Rising Arab American composer seeks more poetic era

Rising Arab American composer seeks more poetic era

In an era where conflict between cultures has become alarmingly frequent, the composer Mohammed Fairouz has crafted his music into a plea for understanding and the transformative power of poetry. The prolific 29-year-old, whose work brings elements from the Islamic world to Western classical music, bases much of his new album, "Follow, Poet," around verses by 20th-century literary giants W.H. Auden and Seamus Heaney. It's much more difficult to dehumanize a group if you love their music and their poetry," Fairouz told AFP over a mug of tea at a New York recording studio.