" One World, Many Voices "
An Interfaith Songbook
57 Interfaith songs total.are included in this songbook.
The Story behind One World, Many Voices
When Charles Gibbs, executive director of United Religions Initiative, asked
me to play an 'interfaith' song in 1998 at a URI Charter-writing summit at
Stanford University, I wondered - What to play?! What music and lyrics would
people from all religions and spiritual, indigenous traditions around the
world want to sing together? I kept asking, and people started suggesting
good examples. They started talking about composing new songs for the
interfaith community to share.
Assembling and publishing a new kind of songbook is a daunting task. The
challenge was picked up by a URI Cooperation Circle dedicated to music and
the arts, the first project of a group with members on three continents. The
Interfaith Center at the Presidio in San Francisco agreed to publish the
first edition, and we were off and running. Dozens of hymns, choruses,
chants, and songs were mailed to the editorial team. Original compositions
were written, some for the songbook, others because people gathered in
places like East Africa or North America liked singing surprising new lyrics
set to familiar tunes.
So here is our modest first attempt at a magnificent notion - the idea of
singing about hope, peace, and love with millions of brothers and sisters
from every branch of the human family. With the hope that this book serves
the cause of peace among religions, it is warmly dedicated to everyone
making that dream come true all around our war-weary world. May peace and
songs of peace prevail on Earth!
Jack W. Lundin, Editor Sonoma, California, USA June 1, 2002
The Editorial Team -
Iftekhar Hai, United Muslims of America, the
Reverend Paul Chaffee, Interfaith Center at the Presidio; the Reverend Heng
Sure, Berkeley Buddhist Monastery; Robert Walter, Joseph Campbell
Foundation; Father Gerard O'Rourke, the Archdiocese of San Francisco; Sri
Ravi Peruman, KGO Radio-San Francisco; Cantor Roslyn Barak, Congregation
Emanu-El (San Francisco); Elder Rowan Fairgrove, Covenant of the Goddess;
the Reverend Lizann Bassham, United Church of Christ; Salima Ginny Patton
Machette, Taneen-Sufi Music Ensemble - IAS; and Pastor Jack Lundin,
Lutheran, convener of 'Expressing the United Religions Initiative through
Music and the Arts' Cooperation Circle. The team's work was supported and
enhanced by musicians from around the world and many faith traditions who
sent in contributions.
The Production Team -
Special thanks goes to the production team. Hugh
Trutton provided musical editing and typeset a cameraready manuscript for
the printer. His new arrangements grace many selections. Georga Allen, a
gifted musician herself, secured permission from copyright holders and
provided new lyrics to the title song of the book, set to the tune of
"Morning Has Broken." lack Lundin championed the idea in the first place,
organized the project, and led the editorial team. Appreciation also goes to
Don Frew, a national leader in the Wiccan community, and Mort Miller of the
United Religions Initiative Interim Global Council for their help with the
project. And thanks goes to Paul Chaffee and the board of directors of the
Interfaith Center at the Presidio for accepting the role of publisher.
Donations from members of United Religions Initiative's Interim Global
Council and the Interfaith Center at the Presidio made it possible to
collect, secure permission, edit, and print copies of One World, Many Voices
as a nonprofit venture offered to the interfaith world at a modest cost.
We invite lyricists, composers, poets, musicians, translators, and donors
the world over to make further contributions for later editions! Send your
contributions to Interfaith Center at the Presidio, P.O. Box 29055, San
Francisco, CA, USA 94129.
Thank you for your generous financial
support of the Interfaith Center at the Presidio.