Metropolitan Washington Bahá'í Chorale

06/19/2024

In honor of , I celebrate the trailblazing African-American composer and arranger, Harry T. Burleigh.

In his book "Negro Spirituals", he wrote:

"[Negro spirituals'] worth is weakened unless they are done impressively, for through all these songs breathes a hope, a faith in the ultimate justice and brotherhood of man. The cadences of sorrow invariably turn to joy, the message is ever manifest that eventually deliverance from all that hinders and oppresses the soul will come, and man–every man–will be free."

Biography. Harry Thacker Burleigh played a significant role in the development of American art song, having composed over two hundred works in the genre. He was the first African-American composer acclaimed for his concert songs as well as for his adaptations of African-American spirituals. In addit...

08/19/2023

Message from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the Hawaiian Islands:

Dear Friends,
As of this morning, we learned that Maui County established a new website, Maui Nui Strong. To learn about support for Maui wildfire relief, the friends may turn to this reliable source:

https://www.mauinuistrong.info

Please share this with your community immediately.

Your ultimate resource for Maui County, including Maui, Moloka‘i, and Lana‘i. Originally an online COVID-19 resource, it has evolved into an economic development program connecting residents, businesses, and visitors to valuable information, resources, and opportunities.

08/06/2023

Those of you familiar with the Metropolitan Washington (DC) Baha’i Chorale over the years might recognize the folks in this photo. From right to left, Dorie Arbach, Eric Arbach, Linda Head, me (Roya Bauman), and Matt Arbach.

The amazing Linda Head has accompanied the Chorale on piano for probably nearly 50 years!

10/21/2022

Trying to pull the Chorale back together after 2-3 years of hiatus!

Interested?

10/10/2022

04/08/2021

The Metropolitan Washington Baha'i Chorale performing Van Gilmer's piece, "Cause Me to Taste," at the November 2008 annual interfaith concert of the Interfaith Council (formerly Conference) of Metropolitan Washington. Featuring Van as soloist.

Bahai Chorale of Washington DC with soloist and choir director Van Gilmer singing "Cause Me To Taste, O My Lord" at the 1998 Interfaith Concert, National Shr...

03/26/2021

Louise Waite (1867–1939) cofounded North America’s first Bahá’í choir, the Vahid Choral Society.

She also wrote a song that was sung by Baha'is for many years, "Great Day Of God," which later came to be known as "Benediction."

It was published in 1927 in Baha'i Hymns of Peace and Praise by Louise R. Waite. In 1905, she first published it as a song-sheet "Great Day of God," which would become her most printed song, appearing in tens of thousands of copies in various publications over the next three decades.

In response to Louise's song "Benediction," the head of the Baha'i Faith at that time -- Abdu'l-Baha (meaning Servant of Baha) -- wrote the following letter:

To the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Chicago

HE IS GOD

The songs and anthem that Louise R. Waite raised in the Assembly of the unity of the Bahá'ís reached to the ears of the people of the Kingdom, it bestowed joy and fragrance to the spiritual ones. I ask God that this song may be sung eternally and this anthem and melody become everlasting.

Upon ye be BAHÁ-El-ABHÁ

Signed -'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas
Translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab
Washington D.C. 1909

Louise was given the name Shahnaz (translated for her as "melody") by Abdu'l-Baha.

https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2012/ND12_Shining_Lamp_Louise_Waite.pdf