Photo Credit: Princeton University
Devotee
SSAA + Carnatic Vocalist
Duration: 5 minutes
Language: German, Sanskrit
RELATED: #Tranquil #Spiritual #Identity #Community #IndianMusic
German Text:
Laß uns auf dich sehen, Let us look upon You,
Laß das Licht Let the light
Deines Worts uns heller scheinen of Your word shine upon us
Und dich jederzeit treu meinen and continually bring You to mind
-Anonymous, Tenor Aria in J.S. Bach's Cantata BVW 6
Sanskrit Text:
man manā bhava mad-bhaktho Think of Me, always
mad yājī mām namaskuru Offer your obeisance to Me
mām evaisyasi yuktvaivam And you will come to Me
ātmānam mat-parāyanah Being completely absorbed in Me
mām evaisyasi satyam te You will come to Me, I promise you this
pratijāne priyo ‘si me Because you are My very dear friend
-Lines 1-4 (Bhagvad Gita 9.34); lines 5-6 (Bhagvad Gita 18.65); God Krishna is addressing Arjuna
Inspired by the power of music to bring people together, Devotee sets messages from two different faiths in spiritual dialogue. The vulnerability in the Christian text becomes particularly moving when paired with the divine response from the sacred Hindu Bhagvad Gita. In the last two lines excerpted from the Gita verses, the connection between God and devotee is shown to be strengthened by not only love and worship, but also by cherished friendship.
Also available for Winds, Brass + Carnatic Vocalist, arr. Mathilde Grooss Viddal; CONTACT Shruthi Rajasekar for more
Winner of the Ithaca Women's Works, USA, 2018
Devotee, performed by Maddy Kushan, Paige Kunkle (sopranos), Meredith Hooper, Rosamond van Wingerden (altos), and Shruthi Rajasekar (Carnatic vocalist), 2017. New Jersey, USA