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Kundalini Rising

An honors thesis in music composition modeled as a guided meditation for Sahaja Yoga.

for SSAATTBB chorus, 2 laptops. ca. 50 min.

Soprano: Rebecca Ruescher, Emily Willick
Alto: Lexi Ligon, Gabriella Rodriguez
Tenor: Hannah Goodwillie, David Wang
Bass: Anthony Narag, Josh Young
Laptop: Jamie Sandel

Composed and conducted by Tomal Hossain (‘17)
Audio Recording/Mixing: Dan Richardson
Video Recording/Editing: Joshua Baum

Buckley Recital Hall, Amherst College
Friday, January 27, 2017, 8pm

Program

Download Complete Concert Program Notes

I. “Child-Like Innocence”

Chakra: Mooladhara (innocence, wisdom) Raga: Hamsadhwani
Text: From the Source to the Source, no. 309

Child-like innocence,
Saint-like purity
Are divinely one
In reality-sea,
In vision-sun
And cosmic-run.

II. “A Creative Newness-Satisfaction”

Chakra: Swadishthan (pure knowledge, creativity)
Raga: Miyan ki Todi
Text: Ten Thousand Flower-Flames, part 19, no. 1825

O my doubting mind,
You are indeed a destructive
Nothingness-ambition.
O my crying heart,
You are indeed a creative
Newness-satisfaction.

Mvmt. III: “The Secret of Contentment”

Chakra: Nabhi (satisfaction, peace)
Raga: Malkauns
Text: Ten Thousand Flower-Flames, part 73, no. 7277

The secret of contentment
Give what you have,
Your mind's poise,
And become aware of what you truly are,
A perfect choice and immortal voice
Of God.

Mvmt. IV: “Compassion-Eye”

Chakra: Anahat (love, compassion)
Raga: Bhairav
Text: Sail my heartbeat sail, part 1 no. 62

My Lord, connect my heart-wings
To Your Compassion-Eye-Light;
I shall fly and fly far beyond
The domain of ignorance-night.

Mvmt. V: “Kindness Is Not Blindness”

Chakra: Vishuddhi (diplomacy, kindness)
Raga: Jaijaiwanti
Text: Ten Thousand Flower-Flames, part 3, no. 239

Kindness is not blindness.
Kindness is oneness-awareness.
Blindness is failure:
Failure within, failure without.

Mvmt. VI: “Forgiveness”

Chakra: Agnya (forgiveness, resurrection)
Raga: Bageshri
Text: from the book Forgiveness

O Forgiver of all my shortcomings,
Forgive me.
A new hope is being born in my heart.
I shall cry from today on
To grow into Perfection’s beauty-delight.

Mvmt. VII: “At Last I Shall Listen”

Chakra: Sahasrara (self-transcendence, integration)
Raga: Bhairavi
Text: from The Dance of Life, part 1

At Last I Shall Listen
My past is heavy with
The lifeless
Meaning.
A frightened thought
My fast-approaching future
Is.
I have the body and soul
Of hope completely in my
Thoughts.
I shout at the top of my lungs.
My soul embodies the weight of
Despair.
At last I am now learning the art of listening
to God’s
Voice.
“Son, in your soulful silence is
My fruitful message,
My All.”