WORLD FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC

World Festival Of Sacred Music Europe Vox, Sarband, Angelite, Sacred Music, Roots Music

Sampler (2 CD)

There is no peace between people and countries without the peace of religions. An initiative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the meeting of the global religions and cultures in sacred music.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner, His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama has called for a "World Festival of Sacred Music" and for a "Global Quest for Unison". This is being supported by the president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, the musician, Pandit Ravi Shankar, the Indian philosopher Swami Chidananda, Archbishop Tutu of South Africa, Madame Danielle Mitterand and Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, as well as many other artists, scientists and spiritual leaders. The series of festivals begins in October 1999 in Los Angeles and runs through all the continents with the finale in Bangalore, India.

Music, especially religious and spiritual music, is perhaps the deepest and most moving expression of man1s soul. The hard to put into words, transcendental nature of man often vibrates in it - no matter what culture he lives in or to which religion he belongs. There is no peace between people and countries without the peace of religions. Man finds his deepest and most personal as well as most general sense of existence through religion. However, religions have mutually created a lot of suffering throughout history.

The dialogue between religions in their music can bring a growing understanding and a new vision for the next millennium, especially today in Europe - the continent of religious wars and persecutions based on religious beliefs. A festival of spiritual music can perhaps give hope its strongest form; finding peace with our neighbors and with nature, feeling sympathy for those in need and without fear making love the maxim in our lives.

It should lead us to mutual respect especially for our inner understanding of life and to an exchange of our experiences and knowledge, so that we can strengthen the friendship and harmony between us. As an announcement of the European Festival this double CD presents the sacred music of the old Europe in contrast to a new sacred space in which contemporary composers create new artistic expressions and at the same time reflect religious traditions from the world over.

The European sector of this festival has been organized by the World Festival of Sacred Music - Europe. A Global Quest for Unison Assoc., headed by Dr. Roland Haas, Froschweg 29, D-70499 Stuttgart, Germany, phone: 49 (0)172-7112668 fax: 49 (0)711-8601543 Email: WFSMEurope@cs.com or Dr.Roland.Haas@Stuttgart.de. Honorary Chairman: Director Lama Doboom Tulku, Tibet House, New-Dehli.

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1. Ensemble Sirin - In Jerusalem The Bells Toll
Russian Sacred Folkmusic

2. Linna Muusikud Estonian - Hingelend
Sacred Folkmusic

3. John Doan - Saint Patrick In The Spirit
Celtic Traditional Music

4. Voyage En Sardaigne Orchestra - Lunissanti/Miserere
Sacred new and ancient music of Sardinia

5. Irén Lovász - Márton Szép Ilona
Sacred Hungarian Folksong

6. Andor Izsák - Vajehi Binsoa

7. Andor Izsák - Ma Tovu

8. Andor Izsák - Uwenucho Jomar

9. Andor Izsák - Halleluja
jewish sacred music

10. Philippopolis - Dostoino Est
Liturgical songs of praise of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church

11. VOX - Maravillosos
Medieval Music

12. The Russian Patriarchate Choir - Hymn To The Mother Of God
Russian Ancient Orthodox Liturgy

13. Sophia Papazoglou - At The Beauty Of Your Virginity
Byzantine religious hymn with contemporary arrangement

14. St Daniels Choir - Du bist echte Weinrebe
Slavic/Georgian liturgical chant

15. Angelite - Praise The Name Of The Lord
Orthodox Bulgarian Music

16. Schola der Benediktinerabtei Königsmünster - Introitus / Da Pacem, Domine
Gregorianian Choir - Plainchant

17. Choir Of The Monks Of Chevetogne - Hymn Of The Cherubim
Chants of the Byzantinic-Slavonic Rite

18. VOX feat. Fadia El Hage - Kreuzigung
Christian Arab Tradition

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1. VOX - Spiritui Sancto
Medieval Music

2. Juan Carlos Carmona - Hope
Sufi poem and Sufi music

3. Sarband - Hüseynî Ilâhî
Sufi Music

4. Mallik Family - Balu Retiya/Song For Krishna
Sacred Hindu-Music

5. Hortus Musicus - An den Wassern zu Babel saßen wir und weinten

6. Boni Pueri - Missa Propria "Kyrie"

7. Amanda - Agnus Dei

8. Tatjana Grindenko - Koan

9. Ram, Arsis, Lovász, Järvi - Aspiration For The Pure Land
contemporary sacred music

The Dalai Lama Message

We approach the new millenium as citizens of a world that has grown smaller. Increasingly, we are beginning to recognize the interconnected nature of our lives which, in turn, emphasises the need for each one of us to develop the spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation in tackling problems facing us today.

As living beings we all seek happiness and do not want suffering. Each one of us has an equal right to pursue happiness. Compassion is a peaceful, gentle and powerful force that helps us develop the very qualities we need to attain our goal of happiness.

The dawning of the new millenium also brings with it the need for a new sense of universal responsibility. We are responsible not merely for our own happiness, we affect and are affected by the concerns of all others on this globe. This is the nature of interdependence. We are now faced with an opportunity to break down barriers in the name of national, racial, ideological or religious identities. These narrow identities have often been destructive and harmful, and against the very spirit of a global family. We should now look towards invoking the forces of peace and harmony, of hope and strength, of renewal and responsibility.

Among the many forms in which human spirit has tried to express its innermost yearnings and perceptions, music is perhaps the most universal. It symbolizes the yearnings for harmony, with oneself and with others; with nature and with the spiritual and the sacred within us and around us. There is something in music that transcends and unites. This is evident in the sacred music of every community - music that expresses the universal yearning that is shared by people all over the globe.

It is the spirit that the World Festival of Sacred Music is being initiated as a coming together of people of diverse backgrounds and traditions to share and nurture the profoundest expression of the human spirit that is part of each of us.

I appeal to all like-minded people to join in this endeavor and help bring to fruition this important and universally relevant project.

September 4, 1998
THE DALAI LAMA