To know about date and time of event Vasundhara - Click here
Vasundhara ~ Ode to Mother Earth
In ancient India, the Vedic sages united their voices and hearts in hymns that express their gratitude for the life-giving abundance of Mother Earth, and their understanding of the intricate and indispensible relationship between living beings and the elements of nature. They saw the earth as the abode of one extended, universal family: Vasudhaiva kutumbakam. They adored the divine in the form of natural phenomena: rivers and sunlight, fire and wind, herbs and fruits, stars and animals, and the earth that supported them. They worshipped the divine in the songs of bird, the cracking of thunder, and as the source of their own inspiration and poetry. They chanted these prayers throughout all their rituals and religious activities.
In the spirit of these ancient sages, Vasundhara will engage the power of classical ragas to evoke not the emotions of love lost and won, or the endearing aspects of a particular deity, but to move us with awe for the stunning beauty and life-sustaining abundance of the Earth.
40 singers will unite their voices in awe of Mother Earth. Through their music they will create a unique experience of each of the seasons, and of the multifaceted environments of our planet. They will sing as one family, evoking our love for the Earth and willingness to protect the source of our collective wealth, life and happiness.
Both youthful and mature voices will sing together with thrilling energy to evoke the experience of a journey through the cycle of the seasons. First the colorful joys of spring will dance in the air, a glimpse of fields of wildflowers and baby birds. This will melt into the heavy summer heat and a cuckoo singing soulfully from the shade of a mango tree, amidst the sweet fragrance of its ripening fruit. Monsoon will break loose with thunder and lightning, torrential rain and peacocks dancing for joy. The rich autumn will unfold with harvest festivals, grains and fruits piling high, and storing up the gifts of the season. Finally the chill of winter will set it, with snowflakes fluttering through the invigorating air, moonlight falling on fresh snowfields. The music will evoke the solidity of mountains, the surge of the oceans. Through the power of ragas, the music and voices will then move through the natural cycle of the day: from the first light of dawn, through the vibrancy of high noon, to the velvety darkness of night.
Yet the purpose of the concert does not limit itself to the artistry of an exciting performance. Vasundhara, Ode To Mother Earth seeks to move the audience with awe and love for the earth on which we live, the earth that sustains our every breath, our every step, our every meal.
Ode To Mother Earth was born as a prayer to evoke our awe and love for the earth on which we live, and for our fellow human beings. It has been composed in the universal language of music, a language that unifies people and creates peace, both individually and collectively. Such a huge choir is largely unprecedented in Hindustani music, and has been brought together to reflect the spirit of oneness. Their united voices will resound powerfully to stir a collective rememberance that the earth is not a commodity but the source of life for all living beings.
In the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent activism, Ode To Mother Earth seeks to move us through the power of love and profound respect to protect the earth and live in unity with all beings.
|
