses the same instrumentation as Shostakovich’s concerto. While Shostakovich employed a musical cryptogram (D-E♭-C-B) to represent his name, Amin Tafreshi incorporates the word "freedom" (F/F♯-D-C♯-E) as a motif in Confessions of the Mulberry Tree, referencing a poem by Abtin starting with "I was the cry for freedom." Furthermore, influences from Persian music techniques—such as call-and-response, rhythmic ostinatos, and drones—blend with Western classical music in Amin Tafreshi’s piece, reflecting his intercultural experiences shaped by life in both Iran and the Netherlands.

The title Confessions of the Mulberry Tree is also inspired by one of Abtin’s poems, in which he describes the sorrowful shadow of a mulberry tree stretching across the prison yard. The tree witnesses the suffering and cruelty inflicted upon the innocent yet remains voiceless. By drawing upon this imagery, Confessions of the Mulberry Tree transforms the tree’s silent witness into a powerful voice of resistance through music—one that speaks for those silenced and honours the sacrifices of all individuals like Baktash Abtin, who fought for freedom, even at the cost of their own lives.

The premiere recording at Het Concertgebouw, featuring the Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest and conducted by Gemma New, is available on NPO Klassiek.

To celebrate the premiere of my Confessions of the Mulberry Tree with the Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest, I had the pleasure of joining the Klankcast podcast! In this episode, I discuss the inspirations behind the piece, the creative process, and the stories that shaped my music. Listen on Spotify or other digital platforms.

Along with this episode, you can find additional insights and references in "Insider Blog Post"