A Ladder for the Soul
16 February 2008 AB
What a wonderful meeting this is! These are the children of the Kingdom. The song we have just listened to was very beautiful in melody and words. The art of music is divine and effective. It is the food of the soul and spirit. Through the power and charm of music the spirit of man is uplifted. It has wonderful sway and effect in the hearts of children, for their hearts are pure, and melodies have great influence in them. The latent talents with which the hearts of these children are endowed will find expression through the medium of music. Therefore, you must exert yourselves to make them proficient; teach them to sing with excellence and effect. It is incumbent upon each child to know something of music, for without knowledge of this art the melodies of instrument and voice cannot be rightly enjoyed. Likewise, it is necessary that the schools teach it in order that the souls and hearts of the pupils may become vivified and exhilarated and their lives be brightened with enjoyment.
(Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 52)
Music is a “Ladder for the Soul” according to the Bahá’í Writings. I once heard a Hindu scholar say that poetry is to the human condition what a telescope or microscope is to science, and I think it applies on hundred percent to music as well. I think this applies to all music which edifies, whether religious or not. Music that promotes negative messages is harmful and ugly; music that ignores the negative messages in the world is naive and ugly; music that is aware of the negative messages in the world but refuses to fall under their sway is beautiful and Godly. I want to highlight four such artists which I love who I believe are promoting the messages this world needs.
Matisyahu
http://matismusic.com/
Maybe I love this guy because I am an arrogant young Bahá’í, but I love him. Being an arrogant young Bahá’í means believing the world has to change damn quick, and is only going to do that through the efforts of the youth. Matisyahu makes this a mantra in the title track of his album Youth:
Slam your fist on the table
And make your demand
Take a stand
Fan a fire for the flame of the youth
Got the freedom to choose
You better make the right move
Young man, the power’s in your hand
Slam your fist on the table and make your demand
You better make the right move
“youth is the engine of the world”
Blue Scholars
http://bluescholars.com
I mentioned before the disconnect between the true intent of rap and reggae and the modern perversions thereof. Rap and reggae are inherently religious in my mind, as they originated as protest against a borken world and a call for change. Well, Matisyahu is holding down the reggae front, and the Blue Scholars are his rap equivalent. The Blue Scholars are a Seattle group with some of the most intelligent, socially aware and virulent lyrics I have ever heard, and most likely the most beautiful beats on this planet. Given, these guys could be construed as a bit too political for Bahá’ís, but one of them is a Bahá’í and I cannot think of anything more essential to the Faith than a call for change.
Till they turn into dust, it’s tough times in the rough
Diamonds ain’t enough to cover up a corrupted and fucked up
Legacy of strange food, bloody whips and small pox, trigger happy cops,
Barbed wire and fire water, ya’ll it don’t stop
When the colonizer came with the cross and the sword,
I threw the first spear and said “I declare war!”
I’m a battle scar-wearin’ heir apparent,
Descendant of a long lineage of proletariat and peasant
David Hunt
http://davidhuntmusic.com
I had the pleasure of hearing David Hunt performing while I attended a Bahá’í Summer Camp recently. This man does not look like the sort of musician he really is. He appears a very mellow, introspective man, but has the warmest friendliest music out of all these artists. His is folk music, and generally very mellow he weaves spiritual themes into traditional topic relating to our daily lives.
And now I know that I’m living
Lights went out on the boats in the bay
Just before the sun was risen
So friday morning has come again
And oh, what a gift I’ve been given
All my time is my own today
And what else could I have chosen
But to give it to you
My only criticism is that every song on his first album is deeply reminiscent of Kansas’s “Dust in the Wind”. I was surprised to hear a song from his latest album where David departs somewhat from his meditative soft-acoustic sound, to a more aggressive sort of spirituality. Luckily he offers this song for free download on his website, as his newest album is not availible on iTunes, and I don’t have the money to buy it anyways.
They’re written on the moment before you move
You want to change the world with your actions
Is it the love or the anger that you’re listening to?
‘Cause an invisible line runs inside us
It’s drawn on the veins around your heart
You want to tear down every evil thing
Or build up something good
And make a brand new start
So tell me where you draw the battle lines
Tell me where you draw the battle lines
Where do you draw the battle lines
Dawnbreaker Collective
http://dawnbreakercollective.com
Filling the role of the group Justice Leeg, the Dawnbreaker Collective is hip and poignant music for us Bahá’í Youth. Comprised of the biggest young Bahá’ís in the music industry, the Dawnbreaker Collective jumps between Rap, Folk, and Spoken Word. The Dawnbreaker Collective is very much a youth group, and not something which would appeal much to non Bahá’ís. For us though, they give us a great example of how hip culture can mesh with religion. While they are less socially aware than some of the others, I think that are equally empowering for Bahá’í youth. My favorite song describes a man on his last day of Pilgrimage lamenting the state of Israel and singing a deeply romantic song to the very land the modern nation is founded on.
Here I am under your sky- with your people, eye to eye-
Do they know the Nightingale of Paradise is in their midst?
Do they know the Nightingale of Paradise and you have kissed?
I hope that Peace will greet you soon- but until that flower blooms-
I leave you a Rose, I leave you the Word- I leave you the lovers of His Wine-
And a song to keep you strong- until the day when you will shine-
In the Glory you will shine- the Greatest Glory-Good morning, good morning Israel-
I’m leaving, so I’m singing my farewell-
My last sunrise, a sweet goodbye-
I got a ticket for noon- won’t see your Moon tonight.
God’s Love, Blessings and Mercy to one and all.
poetryman69
17 February, 2008 at 3:04 pm