Three Sufi Prayers: It's the late 60's, and in San Francisco a man named Sam Lewis has, after a lifetime on a path of Sufism, Buddhism and the deep wisdom of the heart, been discovered by hippies. They find in their beings a resonance with his energy, his spiritual walks and circle dances, and his powerful universalist teachings, Among his followers are many gifted musicians, and so Murshid Sam, a lover of music, forms the original Sufi Choir. They begin the same way we did 25 years later -- by singing sacred phrases and prayers from many spiritual traditions, set to music by their director, William Allaudin Mathieu. "Toward the One" is an invocation by Hazrat Inayat Khan, Murshid Sam's own Sufi teacher, setting our intention as we begin any conscious activity. "Bismillah" is the opening phrase from the Qur'an, invoking the Name of the all-encompassing Being, whose attributes are Mercy and Compassion; thus we call on the One Spirit to establish sacred time and sacred space for our offering of prayer in song. "In Unison" is a prayer for peace by Inayat Khan, given by Murshid Sam to his followers. We needed it then and we need it now.

"Shed a Little Light" (James Taylor). We couldn't resist covering this one. Solo by Pablo.

Nayaz is Hazrat Inayat Khan's Healing Prayer, set for choir by Allaudin in the early 90's.

The Guide's Prayer, written by Murshida Vera Corda for the teachers and parents at The Seed Center, which she founded. Murshida left our world to rejoin the Beloved last month. This prayer has been set to music and sung by Khalid Parker. Murshida heard it and was delighted with it.

"Bogoroditse Dyevo" (in Russian, "Rejoice O Virgin") is part of the All-night Vigil by Sergei Rachmaninoff, a great work written around 1915 with the intention of restoring to the music of the Orthodox Church its roots in traditional Russian chant.

Kyrie and Gloria from the Missa Quarti Toni by Tomas Luis de Victoria, undoubtedly the greatest Spanish composer of the high renaissance. A contemporary of Teresa of Avila, Victoria wrote only sacred music, blending the polyphonic art and the devotion of his Italian contemporaries with the harmonic flavor of his native land. Kyrie opens a Mass; the worshippers approach the altar in all humility. The sacred text invokes the divine mercy and compassion. The Gloria is the song of the angels: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth Peace ...". Imagine with us a great cathedral!

Lazarus Unwound (Darrel Brown, David Batteau, Marty Mccall, arr. Mervyn Warren). Solos: Kathleen, Laurie, Aamil. An a-capella Christian testimonial to the way we value spiritual community.

Stone in the Sky (Allaudin, 1974) Allah Hu, the essence of the One. La illaha, nothing else exists. Om namah Shivaya : Shiva is the destroyer of illusion, the graceful dancer, lord of the yogis, consort of the Goddess. The English text, by Jamshed Richard Tillinghast, is all questions. As always, we look within for the answers. Lead Vocal, Gary; Chant, Aamil; Flute, Shaffee.

"To be with You" (Khalid Todd Parker) Khalid's newest composition for the choir. Solo:, Pablo

INTERMISSION

Subhan Allah (Allaudin). This is another sacred phrase used devotionally by Sufis. It means Allah is pure. The composition recalls the purity of voice and heart in raga singing or Gregorian chant.

Govinda Bhajan (choir and audience). Responsive singing from the Hindu tradition, led by Amina

The Notes of His Flute, (Allaudin with members of the second Sufi Choir) Solo by Aamil
Love Swing, (Qahira Francine Allen) Solo by Zan

Both of these songs are arranged by Allaudin and are settings of poems of
Kabir, versions in English by Robert Bly. Piano, Zan

Excerpts from a Spider Playing in the House (Solo by Jashan, words of Jelaluddin Rumi)

Pure Diamond (Tillinghast-Mathieu) Amina, Laurie, Kathleen, Jalelah and Karen with Zan on piano

Ocean of You written, played and sung by Khalid. The refrain, "Pour upon us thy love and thy light", is from a prayer by Hazrat Inayat Khan. Sax, Abdul Shaffee; vocal improv, Khalid & Aamil

Whatever Circles (words of Jelaluddin Rumi, set by Barbara Gayne) the women of the choir

Turning (Allaudin, 1972) The composer writes "this song, made for responsive singing, has the cadence of whirling dervishes. The gentle text is by Moineddin." Solo, Gary; Soprano Sax, Shaffee

THE NEW SUFI CHOIR

Aamil Rick Targow, Director
Sopranos: Amina Claire Jones, Kathleen Watson
Altos: Laurie Plant, Jalelah Erickson, Karen Potts, Zan Spencer
Tenors: Jashan Blackwell, Khalid Todd Parker, Pablo Rodriguez
Basses: Gary Morgan, Abdul Shaffee Howard Ballinger, Aamil
Piano, Zan and Khalid; Saxophones, Shaffee; Guitars, Pablo and Jashan; Drums: Aamil

There are Sufis who eschew music and dance; but in the Chisti Sufi transmission music is taken as a spiritual practice. The Indian Sufi teacher Hazrat Inayat Khan was the first to introduce Raga music to the West. In our own time many seekers of truth and light -- whether called Sufis or not -- have been inspired by the kind of music you will hear tonight. And that inspiration has irresistibly drawn us together as a choir. Our choir is our spiritual family and music our shared practice. We deeply thank our mentor Allaudin, our crew, all our supporters, Small Town Sound of Chico, Joe Hoffman Studio, New College, and all those who made this possible; and thanks to you for joining us tonight.

You can visit us on the web at NewSufiChoir.org. For information on local or world-wide Sufi events and Dances of Universal Peace visit SufiSonoma.org or Ruhaniat.org. To be added to our mailing list, leave a note or e-mail us with name & postal address, to aamil@newsufichoir.org.