The Second Bahá'í Congress took place in New York City in 1992 and featured music by a host of Bahá'í musicians, including Seals & Crofts. The Universal House of Justice commissioned the music in praise of Bahá'u'lláh, on the 100th anniversary of his death. A tour of ten countries followed with a choir and orchestra, culminating in recordings with the Mila Moscow Orchestra, during civil unrest in Moscow in October of 1993. There were also recordings in Canada with the Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra. These works are in two parts. First is an oratorio dedicated to Bahá'u'lláh. Second is described as music selections presented on days two to four of the Congress. The album was released in 1994.Oratorio to His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh
01. Yá Bahá'u'l Abhá, Yá Ali'u'l-Alá (O Thou Glory of the Most Gracious, O Thou Lofty One of God) Invocations of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh. Music by Hooper Dunbar and Saffa Kinney..
02. Tribute To Abdu'l-Bahá. Text and music by James Seals. Sung solo by Dash Crofts.
03. O God, My God. Text by the Bá. Music by Tom Price.
04. Queen of Carmel. Text and music by Jeanie Murday.
05. All Praise be to Thee. Text by Bahá'u'lláh. Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
06. Dastam Begir, Abdu'l-Bahá. (Hold My Hand, Abdu'l-Bahá). Text by Habib Moayyad. Music by Niki Manavi.
07.Prayer For the Hands of the Cause. Text by Bahá'u'lláh. Music by Tom Price.
08. Look at Me, Follow Me. Chorus text by Abdu'l-Bahá. Music anonymous. Verse text based on statements by Abdu'l-Bahá. Music by Tom Price.
09. In This Day, Bahá'u'lláh. Text and music by Fred Ward.
See the life of glory, oh people, shining before you, Bahá'u'lláh.
Lord of lords, king of kings, he is wondrous, everlasting father, Bahá'u'lláh.
Rejoice, rejoice, this is the promised day.
One day, one day, a most great peace will come.
Lift your eyes and behold a new creation. Word of God eternal, Bahá'u'lláh.
Ancient voice of the Báb now calling, [answer now?] your kingdom, Bahá'u'lláh.
Rejoice, rejoice, this is the promised day. Rejoice, rejoice, this is the promised day.
A most great peace shall come. . .
See the life of glory, oh people, shining before you, Bahá'u'lláh.
Lord of lords, king of kings, he is wondrous, everlasting father, Bahá'u'lláh.
Rejoice, rejoice, this is the promised day.
One day, one day, a most great peace will come. Rejoice! Rejoice!
Spoken: Oh Bahá'u'lláh, what have they done? You were confined in the
darkest pit. Chained among thieves and assassins, your feet were placed in stocks. A
chain encased your neck. Two rows of prisoners, apparalled in what you taught them to
sing. "God is sufficient unto me, he verily is the all-sufficing," chanted the one. "In him let
the trusting trust," came in the dungeon, the eager reply.
05. GARDEN OF RIDVÁN
Gathered now at the mystic hour, in the Garden of Ridván.
Circling 'round his blessed tent, in the Garden of Ridván.
And the nightengales sing, and the souls are on fire.
As the crimson-colored ark sets sail in the presence of the Best Beloved
Of the worlds, in the Garden of Ridván.
The fragrance of the roses strong, in the Garden of Ridván.
The friends are silent, struck with awe, in the Garden of Ridván.
As the Ancient of Days lifts a myriad of veils of light
And the new creation sings with joy in the presence of the Best Beloved
Of the world, in the Garden of Ridván.
The Lord of names ascends his throne in the 12 days of Ridván.
Approach him now and walk your fill in the Garden of Ridván.
Everlasting life from the hands of his grace
Bestowed upon all humankind in the presence of the Best Beloved
Of the world, in the Garden of Ridván.
Chorus: Behold the Blessed Beauty riding on a red roan.
Behold the wind-swept mountain, the valley and the plain.
From the prison cell He rose up to recreate mankind
Revealed his ancient Beauty, a Beauty for all time.
Behold the Blessed Beauty, ancient, everlasting.
The image of his Beauty reflected in all things.
From the prison cell he rose up to recreate mankind
Revealed his ancient Beauty, a Beauty for all time.
Behold the Blessed Beauty.
Spoken: Oh Bahá'u'lláh, what hast thou done? Step by exiled step, you followed the path of your lord. Kings at your command let fall their sceptors, their kingdoms vanquished in the fire of your decree. "Oh kings of the earth," you proclaimed, "he who is the sovereign lord of all is come." The kingdom is God's, the omnipotent protector, the self-subsisting. From the heaven of your revelation, divine justice descended to subdue the world. God's kingdom on earth.
(lyrics and music by James Seals, Tom Price and Jack Lenz, 1992?)
Also appeared in the episode All the Queen's Horses in the Canadian series "Due South," in April, 1996.
Come and behold him, tell all his story.
Lift up your voices to the king of glory.
(lyrics by James Seals; music by James Seals, Jack Lenz and Kingsley Thurber, 1992?)
Sung by Dan Seals.
Takin' It Easy
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