The LeBlanc family of Halifax, Drs. John and Joanne and their children, Julia, Daniel and Isobel, has returned from a unique 19 day choral tour in India, participating as singers in the Voices of Baha, an internationally acclaimed choir composed of 130 auditioned singers from more than 25 nations. Translated in English, the word Baha means ‘Glory’.
The concerts were visually enhanced by the colourful array of national costumes each singer wore to represent their country or their heritage.
The Voices of Baha were joined by eminent Indian singers and musicians to create a singular blend of Western and classical Indian music.
Capacity audiences in the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai, the CMS Auditoriums in Lucknow, the Bahá’i Information Centre Auditorium and the Bahá’i House of Worship in New Delhi (also known to Indians as ‘the Lotus Temple’), were entertained by the choir’s performance of rare Hindi ragas composed by legendary Indian musician Ravi Shankar. Several pieces of Western and Persian spiritual and popular music were included in the repertoire.
American composer, conductor and organizer of the tour, Tom Price said, “The Voices of Baha, which has performed in more than 35 countries globally since it was founded in 1992, is primarily a Bahá’i choir. The songs’ lyrics evoke the spiritual teachings of the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u'llah. He proclaimed that there is One God, that religion is essentially one and that humanity is one family.
In 1986, Ravi Shankar composed nine ragas based on the writings of Baha’u’llah, specifically for the dedication ceremony of the Bahá’i House of Worship in New Delhi. Long-time friend and colleague of Ravi Shankar, Mr Ashit Desai, conducted the Indian choir for that ceremony.
Mr Desai, his wife Hema and son Alap, were featured singers in this Voices of Baha tour. “We sang these ragas at the Bahá’í House of Worship in New Delhi without any instrumental music”, said Mr Desai, “which was a challenge and very unusual”. Mr Price arranged four-part vocal harmonization to accompany Ravi Shankar’s melodies, several of which were heard for the first time on this tour.
Chicago-based operatic Soprano, Emily Price, acting as assistant conductor and another featured soloist on the tour, said that initially, singing in Hindi was challenging for the Western choir members, but they thoroughly enjoyed the learning experience.
Musician Atul Raninga, winner of India’s 2010 IIFA Award for Best Film Score, had a similar experience along with the other Indian band members on the tour, who are not used to accompanying choirs in African-American Gospel and popular Jazz styles of music. African-American Gospel composer and soloist, Van Gilmer observed, “Musicians have the ability to embrace diversity in music. The power of music is a unifying force that can touch hearts.”
To add to the musical diversity, Elizabeth Hahn’s Hawaiian piece “Blessed is the Spot” was sung in a Jazz style by American Jazz singer and rising star Rachael Price. Ava, well known Atlanta-based Persian singer also contributed in singing Arabic and Persian spiritual songs in the concerts. All songs were accompanied by the 130 member choir.
The final tour event was an acapella performance in the Bahá’i House of Worship set against the warm New Delhi sunset and rising full moon on the evening of June 26, 2010.
