Q. You reference the “Peshitta” in context of your musical influence in composing the music to the Lord’s Prayer. Can you explain more of its meaning and significance?

A. Scholars have described the Peshitta as one of the most valuable documents in ascertaining the original text of the Bible. Dr George Lamsa the pioneering scholar has pointed out in his “Holy Bible from ancient Eastern Manuscripts”, the church of the East regards the Peshitta as the oldest and most authoritative version of the Bible. The term Peshitta means straight, simple, sincere and true- that is the original. The name was given to the ancient and authoritative text to distinguish it from other Bible revisions and translations. It is the only authoritative text of the old and new testament of the Eastern Christians- called the Church of the East. This is also because the text was in use for 400 years before the Christian church was divided into several sects. The Church of the East holds that if the Peshitta does not contain the oldest version, it is still much closer to the thought forms of Jesus than any Greek version. George Lamsa points out there is much evidence supporting this view.

 

The Israelites never wrote their sacred literature in any language but Aramaic and Hebrew, which are sister languages. In the world religions we find the sacred teachings have been written down in the language of the founder. The language spoken by Jesus and his followers was Aramaic.

 

Scholars have pointed out that Jesus quotations from the Old Testament agree with the Peshitta text but do not agree with the Greek text. Jesus and his disciples not only could not converse in Greek and were unlikely to have heard it spoken. Although Greek was introduced into the Middle east after the conquest of Alexander the Great, it never became the language of the native people.

 

Further research in the Aramaic language can be obtained by reference to the work of Dr George Lamsa…

 

The Lords Prayer sung in Aramaic is very powerful because it is in the original language of Christ.

 

Author: Ron Ragel

Q How do you define a true Artist ?

A. An artist brought up in the true tradition of “ Spirituality” sees his art as simply an inseparable form of divine worship. For such an artist it is the best and easist way to be in touch with the heart of God. His devotion to God flows out of him in the form of an artistic expression. The flourishing of his art is simply to the extent he his devoted to God.

 

The following passage comes from a book called “The Mysticism of Sound and Music” by Hazrat Inayat Khan, a Sufi mystic who died in 1927

“I gave up my music because I had received from it all I had to receive.  To serve God one must sacrifice the dearest thing, and I sacrificed my music, the dearest thing to me.

 

I had composed songs, I sang, and played the veena.  Practicing this music I arrived at a stage where I touched the music of the spheres.  Then every soul became for me a musical note, and all life became music.  Inspired by it I spoke to the people, and those who were attracted by my words listened to them instead of listening to my songs.

Now, if I do anything, it is to tune souls instead of instruments, to harmonize people instead of notes.  If there is anything in my philosophy, it is the law of harmony: that one must put oneself in harmony with oneself and with others.

I have found in every word a certain musical value, a melody in every thought, harmony in every feeling, and I have tried to interpret the same thing with clear and simple words to those who used to listen to my music.

I played the veena until my heart turned into the same instrument.  Then I offered this instrument to the divine Musician, the only musician existing.  Since then I have become his flute, and when He chooses He plays His music.  The people give me credit for this music which, in reality, is not due to me, but to the Musician who plays on His own instrument.”    By Ron Ragel