“Birthday Music for Darius, Rumi, and Razi” was composed at the request of their parents, Marshall and Panthea Howland. It is a bitter-sweet set of pieces due to the older brother, Darius, passing after a few seconds of life. His two younger sisters, Rumi and Razi, are healthy and happy. The accompanying poetry by the great Persian poet, Rumi, expresses the love of the parents for all three of their children.