Three Persian Prayers (2017)
18 minutes
for Mezzo Soprano. Violin and Piano
Commissioned by Various People Inc.
First performance by Cheryl Pickering (Mezzo Soprano), Elizabeth Layton (Violin) and Penelope Cashman (Piano), November 27th, 2016 at Ukaria, Mount Barker, South Australia.
Traditional Baháʼí prayers, sung in Persian.
1. Manam
2. Komak
3. Thankfulness
These works may be performed as a set of three, or individually. Multiple arrangements for the instrumental parts of the works exist, including Guitar/Oud and Violin, and Violin and Cello.
18 minutes
for Mezzo Soprano. Violin and Piano
Commissioned by Various People Inc.
First performance by Cheryl Pickering (Mezzo Soprano), Elizabeth Layton (Violin) and Penelope Cashman (Piano), November 27th, 2016 at Ukaria, Mount Barker, South Australia.
Traditional Baháʼí prayers, sung in Persian.
1. Manam
2. Komak
3. Thankfulness
These works may be performed as a set of three, or individually. Multiple arrangements for the instrumental parts of the works exist, including Guitar/Oud and Violin, and Violin and Cello.
In 2016 I was commissioned by Cheryl Pickering of Various People Inc. to compose a work for Mezzo-Soprano, Violin and Oud for the new multi-art form work The Migration of Souls. The text, a selection of prayers from the Baháʼí faith, as well as three melodies created and sung to remember the prayers, were shared with me by Iranian film-maker Mojgan Khadem. The creation of these songs sat somewhere between composing and arranging: I felt the necessity to remain true to the original melodies, but also had free reign to reinterpret the settings harmonically and texturally through the use of the accompanying instruments.
Manam’s repeated call “It’s me here, it’s me” is a request for acknowledgment and refuge, reaching its most fervent cry when the singer proclaims the glorious name of their creator. Komak is a prayer for help and protection, and a proclamation of the all-seeing and all-knowing sovereign Lord. In Thankfulness, the posture of the protagonist turns inward, as they repeat statements of faith and glorification of their God.
All three prayers emphasise the power of vulnerability and demonstrate expressions of faith and hope in the face of uncertainty.
© Anne Cawrse, 2017
Manam’s repeated call “It’s me here, it’s me” is a request for acknowledgment and refuge, reaching its most fervent cry when the singer proclaims the glorious name of their creator. Komak is a prayer for help and protection, and a proclamation of the all-seeing and all-knowing sovereign Lord. In Thankfulness, the posture of the protagonist turns inward, as they repeat statements of faith and glorification of their God.
All three prayers emphasise the power of vulnerability and demonstrate expressions of faith and hope in the face of uncertainty.
© Anne Cawrse, 2017
Manam
It’s me here, it’s me
I am your servant at your threshold
I am seeking your refuge
I am looking forward to seeing you
I am at once drunk and sober
Please open the door, have some pity on me, grant me your attention
Hear my prayer
O Thou creator of the most Glorious name,
Oh Thou discoverer of the Hidden Secret
Oh blessed beauty
It’s me here, it’s me
Oh God, it’s me.
Komak
Oh God, help me
Oh Thou the protector, protect me (from desire)
Oh Thou my confidence and my friend, give me some relief (from cruelty and bloodshed)
O Thou the most Mighty and Powerful, make me steadfast (give me entrance into Paradise)
Oh God, help me to do the right thing
Help me in this world. Help me in the world to come.
Thou art the most Powerful, Oh God
Thou art potent to do what Thou willest, the most Mighty, oh Protector
Thou art my Guide and my Refuge, oh Confidante, of Friend
Thou art the all-seeing and all-hearing
Thou art the all-knowing, the all-wise
Oh our Sovereign Lord
Help me, protect me, give me some relief
Thou art God in this world. Thou art God in the world to come
Thou art God in every world of existence.
Help me. Help me.
Help…
Thankfulness
My God, my adored one,
My king, my desire!
What tongue can voice my thanks to thee.
I was heedless, Thou didst waken me
I had turned back from Thee, Thou didst graciously aid me to turn toward Thee.
I was as one dead, Thou didst quicken me with the water of life,
I was withered, Thou didst revive me with the heavenly stream of Thine utterance
which hath flowed forth from the Pen of the All Merciful.
O Divine Providence! All existence is begotten by Thy bounty
Deprive it not of the waters of Thy generosity
Neither do Thou withhold it from the ocean of Thy mercy.
My God, my adored one,
My king, my desire!
I beseech Thee to aid and assist me at all times and under all conditions
and seek from the heaven of Thy grace Thine ancient favour.
Thou art, in truth, the Lord of bounty
and the sovereign of the kingdom of eternity.
It’s me here, it’s me
I am your servant at your threshold
I am seeking your refuge
I am looking forward to seeing you
I am at once drunk and sober
Please open the door, have some pity on me, grant me your attention
Hear my prayer
O Thou creator of the most Glorious name,
Oh Thou discoverer of the Hidden Secret
Oh blessed beauty
It’s me here, it’s me
Oh God, it’s me.
Komak
Oh God, help me
Oh Thou the protector, protect me (from desire)
Oh Thou my confidence and my friend, give me some relief (from cruelty and bloodshed)
O Thou the most Mighty and Powerful, make me steadfast (give me entrance into Paradise)
Oh God, help me to do the right thing
Help me in this world. Help me in the world to come.
Thou art the most Powerful, Oh God
Thou art potent to do what Thou willest, the most Mighty, oh Protector
Thou art my Guide and my Refuge, oh Confidante, of Friend
Thou art the all-seeing and all-hearing
Thou art the all-knowing, the all-wise
Oh our Sovereign Lord
Help me, protect me, give me some relief
Thou art God in this world. Thou art God in the world to come
Thou art God in every world of existence.
Help me. Help me.
Help…
Thankfulness
My God, my adored one,
My king, my desire!
What tongue can voice my thanks to thee.
I was heedless, Thou didst waken me
I had turned back from Thee, Thou didst graciously aid me to turn toward Thee.
I was as one dead, Thou didst quicken me with the water of life,
I was withered, Thou didst revive me with the heavenly stream of Thine utterance
which hath flowed forth from the Pen of the All Merciful.
O Divine Providence! All existence is begotten by Thy bounty
Deprive it not of the waters of Thy generosity
Neither do Thou withhold it from the ocean of Thy mercy.
My God, my adored one,
My king, my desire!
I beseech Thee to aid and assist me at all times and under all conditions
and seek from the heaven of Thy grace Thine ancient favour.
Thou art, in truth, the Lord of bounty
and the sovereign of the kingdom of eternity.
~Text translations by Mojgan Khadem