New York musicians usher in a new era of Buddhist music and Broadway medleys | Mayor shows support as music heals and uplifts hearts after the pandemic.
As wildfires ravage eastern Canada and air quality in the greater New York area drops, outdoor activities have been moved indoors. However, a remarkable music concert took place on May 9th at Queens College in New York.
The concert featured international musicians from the New York Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and Broadway vocalists, who jointly performed a captivating indoor music extravaganza, encompassing “Human Connections,” Disney film scores, and classical music.
Mayor Eric Adams of New York City, in an interview, expressed that amidst the ongoing pandemic and economic slowdown, communities are in dire need of deep engagement with arts, culture, and music. He recognized the healing power of music, which has the ability to uplift spirits and provoke contemplation.
Ven. Jue Lin, the abbot of Foguangshan New York Temple, quoted the founder of Foguangshan, Grand Master Hsing Yun, saying, “Music can express the emotions of the human spirit. A sacred melody or a devout Buddhist chant often elevates the human soul to a sacred realm. Therefore, in the propagation of religion, music holds a very important place.”
New York City Council Member Sandra Ung also attended the event and interacted with the participants. She shared that she had frequently accompanied her parents to Foguangshan’s activities since childhood. She commended Foguangshan for not only serving its members but also extending its services to the wider community, and she took this opportunity to express her heartfelt remembrance of Grand Master Hsing Yun.
Although New York Governor Kathy Hochul was unable to attend the event, she sent a letter of gratitude and wished the concert success.
The concert 【Eternal Star】opened with a Buddhist hymn called “Hymn to the Three Jewels,” composed by Grand Master Hsing Yun.
The highlight of the concert was the performance of Buddhist music on Western-style pipe organ. This indoor music concert, which aimed to commemorate Grand Master Hsing Yun’s contributions to promoting Humanistic Buddhism, also attempted innovative combinations of Buddhist and classical music.
It featured instruments such as the French horn, violin, and vocal performances, as well as adaptations of popular songs, all weaving together to create the songs of Human Connections. Chen Cheng-hui, the president of the Buddha’s Light International Association New York, expressed the hope that through this concert, people would be able to connect with Grand Master Hsing Yun across time and space.
Mayor Adams visited during the rehearsal and interacted with the participating chamber musicians. Not only did Mayor Adams try his hand at percussion instruments, but he also sat down to listen to the medleys and vocal performances. He expressed his gratitude to the Buddha’s Light International Association New York for organizing this charity concert for the benefit of the community. He encouraged the community to actively engage in the promotion of arts and music.
Drawing on the example of the Great Depression, he mentioned that as the community emerged from economic hardship, former President Roosevelt invested millions of dollars in arts and culture. Although the COVID-19 pandemic brought pain, uncertainty, and anxiety, Adams emphasized the importance of actively pursuing arts, culture, and music in various forms.
He stated that music, being inspiring in nature, has the power to heal. Music concerts, in their various forms of inspiration, serve as a means of healing and reflection. Adams expressed his gratitude to the devoted efforts of the Foguangshan community in New York and urged for the promotion of this cause not only in Queens but also in the heart of Manhattan and throughout the entire city.
The concert repertoire included compositions such as “Carmen Suite,” Mozart’s “Nocturne in G Major, K. 525,” the theme song from “The Wizard of Oz” called “Over the Rainbow,” the musical “Les Misérables” with “I Dreamed a Dream,” Tchaikovsky’s “Song without Words,” and the musical “The Phantom of the Opera” with “Music of the Night,” along with other film and musical themes.
There were also well-known melodies like the theme song of the Buddha’s Light Youth Conference, “Harmony,” the theme song of the World Members’ Representative Conference, “Love and Peace,” the theme song for the 30th anniversary of the Buddha’s Light Association, “It’s Wonderful with You,” as well as the homage to Grand Master Hsing Yun, “Ode to the Master,” and “Eternal Star.” The vivid and splendid performances deeply moved the audience.
Ven. Jue Lin, at the opening of the concert, stated that Grand Master Hsing Yun, the founder of Buddha’s Light Mountain, dedicated his life to promoting and advocating Humanistic Buddhism. This form of Buddhism encompasses what Buddhism requires, what people need, progress, and beauty. This year marks the 57th anniversary of Buddha’s Light Mountain’s founding and the 30th anniversary of the propagation of Humanistic Buddhism by the New York branch. When Grand Master Hsing Yun established Buddha’s Light Mountain, he set forth clear guidelines, and both Buddha’s Light Mountain and the International Buddhist Light Association have been guided by four principles: culture, education, charity, and spiritual cultivation, in the propagation of Humanistic Buddhism.
Ven. Jue Lin continued by saying that Foguangshan began promoting Buddhist music in 1979, and now 45 years later, the 【Eternal Star – Musical Spectacular of Human Connections】 is not only a commemoration of Grand Master Hsing Yun’s blessings but also a reinterpretation of Buddhist music through singing, playing, and arranging, as Grand Master Hsing Yun envisioned. It demonstrates the development of music towards greater accessibility and integration into daily life, ultimately achieving the purification of the human heart.
Hi, I read your blog regularly. Your writing style is awesome, keep it up!
Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular article!It is the little changes that will make the most important changes.Thanks for sharing!Feel free to visit my blog post; kebe.top
My brother suggested I might like this blog.He was entirely right. This post actually made my day.You cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say wonderful blog!
I loved your blog. Fantastic.
summer cove apartments rentberry scam ico 30m$ raised indian ridge apartments
This was an excellent piece of content. I loved it. I’ll be back to see more. Thank you .
Thank you ever so for you blog.Really looking forward to read more. Will read on…
Great share it is actually. My father has been seeking for this information.Feel free to surf to my blog; anapa-alrosa.com.ru
Im obliged for the blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Will read on…
Gcejxl – essays capital punishment Eaclut mcqfki
Can someone recommend Off The Shoulder Dresses? Cheers xox
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of youruseful information. Thanks for the post. I’llcertainly return.
Say, you got a nice post.Much thanks again. Want more.
I think this is a real great blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Want more.
I value the article post.Really thank you! Really Great.
Major thankies for the blog article. Awesome.
Great blog.Much thanks again. Want more.
Hi there, this weekend is nice for me, since this occasion i am reading this wonderful educational paragraph here at my house.
I value the article.Much thanks again. Will read on…
A round of applause for your article.Much thanks again. Really Great.
I have recently studied a few statements pertaining to this issue and you have presented some pertinent points. Although I began to believe there was nothing further to investigate, it appears you’ve revealed that to be wrong.
Thanks designed for sharing such a nice thinking, paragraph is nice, thats why i have read it completely
That is a great tip especially to those new to the blogosphere. Simple but very precise informationÖ Appreciate your sharing this one. A must read post!
You are really a good webmaster, you have done a well job on this topic!
Good blog you’ve got here.. Itís hard to find high-quality writing like yours nowadays. I truly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
I cannot thank you enough for the blog article. Will read on…
Say, you got a nice article post.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.
I value the post.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
can you vape cbd oil cbd oil vs hemp oil comparison benefits of cbd oil drops
Muchos Gracias for your article post.Much thanks again. Keep writing.Loading…
I cannot thank you enough for the article post. Will read on…
Very good blog article.Really thank you! Keep writing.
Im grateful for the post.Thanks Again. Awesome.
Really enjoyed this blog post. Much obliged.
Major thanks for the blog.Really thank you! Will read on…
The Town Hall Quarter is situated between the Grote Kerkhof, Polstraat, Burseplein and Assenstraat.
Thanks a lot for the blog post.Much thanks again. Great.
Hi there, its good post on the topic of media print, we all know media is a impressive source of facts.
What’s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It positivelyuseful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution &help different customers like its aided me. Great job.
Im obliged for the post.Really looking forward to read more. Fantastic.
Hi my family member! I want to say that this post is amazing, great written and come with approximately all significant infos. I would like to look extra posts like this.
449553 685499Read More HERE. I bookmarked it. 233834
proofreading services reviewsessay editing service
I don’t even understand how I ended up here, but I assumed this publish was good. I don’t recognise who you might be but definitely you are going to a famous blogger in case you are not already. Cheers!