Sheet Music & Rehearsal Tracks for Baha'i Choral Music
Hi everyone!! Here are pdf files of the songs to download and print, plain lyrics in case you don't want to look at music, and mp3s to stream and listen to for sing-along practice.
*NOTE* These tracks are obviously rehearsal tracks - you can hear pages turning, counting in, etc, and so should NOT be used on their own to be played for listening. You could use them to sing along to at a gathering, for sure, if you have no other accompaniment, but they are NOT intended to simply listen to at a devotional or other gathering - please use artists' professionally recorded pieces for that purpose instead. Thank you! :)
*NOTE* These tracks are obviously rehearsal tracks - you can hear pages turning, counting in, etc, and so should NOT be used on their own to be played for listening. You could use them to sing along to at a gathering, for sure, if you have no other accompaniment, but they are NOT intended to simply listen to at a devotional or other gathering - please use artists' professionally recorded pieces for that purpose instead. Thank you! :)
RELY UPON GOD - words of 'Abdu'l-Baha, music based on a melody from the Baha'is of Papua New Guinea (as taught to me by Carren Bough). This song also has a harp accompaniment added.
| rely_upon_god_-_score.pdf |
| rely_upon_god_part_2_melody.mp3 |
| rely_upon_god_part_1_high_harmony.mp3 |
| rely_upon_god_part_3_lower_harmony.mp3 |
| rely_upon_god_full_choir__online-audio-converter.com_.mp3 |
| rely_upon_god_harp_only.mp3 |
| rely_upon_god_a_cappella.mp3 |
O SON OF SPIRIT! - from the Hidden Words (Arabic, No. 1 & No. 33), music by Amy Stephen (inspired by a Brazilian song)
All parts as indicated, the Alto is the melody in the chorus, MALE voices sing verse 1, FEMALE voices sing verse 2. The tenor part is quite high and women who like to sing tenor could easily contribute to the tenor part in this song.
All parts as indicated, the Alto is the melody in the chorus, MALE voices sing verse 1, FEMALE voices sing verse 2. The tenor part is quite high and women who like to sing tenor could easily contribute to the tenor part in this song.
| o_son_of_spirit_-_2_hidden_words.pdf |
CHORUS: O Son of Spirit!
V1: My first counsel is this: possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart
That thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable, and everlasting
V2: With the joyful tidings of light I hail thee, rejoice, rejoice, rejoice!
To the court of holiness I summon thee
Abide therein that thou mayest live in peace forevermore.
V1: My first counsel is this: possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart
That thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable, and everlasting
V2: With the joyful tidings of light I hail thee, rejoice, rejoice, rejoice!
To the court of holiness I summon thee
Abide therein that thou mayest live in peace forevermore.
NAKUTONDA: from the Hidden Words (Arabic No. 22), music by Mutebi Hannington (Uganda). For a cappella performance.
| nakutonda.pdf |
Ai om wa na w'o mo yo
Na ku ton da ngo li mu kun gu
Na ye gwe ne we feb ya
Na ye gwe ne we feb ya
Ka le ko lo ko ke la mwe tcho
E tcha ku ton de wa
Ka le ko lo ko ke la mwe tcho
E tcha ku ton de wa
Na ku ton da ngo li mu kun gu
Na ye gwe ne we feb ya
Na ye gwe ne we feb ya
Ka le ko lo ko ke la mwe tcho
E tcha ku ton de wa
Ka le ko lo ko ke la mwe tcho
E tcha ku ton de wa
Translation: "O Son of Spirit! Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased thyself. Rise then unto that for which thou wast created."
WAVES OF THE SEA: words of 'Abdu'l-Baha, music by Amy Stephen
Pretty simple 2-part song, Voice 1 is melody (lower), Voice 2 is higher harmony.
with an instrumental bit in the middle for anybody to play if they like, on a flute, violin, guitar solo, saxophone, ocarina?? you get the idea. . .
Pretty simple 2-part song, Voice 1 is melody (lower), Voice 2 is higher harmony.
with an instrumental bit in the middle for anybody to play if they like, on a flute, violin, guitar solo, saxophone, ocarina?? you get the idea. . .
| waves_of_the_sea.pdf |
O Lord God! Make us as waves of the sea.
As flowers of the garden, united, agreed
Through the bounties of Thy love. (repeat)
O Lord! Make these faces radiant,
O make these races radiant
Through the light, through the light of Thy oneness.
As flowers of the garden, united, agreed
Through the bounties of Thy love. (repeat)
O Lord! Make these faces radiant,
O make these races radiant
Through the light, through the light of Thy oneness.
BLESSED IS THE SPOT (SATB) - A Prayer of Baha'u'llah, arr. Russell Garcia (rehearsal tracks coming soon)
You can listen to a nice version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLQ3P8p86c0
You can listen to a nice version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLQ3P8p86c0
| blessed_is_the_spot.pdf |
PHOENIX OF LOVE: from the Hidden Words, music by Amy Stephen
Voice 3 is Bass & Tenor (first to sing, sings first page up to "renounce thyself" 4X), Voice 2 is Alto (comes in next, sings first page 3X), Voice 1 is Soprano (comes in last, sings first page 2X). "Renounce thyself" is sung 4X, then last page, then there is an instrumental section which can be an improvised solo (live we have had Persian vocalist Amir Haghighi, also an instrumentalist, and even both - the solo section, live, can be as long or as short as you want). After the solo, whole piece starts again, same format, and ends with final ending. Hope that's clear :D
Voice 3 is Bass & Tenor (first to sing, sings first page up to "renounce thyself" 4X), Voice 2 is Alto (comes in next, sings first page 3X), Voice 1 is Soprano (comes in last, sings first page 2X). "Renounce thyself" is sung 4X, then last page, then there is an instrumental section which can be an improvised solo (live we have had Persian vocalist Amir Haghighi, also an instrumentalist, and even both - the solo section, live, can be as long or as short as you want). After the solo, whole piece starts again, same format, and ends with final ending. Hope that's clear :D
| phoenix_of_love-2.pdf |
Bass/Tenor: Burst thy cage asunder
Altos: Even as the phoenix of love
Sopranos: Soar into the firmament of holiness
ALL: Renounce thyself (X4)
And filled with the spirit of mercy, and filled with the spirit of mercy
Abide in the realm of celestial sanctity
Altos: Even as the phoenix of love
Sopranos: Soar into the firmament of holiness
ALL: Renounce thyself (X4)
And filled with the spirit of mercy, and filled with the spirit of mercy
Abide in the realm of celestial sanctity
FREE THYSELF by Azeen Tashakkor - you can listen to the original here, slightly different form than I have for our performance but still gives you a good idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B6a7jo91oU
Voice 1 is the melody (lower), Voice 2 is the harmony (higher). Soon to come: separate rehearsal tracks and Persian pronunciation guide (both English and Persian are the same Hidden Word).
Voice 1 is the melody (lower), Voice 2 is the harmony (higher). Soon to come: separate rehearsal tracks and Persian pronunciation guide (both English and Persian are the same Hidden Word).
| free_thyself.pdf |
Free thyself from the fetters of this world
and loose thy soul from the prison of self.
Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more.
Farsi verse:
Az bandeh molk khodraa rahaaee baksh
Vaz habseh nafs khodraa aazaad kon
Vaght raa ghaneemat sheemor zeeraa
Keh een vaght raa deegar na beenee
Va een zamaan raa hargez nayaabee
Final ending: Ey bandeyeh man
and loose thy soul from the prison of self.
Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more.
Farsi verse:
Az bandeh molk khodraa rahaaee baksh
Vaz habseh nafs khodraa aazaad kon
Vaght raa ghaneemat sheemor zeeraa
Keh een vaght raa deegar na beenee
Va een zamaan raa hargez nayaabee
Final ending: Ey bandeyeh man
TROUBLE INTO EASE - words of 'Abdu'l-Baha, music by Anisa Barraquias (arr. Amy Stephen). For a cappella performance. The first time through the song is a SOLO, with response from unison Sopranos and Altos only. Full SATB comes in the second time through the song (Altos carry the melody all the way through), and then the first section is repeated, with a slow-down on the "toil into utter peace" ending.
| trouble_into_ease.pdf |
O THOU COMPASSIONATE LORD: Words from a prayer of 'Abdu'l-Baha, music by Van Gilmer.
This is the most challenging piece included, but its gorgeous when put together so worth the work :)
There is a solo in this song that is not recorded here - only the vocal parts are here. If you know the solo or would like to make one up and give it a try, go for it.
You can hear a choir singing it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KuPRLtR2ls - our tempo is faster than the one in the vid.
This is the most challenging piece included, but its gorgeous when put together so worth the work :)
There is a solo in this song that is not recorded here - only the vocal parts are here. If you know the solo or would like to make one up and give it a try, go for it.
You can hear a choir singing it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KuPRLtR2ls - our tempo is faster than the one in the vid.
| o_thou_compassionate_lord.pdf |
O Thou Compassionate Lord Soprano
O Thou Compassionate Lord Tenor
O Thou compassionate Lord, Thou Who art generous and able.
We are servants of Thine sheltered beneath Thy providence. (repeat)
Choir sings "ooo" (during solo section):
Ooo, upon us
Ooo, to our eyes
Ooo, ooo, and understanding and love to our hearts.
O Thou compassionate Lord, Thou Who art generous and able.
We are servants of Thine sheltered beneath Thy providence.
Choir sings "ooo" (during solo section):
Ooo, upon us
Ooo, to our eyes
Ooo, ooo, and understanding and love to our hearts.
Understanding and love, understanding and love,
Understanding and love, and understanding and love
to our, to our, to our - hearts.
We are servants of Thine sheltered beneath Thy providence. (repeat)
Choir sings "ooo" (during solo section):
Ooo, upon us
Ooo, to our eyes
Ooo, ooo, and understanding and love to our hearts.
O Thou compassionate Lord, Thou Who art generous and able.
We are servants of Thine sheltered beneath Thy providence.
Choir sings "ooo" (during solo section):
Ooo, upon us
Ooo, to our eyes
Ooo, ooo, and understanding and love to our hearts.
Understanding and love, understanding and love,
Understanding and love, and understanding and love
to our, to our, to our - hearts.
LOVE IS NOT : words of 'Abdu'l-Baha, music by Nadia, Zaynab, Fritz & Earl (Baha'i Blog)
Voice 1 is melody and is LOW, Voice 2 is upper harmony, Voice 3 is a middle harmony (that I invented - its not in the original) that moves around. The original singers do some fancy things with their voices, I took those out to make it easier in a choral situation, but you can listen to them singing so beautifully on the Baha'i Blog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jFOJ4-zKgc
Voice 1 is melody and is LOW, Voice 2 is upper harmony, Voice 3 is a middle harmony (that I invented - its not in the original) that moves around. The original singers do some fancy things with their voices, I took those out to make it easier in a choral situation, but you can listen to them singing so beautifully on the Baha'i Blog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jFOJ4-zKgc
| love_is_not.pdf |
CHORUS: Love is not of the body, but completely of the soul
V1: And those souls whose inner being is lit by the love of God, by the love of God,
are even as spreading rays of light by the love of God.
V2: For true love, real love is the love for God
V1: And those souls whose inner being is lit by the love of God, by the love of God,
are even as spreading rays of light by the love of God.
V2: For true love, real love is the love for God
TO SERVE / LOVE EVERYBODY (2 short songs together): words of 'Abdu'l-Baha (new compilation on service), music by Amy Stephen. Parts are pretty clear, there is a solo being sung over the second song of the piece - give it a try anybody who wants a solo!! Your own style is perfect :)
| to_serve_the_cause_of_god.pdf |
| love_everybody_bak.pdf |
To Serve . Love Everybody Soprano
TO SERVE:
In this day, to serve the Cause of God is to engender love,
to engender love and fellowship, fellowship amongst His friends.
Let us associate with one another
with the utmost selfnessness and evanescence
With radiance of spirit, wth meekness and humility
With radiance of spirit, with faithfulness, with faithfulness.
LOVE EVERYBODY:
Love everybody, serve everybody (repeated)
SOLO V1: All are the servants of God, God has created all
Therefore must be we kind, therefore must we be kind
Therefore must we be kind to all, to all
Love everybody, serve everybody (repeated)
SOLO V2: He provideth for all, He is kind to all
Therefore must be we kind, therefore must we be kind
Therefore must we be kind to all, to all
In this day, to serve the Cause of God is to engender love,
to engender love and fellowship, fellowship amongst His friends.
Let us associate with one another
with the utmost selfnessness and evanescence
With radiance of spirit, wth meekness and humility
With radiance of spirit, with faithfulness, with faithfulness.
LOVE EVERYBODY:
Love everybody, serve everybody (repeated)
SOLO V1: All are the servants of God, God has created all
Therefore must be we kind, therefore must we be kind
Therefore must we be kind to all, to all
Love everybody, serve everybody (repeated)
SOLO V2: He provideth for all, He is kind to all
Therefore must be we kind, therefore must we be kind
Therefore must we be kind to all, to all
