Media Reports |
A
spectacular concert was held at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington,
D.C. two blocks away from the White House on the evening of December 27,
1997. This "A Journey Through Aesthetic Realms" was a blend
of the traditional and contemporary arts that bridges East and West and
transcends cultural and language barriers, giving the audience a unique,
original and unforgettable artistic experience.
Among those attending
the concert were the guest of honor Supreme Master Ching Hai, and other distinguished
guests, including US Senator Mark Katz and his wife; Ms. Kieu Chinh, star
of the hit movie Joy Luck Club, and chairwoman of the Au Lac Children's
Fund; Mr. Jim Delgado, director of Volunteer Services and acting secretary
of the General Office, Department of Veterans Affairs; Attorney Susan
Allen, president of the Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, and her
husband, Attorney Paul Allen; Attorney Maurice White, division chief,
Administrative Office of the US Courts, and his wife; Attorney Benjamin
Wu; Ms. Ruth Wong; Dr. Mike C. Chen; Dr. Wenxiong Huang and his wife;
and Dr. Arthur Wu and his wife. An audience of over three thousand filled
the concert hall to partake in an unforgettable feast of beauty for the
eyes, ears and spirit -- in the musical event of the century.
The concert was conceived
by a distinguished Au Lac musician, Nguyen Dinh Nghia, better known as
the "Magic Flute". Nguyen Dinh Nghia has spent a long time studying
the performing techniques and manufacturing art of Au Lac tribal musical
instruments, and later began crafting self-styled instruments with self-improved
skills. He has developed his own superb style that has given a modern
dimension of musical excellence to the mystical sounds of authentic tribal
instruments. In 1994, Nguyen Dinh Nghia won the Individual Artist Award
from the Governor of Maryland as the state's Best Musician in Musical
Instrument Performance. He had reached the pinnacle of his artistic career.
At the end of 1996, Nguyen Dinh Nghia and his family were invited to perform
at the concert, "An Evening of Musical Performance and Poetry Recital,"
organized by the Artist's Association in California. There he witnessed
Supreme Master Ching Hai, a versatile artist and spiritual teacher, contribute all
box office receipts to Au Lac artists who had faded from people's memories.
Nguyen Dinh Nghia was deeply touched by this humanitarian deed, and after
reading Supreme Master Ching Hai's spiritual teachings, was filled with even greater
admiration for this legendary lady.
At the same time, he
was pleasantly surprised to discover that Supreme Master Ching Hai had become an
inspiration in his artistic life, enabling him to open up an entirely
new musical realm on a level far beyond his previous attainments. He achieved
major breakthroughs in his awareness and application of the sounds of
various musical instruments. He was also greatly inspired in terms of
musical creativity, which elevated his performance and composition skills
to a spiritual realm of unique beauty. Hence, Nguyen Dinh Nghia especially
planned this musical event to express his reverence and appreciation for
Supreme Master Ching Hai.
This grand gathering
featured 25 world-renowned musicians and singers, including "The
Beethoven of Au Lac," Pham Duy, American New Age musician David Arkenstone,
singer Dalena, who performed in The Phantom of The Opera, and many other
celebrated singers, movie stars, composers and lyricists. An exhibition
of Supreme Master Ching Hai's artistic creations was held in the lobby of the Constitution
Hall before and during the concert. The exhibition featured paintings
and poems written in new lively styles, fabulous and superbly designed
Celestial Jewelry, and dozens of gorgeous Celestial Clothes. Visitors
to the exhibition were full of praise for Supreme Master Ching Hai's all-embracing
and outstanding artistic talents.
"A Journey Through
Aesthetic Realms" was an artistic feast presented by a galaxy of
distinguished talents and brilliant stars. Rich and colorful in content,
the evening's performance reached climax after climax over a seven-hour-long
period that kept the audience captivated till its very end.
The stage was decorated
with exquisite images of classical Greek angels and graceful Eastern flying
Apsaras. This, plus the wonderful and ever-changing stage lighting and
stereo sound effects, and a giant video screen on either side of the stage
that projected the performance live, added to the audience's enjoyment
of the show.
The show opened with
a touching address by Mr. Pham Duy, followed by a performance by twelve
little angels dancing in lively and ingenious steps choreographed to the
tune "My Love" composed by Supreme Master Ching Hai. The curtain on "A
Journey through Aesthetic Realms" was thus raised in a bright and
joyful atmosphere.
The next to come on
stage was Dalena, who sang the song "I will Forever Love You,"
written and composed by Supreme Master Ching Hai. Her clear and melodious voice
expressive of deep feelings relayed God's love for all, tugging the heartstrings
of the audience. It was at this point that a spiritual and musical journey
unfolded for all those present.
When New Age composer
David Arkenstone presented his most recent work, his fresh and fluid melodies
led the audience into his dreamlike musical stories. The atmosphere of
warmth and spiritual elevation flowing between the audience and performers
struck a chord deep down in David Arkenstone's heart that he spontaneously
played four additional tunes, one of which was especially dedicated to
Supreme Master Ching Hai. His performance was as natural as that of a newborn baby.
He repeatedly expressed that he felt highly honored to be able to take
part in this concert. Down with a heavy flu, he had originally planned
to leave right after his performance. But he enjoyed the harmonious and
uplifting atmosphere so much that he stayed to watch the program till
the very end and then joined the other performers on stage in a farewell
tribute.
About halfway through
the concert, Director of American Veterans & National Coalition of
Homeless Veterans Mark Katz accepted a contribution of US$100,000 from
Supreme Master Ching Hai on behalf of Mr. Terry Anderson, chairman of the Au Lac
Children's Fund. World-famous movie star Ms. Kieu Chinh, chairwoman of
the Fund, went on stage with him. The contribution will be used to build
40 schools in Au Lac over the next ten years. Supreme Master Ching Hai also presented
another US$100,000 to Mr. Jim Delgado, director of Volunteer Services
and acting secretary of the General Office, Department of Veterans Affairs,
to help the poor and needy among American veterans. Supreme Master Ching Hai observed
that America had lost many sons and daughters in the Vietnam War, and
nothing could compensate for its loss. She could only show her respect
for them through this humble contribution and hoped that it would help
heal the spiritual wounds inflicted on both nations by the Vietnam War.
She thanked America for sacrificing her children for Au Lac, where Supreme Master Ching Hai Herself was born.
At this distinguished
gathering in Washington, D.C., where artists from the East and the West
came together to interweave Eastern and Western music in perfect harmony,
Supreme Master Ching Hai's magnanimous act of universal love carried an exceptionally
profound and everlasting significance in the promotion of world peace.
Two video films were
shown during the concert. One was a documentary on the life of Supreme Master Ching Hai, montaged and produced by Joseph Hieu, a Hollywood actor, producer
and director. For Mr. Hieu, this short film was far more difficult to
produce than a two-hour motion picture. It was the best and most difficult
work of his career, he said, and he was very honored to be able to produce
a film introducing Supreme Master Ching Hai's life to the world. The second video
was a documentary film about Supreme Master Ching Hai's charitable and humanitarian
efforts since 1988 in providing disaster relief to various parts of the
world. For years, Supreme Master Ching Hai and members of Her International Association
have been engaged in helping the world's suffering people, including refugees
in various countries, victims of natural disasters such as famines, floods,
fires, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, as well as senior citizens
without relatives or friends, families in poverty, homeless people, and
jailed inmates. Supreme Master Ching Hai has also been globetrotting to bring God's
love and light to unfortunate souls in every corner of the world.
The films left the entire
audience deeply moved by Her benevolence. Many men shed tears. As compassion
and concern for the world's suffering people swelled up in the hearts
of all those present, the people also became more respectful toward Supreme Master Ching Hai for Her noble love and deeds. Ms. Allison Clark, a stenographer
who worked on the English subtitles that night, said in all sincerity:
"I had never known or heard of Supreme Master Ching Hai before tonight, but
I will never forget Her. She is a saint."
A three-time recipient
of the National Billboard Song Award, the distinguished Au Lac-American
lyricist Mr. Le Quang Anh, had long been touched by Supreme Master Ching Hai's selfless
deeds to save the world and Her utmost efforts to elevate the level of
human consciousness. Thus he wrote a song entitled "Supreme Master Ching Hai"
especially for Her. Supreme Master Ching Hai's great efforts spoke of Her world
vision, Mr. Le Quang Anh said, which was why he wrote the lyrics in English
so that the whole world could understand and learn this song. He also
invited Tom Mahieu, a famous American singer, to sing the song at the
concert.
During his performance,
Mr. Mahieu said that he had never met Supreme Master Ching Hai before. However,
when he was singing the song, his heart was so deeply touched that he
ended up singing it twice more and invited the audience to sing along
with him. Instantly, the Hall resounded with sincere singing; everyone
was united as one; and the atmosphere of the moment was truly touching.
An internationally renowned
singer, the Grand Prix du Disque award recipient Bach Yen, and her husband
musician Tran Quang Hai, along with Jean-Louis Beydon, a famous French
pianist and director of the Academy of Music in Vanves, France, specially
flew from Paris to perform in the concert. Bach Yen sang many songs in
excellent French, English, Spanish and the Au Lac language. With a rich
voice full of passion and outstanding vocal techniques, Bach Yen sang
to Beydon's superb piano accompaniment, intoxicating the entire audience.
She herself was also deeply immersed in her own performance, repeatedly
performing additional songs and dedicating them to Supreme Master Ching Hai. Using
his magical vocal skills, Mr. Tran Quang Hai, Bach Yen's husband, gave
a remarkable performance that was a real eye opener for everyone.
Other programs included
traditional Au Lac folk songs and dances, and numerous melodies composed
for Supreme Master Ching Hai's love poems. These exquisite and profound, romantic
yet spiritually elevating songs were like nectar nourishing the souls
of all those present, who yearned for Truth, Love and Beauty. Among these
was a duet "Go Go Go" that was sung by Dalena and Henry Chuc.
Its lucid and lively rhythm was full of power and grandeur, holding an
everlasting appeal that seemed to lead one into the future.
The performance by Nguyen Dinh Nghia and his family brought the night's
concert to its ultimate climax, which had an overwhelming effect on the
audience. The musicians played a number of tribal instruments including
the Au Lac bamboo flute, the Hmong flute, the rarely heard or seen Dan
Trung, and the monochord Dan Bau, whose origin dates back to the seventh
century. Nguyen Dinh Nghia found that after he came to know Supreme Master Ching Hai, his musical attainments had risen to even greater heights as he created
meditative music of a unique style.
On the night of the
concert, he and his children first performed in public "Rainbow and
Waterfall," "Clouds Adrift," "Words of the River,"
and "Chanting from the Heavens." Their music guided audience
members from dreamlike lives of transmigration into an awakening of self-consciousness
leading to the longing for enlightenment and the truth about the cosmos
and human life. The stage lights, with their constantly changing patterns
and colors, created a miraculous theatrical effect.
The ingenious harmony
of the magical instruments played by these great artists gradually led
the audience into a vast and transcendent, strange yet familiar state
of consciousness. Each and every sound of the drums, bells, flutes, vertical
bamboo flutes, thunder, and ocean tides reverberated in the ears of the
audience, as if to awaken all sentient beings to attentively listen to
the long separated music from our heavenly homeland.
When "Chanting
from the Heavens" was played to the tune of the "Amitaba-Infinite
Light" Chant, the entire audience spontaneously joined in the chorus;
an extremely intense vibration was clearly felt in the air; people's consciousness
was also uplifted to a pure, holy and sublime state. The concert hall
transcended the physical level into an ocean of love. Supreme Master Ching Hai closed
Her eyes and joined in the chanting; and many members of the audience
were moved to tears. At that very moment, one truly felt the great harmony
of the world, and the union of God and humanity. It was indeed a scene
of Heaven on Earth. With all the heavenly sounds resounding in unison,
all of creation was reunited; "A Journey Through Aesthetic Realms"
reached its highest point with a gently descending curtain.
Nguyen
Dinh Nghia then cordially invited Supreme Master Ching Hai and all the performers
to come on stage. Nghia presented Supreme Master Ching Hai with a miniature Trung,
the only one of its kind in the world, which he had specifically made
for Supreme Master Ching Hai to express his respect and gratitude for Her. Supreme Master Ching Hai presented flowers to all the performing artists, and thanked
them for their enthusiasm and superb performances. All of the performers
said that they were honored to be able to join this grand gathering and
acknowledged that this program was the best and most significant that
they had ever attended.
The exuberant audience
stepped out of the concert hall rejoicing, as if they were still immersed
in the heavenly sounds resounding in their ears-- a true experience of
the reunion of music and spirit. The Truth, Virtue and Beauty of the Kingdom
of God had elevated everyone's soul back to its heavenly homeland.
 |
 |
 |
|
Washington
Chinese News, U.S.A.