Mission

     This website reflects the songs featured at the annual “Communal Singing Training” held at the Bosch Baha’i School in Santa Cruz, California in January.  This training operates with the following objectives:

1.  To train people, with even novice musical skills, to lead in "a graceful integration of the arts in all aspects" of Baha'i endeavor in their respective communities,

2.  To create a systematic dissemination of Baha'i music that has a proven track record of being catchy, singable, and appropriate to gatherings associated with Baha'i community life such as devotional gatherings, study circles, reflection meetings, Feasts, Holy Days, etc

3.  To support the systematic preservation of this type of Baha'i song from the past.

4.  To provide tips on piano, guitar, and vocal techniques to enhance these endeavors.

5.  To feature musicians in service to the Baha’i Faith that have successfully created songs for building community, memorization of the Holy Text, and introducing Baha’u’llah and His Teachings to the world, so that they can share their songs and the secrets of their success in service.

History

     At the ABS Conference in Toronto in August of 2007, I gave a talk on “Being a Musician of Service: Appreciated, Supported and Integrated.”  ABS Conferences, being the wealth of knowledge that they are, give attendees opportunities to discuss and synthesize new ideas.  That’s where I learned that one of the keys to consolidating new believers’ identity as Baha’is is the integration of participatory arts in collective activities.  Sometimes, music is relegated to listening to performances if it is included at all.  This challenge is alluded to in Part 3 of the Ruhi Book 7.  Quite frankly, communal singing needs to be fostered actively.  In fact, the importance of singing along is mentioned directly in Books 3, 3a, 5, 6, and 7 of the Ruhi sequence. 
     Singing together is an ancient and beloved activity intrinsic to the building of group identity.  I thought, “Heck!  I can do that!  And with only 4 years of piano lessons back in grade school!”  (Doing some sing-along stuff was one of the primary points to becoming a musician that is appreciated, supported and integrated.  Other points are LOTS OF PRAYER and planning on mentoring others from the beginning.)
     I called the folks up at the Bosch Baha’i School and we started planning for January of 2008.  Confirmation upon confirmation followed since the potential for the successful integration of music is broad: singing together benefits the local community as well as the dynamics and appeal of Feast. It can also be functional at the wider cluster level, contributing excitement and positive feelings at a Cluster gathering.  Furthermore, singing would enhance ANY devotional meeting, solidify the memorization process in any Ruhi circle, and enliven any children's class.
      The original committee was Jordan Rager, Sadaya Zimmerle, and myself with significant planning help from Nancy Watters, Ted Didday, and Fred Capp.
     The self-published Compilation (melody, lyrics and basic chords) with approximately forty-one fresh or well-beloved songs were distributed and studied at the training.  It had 4 parts: songs written and/or collected by each of the three featured artists – Dr. Ramine Yazhari, Nancy Watters, Jean Tschohl Quinn – and a section of fifteen “classics.” Participants also received training in how to use the Compilation effectively ideas to deliver this training to their respective communities. This website has the “lead sheets and practice recordings of many of the songs.
      The goal is clear: to remove as many barriers as possible to people singing together in the Baha’i communities throughout the world!

Allah’u’Abha!
-Jean Tschohl Quinn

About the website

This website is maintained by Jean Quinn with significant help in various forms from Jordan Rager, Bill Fitler, and Mike Quinn. 

You can contact us at info@bahaisingingproject.com. 

Allah'u'Abha!