Awakening

This song cycle may be sung by either a baritone or mezzo-soprano.  The texts are by Norman Burroughs and Bahá'u'lláh.

The three songs all express some aspect of the awakening of a new spiritual era heralded in the 19^th century by The Báb, or ‘Gate’, prophet of the Bahá’í Faith.

The ‘martyr’ and the ‘Gate’ mentioned in the second verse of the first song refer to The Báb who prophesied the coming of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith.  The Name Bahá’u’lláh means ‘The Glory of God’.  It is this prophesy that marks the awakening of the new spiritual era.  The third song is a setting of one of the ‘Hidden Words’, written by Bahá’u’lláh and this expresses the need for spiritual awakening in this life in order to prepare us for the next.

As reference is made in the words to the east, the music reflects eastern styles – drawing upon Balinese in the first song and Japanese in the second.  Set alongside the post-modern genre of the third song, this song cycle expresses the spirit of unity and peace.