Zoroastrian music

Eric Banks, artistic and executive director, The Esoterics, Adjunct Music Faculty, Cornish College of the Arts, and founding director, ÆDONIS of the Seattle Men’s Chorus, a composer and conductor of choral music from Seattle, whose greatest interest lies in spiritual and religious music from all over the world, wishes to come to India for approximately one month (late December 2006-January 2007) on a research tour. His area of research is Zoroastrian music.

He refused to be put off by my protestations that there is no such thing. He made me rack my brains, but except for Meher Madon’s compositions on Avestan prayers, we drew a blank. I also told him that I could take him to hear the chanting of our priests so that he could absorb the mood and the "vibes.”

I am also going to take him to Udvada, Navsari and perhaps some other places to hear the chants of the priests there – at least those who do not mind his presence while they pray. I will also expose him (poor fellow!) to the "singing” of the goyans or goranis if any are still around. Do you remember the cacophony of Suraj-na-geet and Atash -na-geet, songs of the sun, and songs of fire? This sustained assault on the ears will probably be the most authentic music that he will hear and likely the most interesting too!

Banks’ approach is serious and scholarly. He has given performances of music from almost all other religions, Buddhist, Sufi, Jewish, Arabic and so forth. He gave the world premier of Vanraj Bhatia’s Vedic Hymns last year, but only after coming all the way to Bombay to meet the composer, as well as my wife Coomi, who has been associated with the first performances of many of Bhatia’s works. So sincere is his intention.

I am appealing, therefore, to your readers. Do any of you have any ideas? There is a serious lack of artistic works (specifically dealing with our religion) in our community, and we should do our very best to encourage all efforts. I do not know about other countries, such as Iran and Central Asia, with a Zoroastrian religious background where there may be a musical tradition. He will not hesitate to travel wherever his research takes him.

If you have some ideas or would like to express some views, please contact me, Nariman H. Wadia, Paran­joti Academy Chorus, 909 Cum­balla Crest, 42, Pedder Road, Bombay 400026, e-mail nhwadia@ vsnl.com

NARIMAN WADIA