Earlier this year,  we finally confirmed the songs that will be included on the Music For Devotions Baha’i CD.

It was a challenging process as there were so many excellent submissions. We are now working on production of these songs and developing them further and expect to be completing them by the end of 2009. Being that artists all live in different locations than the producers, it may take time to coordinate the recording of these wonderful songs.

We hope to post a list of artists and songs in future that will be on this CD but at this point we can tell you the album will feature songs and artists with influences ranging from African, East Indian, Celtic, Spanish and Chinese, and possibly Persian!

Thank you again for your collaborations to all who contributed!

The submissions phase of this collaborative CD has just ended with the last day of June 2008.
The next phase will similarly be a joyous endeavor, but one that takes both time and care.
Our three producer will be working on the next stage of selections this month.
After that is done they will be conferring with the artists on their selections and setting up recording sessions, mixing those that need some additional work, collaborative processes and mastering.

The CD will then have to be approved by the National Bahá’í Center for accuracy, content and appropriate presentation of the sacred texts.  This can take some time as well, since the National Bahá’í Center is quite short staffed.  And because many artists are involved this process it will take longer than putting together an album by one artist, however our producers are experienced and skilled professionals dedicated to releasing an album we will all be proud to be involved with.

Those who submitted music will be kept informed by the producers either through the blog or by direct correspondence.

Please bear in mind that everyone involved is providing their skills, experience and artistry without material compensation and even spending their own money to make this wonderful process come to fruition.

We all have jobs and are involved in the Five Year Plan as well! Still it is amazing what can be achieved through collaboration and unity to serve.  We appreciate so much the creative gifts you offer to our beloved Faith,  and want to be a part of sharing this treasure to warm and inspire the hearts of the friends and seekers everywhere.

Some of us have either recently been to China and other places to serve the faith or are planning within the next month or so to go to other countries that have been designated as high priority receptive locals. Many of our project collaborators are in other countries around the world, and this takes extra time and effort to put together.

May the Blessed Beauty continue to confirm your efforts to serve the  Five Year Plan though the creative skills you offer!  And may He also confirm our efforts to share those skills throughout the world.

With warmest Bahá’í love and appreciation,

The Workshop for the Arts

Basically when asking the question of the type of song and quotation from the writings that we are looking for with this CD, it is simply a matter of asking, “What writing would I want a seeker to hear if they only came to one devotional?”

Here are some possible quotes along those lines:

“It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him that loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.
Take pride not in love for yourselves but in love for your fellow creatures. Glory not in love for your country, but in love for all mankind.”   – Bahá’u'lláh

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 ”O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved, I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life. O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O God.   -  ‘Abdu’l-Bahá “

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“O Thou kind Lord! Thou hast created all humanity from the same stock. Thou hast decreed that all shall belong to the same household. In Thy Holy Presence they are all Thy servants, and all mankind are sheltered beneath Thy Tabernacle; all have gathered together at Thy Table of Bounty; all are illumined through the light of Thy Providence.
O God! Thou art kind to all, Thou hast provided for all, dost shelter all, conferrest life upon all. Thou hast endowed each and all with talents and faculties, and all are submerged in the Ocean of Thy Mercy.
O Thou kind Lord! Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home. May they all live together in perfect harmony.
O God! Raise aloft the banner of the oneness of mankind.
O God! Establish the Most Great Peace.
Cement Thou, O God, the hearts together. O Thou kind Father, God! Gladden our hearts through the fragrance of Thy love. Brighten our eyes through the Light of Thy Guidance. Delight our ears with the melody of Thy Word, and shelter us all in the Stronghold of Thy Providence.
Thou art the Mighty and Powerful, Thou art the Forgiving and Thou art the One Who overlooketh the shortcomings of all mankind.”   -  ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

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They who recite the verses of the All-Merciful in
the most melodious of tones will perceive in them that
with which the sovereignty of earth and heaven can
never be compared. From them they will inhale the
divine fragrance of My worlds — worlds which today
none can discern save those who have been endowed
with vision through this sublime, this beauteous
Revelation. Say: These verses draw hearts that are pure
unto those spiritual worlds that can neither be
expressed in words nor intimated by allusion. Blessed
be those who hearken.             -    (Baha’u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 61)
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- Any of the Hidden Words…

Please check back here to find our more about the kind of song we are looking for and that is suitable for the Music For Devotions CD, or post your questions below…

Hello, and welcome to the new site for the latest Workshop For The Arts project, ‘Music For Devotions’ CD!

Here you can find out all about the project, get details on submitting songs for consideration and follow the progress of the CD.

Please contact us if you need information or want more details! Just simply type your message below and hit submit button. You will receive confirmation that your message was sent.