Dalai Lama's World Festival of Sacred Music

[Guest guest]

Dear All:

 

Thought you would like this. It looks like we will have the honor of going

and performing at least to the Los Angeles section, I spoke to the gentleman

organizing it on Sunday. Let me know if any of you will be able to attend.

L*L*L Rainbo

*********************************************

WORLD FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC

Since February, there have been some changes, as yet unannounced, regarding

this international festival. However, the concept and the intention remain

unchanged. Clearly such an initiative requires the participation of a broad

range of individuals. In this era of globalisation, this event may be of

interest.

*********************************************

 

'A GLOBAL QUEST FOR UNISON'

February 1999

 

from: Foundation for the Support of the World Festival of Sacred Music

(FSWFSM)

 

Summary of six WFSM programs around the world

 

'World Festival of Sacred Music, A Global Quest for Unison'

an initiative of H.H. the Dalai Lama

 

The World Festival of Sacred Music is initiated by the Dalai Lama to

approach the new millennium with a new sense of universal responsibility.

The Dalai Lama: 'We now have an opportunity to break down barriers and

create the spirit of a global family. We should invoke the forces of peace

and harmony. Music symbolizes the yearnings for harmony with the sacred

within and around us. The World Festival of Sacred Music is a coming

together of people and traditions to share and nurture the profoundest

expression of the human spirit that is part of each one of us.' The Dalai

Lama appeals to all like-minded people to join and help bring this relevant

project to fruition.

 

The five continental festivals will be in Los Angeles, Dresden, Cape Town,

Sydney and Hiroshima. The Grand Final, held in India, is a global festival.

All five continents will be sending a minimum of 40 musicians to the Grand

Finale in India. Each continental festival consists of a series of concerts

and performances that represent that continents's heritage of sacred music.

Each continental festival will be blessed by the presence of the Dalai Lama

and a choir of monks and nuns from all Tibetan Buddhist traditions.

The Foundation for Universal Responsibility of H.H. the Dalai Lama and

Tibet House, the Cultural Centre of H.H. the Dalai Lama, have been

entrusted with the task of co-ordinating this project under the guidance of

Lama Doboom Tulku, director of both the Foundation for Universal

Responsibility and Tibet House. Each Continental Festival consists of a

series of concerts and performances that represent that continent's

heritage of sacred music.

 

AMERICAS, LOS ANGELES (9-17 OCTOBER 1999)

 

The 'World Festival of Sacred Music, the Americas is a nine-day

celebration of sacred music traditions of the people of the Americas.

'Sacred' is defined broadly to encompass musical forms from ritual and folk

traditions of indigenous peoples to contemporary expressions of sacred

music. The festival - part of the city of Los Angeles' Millennium

Celebration - will engage the diverse communities of Los Angeles in a

city wide arts event taking place in a range of venues, from the city's

major stages to intimate places of worship throughout Los Angeles city and

county.

 

The Los Angeles Philharmonic performs together with the choir monks and

nuns from the different Tibetan Buddhist traditions in the opening concert

on Saturday, October 9. The presence of the Dalai Lama is requested for

this opening celebration.

 

The 'Sacred Music of the Americas Concert', with a focus on the indigenous

traditions of the Americas, is scheduled for the Hollywood Bowl, an outdoor

amphitheater that seats 17000, on Sunday, October 10. The program has

Native American Music, African American Gospels and Spirituals, but also a

HuicholPueblo/Hopi group, Latino Songs to the Virgin of Guadelupe,

Hawaiian music to the goddess Pele, a Sacred Harp Chorus, Gregorian Chants,

Sufi Music and the Philip Glass Ensemble with songs from the film Kundun.

 

The next days' programs feature: Women's Voices singing Jewish, Armenian

and Indian songs; Cross Cultural Sharing of Asian and Latino traditions; an

Interfaith Celebration with contemporary musician and dancer Meredith Monk;

a Concert of Sephardic Jewish and Arab Sacred Music; Temple Dances; Pacific

Island Sacred Music and Christian Chorale Music.

 

The L.A. event closes with a 'Sacred Music of Los Angeles Concert' on

Sunday, October 17. It will focus on the sacred music of the people of Los

Angeles. It is scheduled for the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, an outdoor

arts venue seating 1250.

 

A team of cultural specialists and ethnomusicologists research and document

traditions of both indigenous and immigrant communities of the peoples of

the Americas to provide comprehensive background information in their WFSM

concert programs. Educators are developing contextual information into a

packet of materials for school teachers, as a means to foster respect and

peace in the new millennium through music and media.

 

EUROPE, DRESDEN (19-27 NOVEMBER 1999)

 

The 'World Festival of Sacred Music, Europe' is an eight-day series of

concerts and church bell symphonies of religious and sacred music traditions

of the people of Europe and around the world. The city of Dresden is the

venue, but Dresden involves its twin cities Petersburg and Coventry too.

 

The opening concert on Friday afternoon, November 19, in the Kulturpalast,

is conducted by Lord Yehudi Menuhin, the Honorary President of the European

festival. The concert presents a program of sacred music as healing music

such as: Makam, the old Turkish healing music and, Nada Brahma, the Indian

style of healing through sound. In the evening at 22.00 hours there will be

a meditation in the famous Frauenkirche, destroyed during WW II but rebuilt

completely.

 

Saturday, November 20, the 'jewish day', will have smaller and bigger

concerts and lectures on jewish music of ancient Europe from Spain, Italy,

the Balkan and again sacred music as healing music. A night concert will

emphasize the Song of Songs, the Christian Song of King Solomon, the

ancient European Mystic in Love.

 

Sunday, November 21, is the day for Christianity and will present Lutheran,

Roman Catholic and Anglican liturgies throughout the day.

 

Monday, November 22, has in the evening two concerts of old European music

from Russia and Estonia.

 

Tuesday, November 23, is the day of Gypsy music from Spain and France,

Christian orthodox music from Russia, Islamic music from Ephesus and Roman

Catholic music from Poland and Spain.

 

On Wednesday, November 24, monks from Petersburg, nuns from Greek, and

church singers from Moscow will perform in the Kreuzkirche.

 

On Thursday, November 25, presents hymns and songs from Syria, Coptic

liturgy, Maronite songs, Byzantine liturgy and sacred music from ancient

Europe.

 

Friday, November 26, has an evening concert of Sufi music and a lecture by

Sheikh Nazim Adel al Haqqani an Naqhsibandi.

 

Saturday, November 27, Peter Vaahi from Estonia gives an afternoon concert

of Supreme Silence. In the evening 108 Tibetan monks, Bahai music, Hindu

music, Sikh music etc. will be performed and H.H. the Dalai Lama will give

a lecture.

 

Throughout the festival at 22.00 hours in the evening the meditation in the

famous Frauenkirche will be repeated.Also Koran readings, daily Orthodox

Christian, Roman Christian, Armenian Christian, Coptic services, Gregorian

services, as well as Buddhist rituals for the sand mandala that is

especially made for Dresden, can be attended throughout the festival.

 

 

AFRICA, CAPE TOWN (9-11 DECEMBER 1999)

 

The 'World Festival of Sacred Music, Africa' is a three-day event that will

include the sacred sounds of all 56 countries in the continent of Africa.

Cape Town shall be captured in the sounds of African gospel music for three

days. The Dalai Lama will hopefully be part of the Cape Town celebrations

on the first day, Wednesday, December 8, the inauguration of the African

festival. The 108 Tibetan monks and nuns will perform in Cape Town that

opening day. The African festival will also bring together Mr. Nelson

Mandela and the Dalai Lama for a media conference from Robben Island.

 

The festival takes place at three large venues: a sports stadium, an

outdoor venue in the public gardens of Cape Town and a music hall for the

closing night program. A selection committee of musicians, professors of

music and ethnomusicologists make final selections on who appears at the

festival. For new information visit the website with the url related name:

www.wfsmafrica.org.za

 

AUSTRALIA, SYDNEY (17-19 MARCH 2000)

 

The 'World Festival of Sacred Music, Australia' is a three-day event which

at the centre piece draws upon the talents of the 40-60.000 years old

culture of the Indigenous Peoples of Australia.

 

The Dalai Lama is requested to perform the opening ceremony on March 17 in

the company of the 108 monks and nuns from the different Tibetan Buddhist

traditions. The program for the opening

 

evening involves representations of traditional tribes from throughout

Australia and Aboriginal performers involved in contemporary indigenous

expression, who still have the aboriginal spirituality at the core of their

sound. Groups performing contemporary expressions are: the Bangarra Dance

Theatre Mimi, the Marrungaku Company's dancers and musicians and the

Aboriginal Band Yothu Yindhi. The Torres Strait Islander Group will be

represented by indigenous Christine Arnu, now a renowned singer of

contemporary music. As Aboriginals are earth worshippers, it is appropriate

to hold their performances in open air venues.

 

The second day of the Australian festival Papua New Guinea groups, the

Maori peoples from New Zealand, and the Melanesian groups, the Tongians,

Samoans and Fijians will perform. The first Papua New Guinea singer bassist

to come out and earn international renown, KIare Du-olgla, will perform on

this second day of the festival.

 

Complimenting the indigenous cultures will be performance pieces on the

third day by The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, The Australian Choral Group,

The Sydney Chamber Children's Choir, The Song Company, renowned for their

Gregorian Chants, and The Sydney Philharmonic Choir, internationally

praised for their virtuousity and versality. Carmella Baynie, with her

unusual Arab/Celtic mix of music, drawing upon her Lebanese, Scottish and

Irish ancestry, will contribute her unusual vocal style.

 

Further research is initiated and a detailed draff proposal will be ready

by early next February.

 

Venues for the festival are, for the first day, the open air Opera House

Forecourt offering the dramatic backdrop of the Sydney Harbour with the

Harbour Bridge and city skyline in clear view.

The Botanical Gardens Amphitheatre is the venue for the second day. For the

closing concert the Darling Harbour Convention Centre offers the

appropriate capacity of 10.000 seats.

 

ASIA, TOKYO AND HIROSHIMA (23 MARCH-2 APRIL 2000)

 

The 'World Festival of Sacred Music, Asia' is a thirteen-day event that

will start with concerts, from 23-28 March, on a cruise ship in Tokyo Bay.

The Tokyo audience can visit the ship to enjoy rehearsals and attend small

concerts and dance performances in the different ballrooms of the ship.

 

Some 300 musicians and dancers are going to meet for the first time on

board of the ship in Tokyo Bay. They will live and rehearse together from

that moment on. The unison of sacred music will really be practised on this

musical Arc of Noah. Performers from different parts of Asia and the world

will naturally play together. The idea is to bring the understanding of

unison into practice by making the musicians who have never heard each

other's music before, play and enjoy their sounds and rythms together.

 

For the Tokyo audience the Arc of Noah will be like an 'amusement park' for

sacred music. The public can enjoy sounds from far-away lands but one can

also have an ethnic lunch, tea or dinner.

The Tokyo Bay event will work as a one week promotion program for the main

festival days on Miyajima Island.

 

On March 29 the ship will sail from Tokyo Bay to cover 1000 kilometers on

the Pacific Ocean and the Setonaikai inland sea to reach Hiroshima Bay.

 

On March 30 the Dalai Lama is requested to perform a ceremony for the

victims of the Hiroshima nuclear attack on the ceremonial square in the

centre of Hiroshima city. At the Hiroshima memorial the Dalai Lama,

initiator of the World Festival of Sacred Music, will pray for peace in the

coming millenium. For this ceremony the Dalai Lama will be accompanied by

the 108 Tibetan monks and nuns. Officials from Hiroshima city, national

dignitaries and other officials are invited for this official opening of

the World Festival of Sacred Music for Asia. An audience of 10.000 can

easily join in for free in this ceremony at Hiroshima Memorial Park. The

media will broadcast the Dalai Lama meeting Hiroshima as a message for

world peace.

 

The next day, March 31, starts the three-day main program on Miyajima

Island, in sight of the city of Hiroshima, in Hiroshima Bay. For thousands

of years Miyajima Island has been considered a sacred island. The Japanese

have been going to the island for spiritual retreats for as long as they

remember.

Every Japanese feels the soothing atmosphere of the island even when only

pronouncing its name. Miyajima Island is a 'God Island' they say.

 

The small island has a three hundred meter high mountain called 'a symbol

of God'. One of Japan's most important Shinto shrines is the more than a

thousand years old, Unesco protected monument, built half into the water,

that has the mountain as its backdrop. The concerts will be held in the

shrine and in front of the shrine. In the water a large stage will be built

in front of the shrine. From small boats musicians will make their sound

carry over the water. The audience is part of this lively event from the

shrine and from the shore. An audience of 20.000 is expected to participate

every day.

 

For three days from 5-8 p.m. the musicians and dancers will perform in

daylight and dusk. Music sometimes communicates history better than words.

Canadian Eskimos for instance play the mouth harp in exactly the same way

as the original Japanese Ainu people on Hokaldo play a mouth harp. This

tells us that they had a communication that is not mentioned in our history

books. The Gnawa music, now found in Morocco, has the same scale as

Japanese folk music and Tibetan folk music. This too tells about earlier

connections between these far apart outposts of Eurasia.

 

At the start of the three main concerts of the Asian festival sacred horn

sounds from all over the world will be brought together. Tibetan monks,

Japanese Shinto priests, Australian Aboriginals, African Natives blow their

horns, mixing in with pre-Christian horn sounds from Europe, Moslim horns

as well as Native American Indian horns. All horns will merge into one

honest cry for attention. Like drums, horns are originally used for

communication between people and between people and gods. This start will

be a horn fanfare with a harmony of its own that will sound from the stages

and boats.

 

The Asian festival also brings contemporary musicians together with

authentic music and dance, to create the sound and rythm of the sacred

music and dance for the next millennium. In Japan half of the musicians will

be from Asia, including China. The other half will come from all over the

world.

 

 

GRAND FINALE, BANGALORE, INDIA (APRIL 2000)

 

The exact dates for the seven-day Grand Finale of the 'World Festival of

Sacred Music, India' are yet to be confirmed. Each continent will send

music groups and solo musicians to the Grand Finale. In addition to the

musicians from the five continents there will be representations of sacred

music of India, which will include Baul singers, Sufiana Kalam, Sankirtan,

Dagar Brothers, Wadali Brothers, Carnatic Recital and Pandit Bhinsen Joshi.

 

Every day will bring together different groups. Whirling Dervishes and

African American Gospel singers, Australian Aboriginals and the Vienna Boys

Choir from Austria, a Noh group from Japan and Native American groups and

Russian Orthodox choirs, Peruvian Inca music, Gnawa music from Morroco,

traditonal Jewish songs from Israel, Sufi music from Rajasthan, Maori music

from New Zealand, music from South and East Africa, a Mormon Tabernacle

Choir,Tibetan monastic dance, Sacred music from the South Pacific will be

brought together with Vedic chants and sacred music from India.

The Dalai Lama is expected to be present at the main events of the Grand

Finale.

##########

 

You can contact the Foundation for Support of the World Festival of Sacred

Music (FSWFSM) if you wish to support this initiative by contacting:

 

FSWFSM

Attn. Louwrien Wijers

e-mail: amsse

fax: (+31 20) 623 9969

tel : (+31 20) 622 4393

 

**********************************************************

[Guest guest]

Dear RainboLily:

 

Gosh, love to attend the LA performance. It's about a four to five hour

drive, but within reach and worth the effort if schedules can be worked out.

I'd need to arrange with friends in the area to stay over prior to the event.

Can you send ticket and reservation info, please?

 

Warm Regards,

Blessings,

Love,

 

Zenbob

[Guest guest]

Dear Bob:

 

The information is at the bottom of the email I believe, sorry, I know

nothing about tickets, that normally gets contracted out.

 

L*L*L

Rain