The Sept. 11 Interfaith Commemoration in Music: An Appreciation of Religious Diversity brought together different St. Louis communities to celebrate the variety of faith traditions that thrive in this city.
The event was hosted by Arts and Faith St. Louis, a local organization whose mission is to “establish an ongoing, intentional relationship between the arts and the faith communities to build a more harmonious St. Louis.”
The event, hosted at the Sheldon Concert Hall in Grand Center, included performances from religious groups from around the city, giving a spotlight to various forms of musical tradition, worship and prayer.
Performers such as the well-known soprano Christine Brewer, a choir from Rosati-Kain High School, and members of the Baha’í community graced the stage. The differences in background of these groups did not matter that night as they all came together to highlight their differences and their common humanity.
The event opened with the audience standing and singing together the national anthem, led by U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel Jaime Torres (Ret.). Timothy O’Leary, general director of Opera Theatre St. Louis, welcomed the crowd with a quote from Victor Hugo, “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.”
O’Leary explained that his event is meant to bring people together in memory of 9/11, a tragedy that was mean to tear us apart.
Members of the Osage Nation, who had traveled from Oklahoma for this event, sang an opening prayer before Rev. Dr. David Greenhaw, President of Eden Theological Seminary, took the stage to make opening remarks.
Greenhaw compared St. Louis to a table that continues to grow and welcome new members around it to join in the meal. “St. Louis is a wonder,” he said, “unfolded over time.”
He stressed the diversity of St. Louis and the value of that diversity. “We have said, ‘bring your faith, worship your God the way you do, and we will take you seriously.’”
Greenhaw also spoke of the events that have been happening in Ferguson, Mo.
“This year, in our own city, Michael Brown will not be at the table. There’s an empty space. This is a call to us, because it shows we’re not yet the community we want to be. We still have a ways to go.”
He ended his speech on a positive note, “We can still celebrate and share together the beautiful wonder that we already are,” he said. “Celebrate the gift it is from God to be together, different as we are.”
Notable performances include the Hindu Temple of St. Louis’s large all-ages choir, which sang a prayer that was a part of Gandhi’s daily morning ritual, and a special performance from the Sikh Study Circle of St. Louis.
“Face to Face,” a song written by Peter Martin and performed by Christine Brewer and members of the St. Louis Symphony, was specially commissioned for this event by Arts and Faith St. Louis. The song’s lyrics come from Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore’s collection of poetry, “Gitanjali.”
The last performance was from the Normandy High School Choir, which is the high school Brown attended. The choir sang “Seasons of Love” from the Broadway musical “Rent.”
Rev. C. Jessel Strong spoke a few words before ending.
“The common thread of humanity is impossible not to feel,” he said, remarking on the power of the performances of the evening.
St. Louis has made progress towards justice and peace, Strong said, but “progress is not an end point. More progress, more dialogue, more action is needed.”
The evening ended with the audience standing once again, singing “God Bless America” with all the performers gathered together onstage.
dj maza indian songs • Sep 30, 2014 at 6:13 am
Recorded in 1973, “Mother and Child” offers Barbra in two roles.
This is top-notch singing, beautifully enacted and not the version that’s been on You – Tube.
So good luck in downloading and wish you a melodious happy listening.