Music is the cause of the exaltation of sad and despondent hearts
“In this dispensation, music is one of the arts that is highly approved and is considered to be the cause of the exaltation of sad and desponding hearts. Therefore … set to music the verses and the divine words so that they may be sung with soul-stirring melody in the Assemblies and gatherings, and that the hearts of the listeners may become tumultuous and rise towards the Kingdom of Abha in supplication and prayer (Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 378).”
Crude notes of a hurdy gurdy versus immortal, charming songs with celestial harmonies by accomplished musician
“Abdu’l-Baha seated himself in his usual chair by the window. A band of street singers just below struck up noisily. A girl in the flat above was practicing on the piano. Abdu’l-Baha sat quietly till the noise ceased and still looking out of the window gave the following talk on the celestial music of the spheres:
“Last night a Hindu professor of music came to see me. He brought with him a musical instrument called the vina and sang for us certain Oriental verses, accompanying himself on the vina. Overhead, our neighbor was playing the piano, but as soon as the professor began, the piano became silent till the Hindu finished. This teaches us a lesson – whenever we hear superb music we must listen; then we will forget all inferior music. For instance, when a lover of music hearkens once to the entrancing notes of a great master, his love for music will no longer be satisfied by the playing of a pupil. If he listens with equal pleasure to the pupil, it shows a lack of artistic appreciation.
Let us suppose that the most accomplished artist of Paris is playing for us in this room, inspiring the hearts by immortal songs and charming us with celestial harmonies – is it possible that any one of us could leave this room and going through the streets stop to enjoy the crude notes of a hurdy-gurdy?
Today there are many melodies; from every studio divers strains are floated to our ears, but these tunes have become antiquated and covered with the rust of time. For thousands of years the same notes have been heard. They lack their original charm and purity, for the singers have grown old and decrepit and lost their voices. The song of life has lost its virility. From every direction melodies are sounded and we must needs have discriminating ears (Abdu’l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 76).”
