CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT AN ARTIST
What's it all about?When searching the web for Baha'i inspired performers in North America, we found that many of the lists were outdated, or required quite a bit of research to find further information on the artist. So what do you do when you can't find what you're looking for? You make it!
The Baha'i writings direct that there is no Baha'i art because the term seems exclusive. "Baha'i art" would assume that people of the faith are all interested in a certain type of expression but the writings encourage Baha'is to create sounds and images that inspire their local communities and to be flexible in appealing to the world audience. Therefore, this page is dedicated to performing artists who are personally Baha'i or inspired by the Baha'i writings in their art. Click on the tabs for a specific performance genre and please contact me if you have more information through the Submit An Artist tab. | Highlight: CollaborationsOur hope is that this will be a resource for institutions and event hosts looking to book inspiring performers, as well as a place to connect for collaborations.
Here is a great example of collaboration as Eric Dozier and JB Eckl join for Badasht Vol 2 Purchase at: badasht.bandcamp.com
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Baha'i Quotes on Art
Shoghi Effendi wishes thereby to encourage those who are talented to give expression to the wonderful spirit that animates them. We need poets and writers for the Cause and this is undoubtedly one good way to urge them on. Some of the poems are written by very youthful persons yet they ring so true and give expression to such thoughts that one should halt and admire. In Persia the Cause has given birth to poets that even non-Bahá'ís consider as great. We hope before long we will have similar persons arise in the West. (2 January 1932, to an individual)
Music, as one of the arts, is a natural cultural development, and the Guardian does not feel that there should be any cultivation of "Bahá'í Music" any more than we are trying to develop a Bahá'í school of painting or writing. The believers are free to paint, write and compose as their talents guide them. If music is written, incorporating the sacred writings, the friends are free to make use of it, but it should never be considered a requirement at Bahá'í meetings to have such music. The further away the friends keep from any set forms, the better, for they must realize that the Cause is absolutely universal, and what might seem a beautiful addition to their mode of celebrating a Feast, etc., would perhaps fall on the ears of people of another country as unpleasant sounds -- and vice versa. As long as they have music for its own sake it is all right, but they should not consider it Bahá'í music. (Shoghi Effendi 20 July 1946, to a National Spiritual Assembly)
Your understanding that the portrayal of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh in works of art is forbidden is correct. The Guardian made it clear that this prohibition refers to all the Manifestations of God; photographs, or reproductions of portraits, of the Master may be used in books, but no attempt should be made to portray Him in dramatic or other works where He would be one of the "dramatis personae". However, there can be no objection to symbolic representation of such Holy Figures, provided it does not become a ritual and that the symbol used is not irreverent.( Shoghi Effendi 3 December 1972, by the Universal House of Justice to an individual)
O musician of God!... The songsters of fellowship that abide in the gardens of holiness must pour forth such a triumphant burst of songs in this age that the birds in the fields may wing their flight in a transport of delight; and in this divine festival, this heavenly banquet, they should play the lute and the harp, and the viol and the lyre in such wise that the people of east and west may be filled with exceeding joy and gladness, and be carried away with exultation and happiness. Now it behoveth thee to raise the melody of that heavenly lyre and to perform music on that celestial lute, thus causing Barbud to return to life and Rudakito be solaced and Farabi to become restless and Ibn-i-Sina to be guided to the Sinai of God. Upon thee be salutation and praise.
(Baha'u'llah Translated from the Persian)
O people of Baha! The source of crafts, sciences and arts is the power of reflection. Make ye every effort that out of this ideal mine there may gleam forth such pearls of wisdom and utterance as will promote the well-being and harmony of all the kindreds of the earth. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah)
It is certain that with the spread of the spirit of Baha'u'llah a new era will dawn in art and
literature. Whereas before the form was perfect but the spirit was lacking, now there will be a glorious spriti embodied in a form immeasurably improved by the quickened genius of the world. (Shoghi Effendi, 3 April 1932, to an individual)
The art of music is divine and effective. It is the food of the soul and spirit. Through the power and charm of music the spirit of man is uplifted. It has wonderful sway and effect in the hearts of children, for their hearts are pure, and melodies have great influence in them. The latent talents with which the hearts of these children are endowed will find expression through the medium of music. Therefore, you must exert yourselves to make them proficient; teach them to sing with excellence and effect. It is incumbent upon each child to knows something of music, for without knowledge of this art the melodies of instrument and voice cannot be rightly enjoyed. Likewise it is necessary that the schools teach it in order that the souls and hearts of the pupils may become vivified and exhilarated and their lives be brightened with enjoyment. (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace)
Music, as one of the arts, is a natural cultural development, and the Guardian does not feel that there should be any cultivation of "Bahá'í Music" any more than we are trying to develop a Bahá'í school of painting or writing. The believers are free to paint, write and compose as their talents guide them. If music is written, incorporating the sacred writings, the friends are free to make use of it, but it should never be considered a requirement at Bahá'í meetings to have such music. The further away the friends keep from any set forms, the better, for they must realize that the Cause is absolutely universal, and what might seem a beautiful addition to their mode of celebrating a Feast, etc., would perhaps fall on the ears of people of another country as unpleasant sounds -- and vice versa. As long as they have music for its own sake it is all right, but they should not consider it Bahá'í music. (Shoghi Effendi 20 July 1946, to a National Spiritual Assembly)
Your understanding that the portrayal of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh in works of art is forbidden is correct. The Guardian made it clear that this prohibition refers to all the Manifestations of God; photographs, or reproductions of portraits, of the Master may be used in books, but no attempt should be made to portray Him in dramatic or other works where He would be one of the "dramatis personae". However, there can be no objection to symbolic representation of such Holy Figures, provided it does not become a ritual and that the symbol used is not irreverent.( Shoghi Effendi 3 December 1972, by the Universal House of Justice to an individual)
O musician of God!... The songsters of fellowship that abide in the gardens of holiness must pour forth such a triumphant burst of songs in this age that the birds in the fields may wing their flight in a transport of delight; and in this divine festival, this heavenly banquet, they should play the lute and the harp, and the viol and the lyre in such wise that the people of east and west may be filled with exceeding joy and gladness, and be carried away with exultation and happiness. Now it behoveth thee to raise the melody of that heavenly lyre and to perform music on that celestial lute, thus causing Barbud to return to life and Rudakito be solaced and Farabi to become restless and Ibn-i-Sina to be guided to the Sinai of God. Upon thee be salutation and praise.
(Baha'u'llah Translated from the Persian)
O people of Baha! The source of crafts, sciences and arts is the power of reflection. Make ye every effort that out of this ideal mine there may gleam forth such pearls of wisdom and utterance as will promote the well-being and harmony of all the kindreds of the earth. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah)
It is certain that with the spread of the spirit of Baha'u'llah a new era will dawn in art and
literature. Whereas before the form was perfect but the spirit was lacking, now there will be a glorious spriti embodied in a form immeasurably improved by the quickened genius of the world. (Shoghi Effendi, 3 April 1932, to an individual)
The art of music is divine and effective. It is the food of the soul and spirit. Through the power and charm of music the spirit of man is uplifted. It has wonderful sway and effect in the hearts of children, for their hearts are pure, and melodies have great influence in them. The latent talents with which the hearts of these children are endowed will find expression through the medium of music. Therefore, you must exert yourselves to make them proficient; teach them to sing with excellence and effect. It is incumbent upon each child to knows something of music, for without knowledge of this art the melodies of instrument and voice cannot be rightly enjoyed. Likewise it is necessary that the schools teach it in order that the souls and hearts of the pupils may become vivified and exhilarated and their lives be brightened with enjoyment. (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace)
