I. CYBELE, THE ALL MOTHER: From the Ancient and Middle East: (Harp)

Mythologies & Sacred Verse:

A Celebration of the Woman’s Voice from the Oral Tradition

The Journey of Mothers

In a time of religious war, it may be timely to reflect on some of our religious roots and better acquaint ourselves with a sweep of poetry and song that speaks eloquently to the deepest yearnings of humanity. This presentation of verse from various oral traditions celebrates the voice of woman with a range of poetries that suggest the evolution of the human struggle both to name and to know the presence of the divine in human affairs. In such presentations of myth and sacred literature, a contemporary praise singer recites those texts and poems that came before our era and responds in poetic dialogue. The purpose is not to present views that conflict with one’s religious beliefs, but to provide an audience with a glimpse of a very ancient tradition of praise singing with the harp that dates to the third millennium B.C.  As`an incitement to greater tolerance for the beliefs of others, presentations highlight verse from the following oral traditions:

The myth of Inanna and the Huluppu Tree, Sumerian Akkadian hymn, Sumerian and Egyptian verse, a Lament for Tammuz, oldest song: Sumerian-Akkadian hymn

II. DEBORAH & JEPTHAH’S DAUGHTER: Sacred Verse From the Old Testament (Harp)

Sacred verse from the Song of Songs, Job, Genesis, Psalms, Judges.

* Selected verse from New Testament and the reading of “Mary’s Secret Chest”

III. HECUBE: From the Ancient Greek Tradition of Praise Song (Harp)

Verse from Homer, Alcman, Pindar, Simonides, Sappho and selections from Euripides’ play, Trojan Women.

IV. QUATIE: From America’s Native American Oral Tradition: (Drum)

Praise Song for an American Hero

*(Presentations may also include verse from:

The Norse epic, The Elder Edda, with the  stories of “Baldur’s Dream” and the famous “Song of the Sibyl.”)

Programs may be selected or arranged from the above