Since ancient times, singing has been mainly a female attribute in Bulgaria, while men mostly serve as instrumentalists. The powerful resonance, range, texture, and its penetrating quality are the most distinct characteristics of the Bulgarian voice. The songs are mostly traditional folk ballads, with the lyrics emphasizing people’s everyday feelings and lives. This simple, yet “straight from the heart” from allows the Bulgarians to express their deepest feelings, let go of difficult situations, and connect with their Divine nature. In the 1950’s, a famous Bulgarian composer, Filip Kutev, gathered female singers from all corners of the country, even remote villages, to form the first ever female choir. Today the choir, Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, or Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices, continues to touch the souls of people around the world. Let’s listen to an excerpt from a song entitled “Polegnala e Todora,” or “Todora Fell Asleep.” There is a natural transcending energy that seems to flow from the beautiful harmonies. “Todora fell asleep, Maiden Todoro, Todoro, Todora fell asleep, Maiden Todoro, Todoro, Under a tree, under an olive tree.”

Ecuador hosts a portion of the magnificent Amazon rainforest and is also home to the native Waorani people, also known as the Huaorani, Waodani, or the Waos. Like other indigenous tribes across the globe, the Waorani have a symbiotic relationship with the natural environment. The forest is their beloved space, and they rely on nature for sustenance, water, safety, emotional fulfillment, and comfort. Hence, they passionately seek to protect and preserve the forest and its resources for younger generations. Indeed, the forest is full of natural treasures, such as a range of plants that are thought to keep the Waorani people healthy and strong. Phytochemicals are biochemicals that plants make to survive. The plants use these chemicals to defend themselves against dangerous microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even certain parasites. Human cells have receptors that absorb these protective plant phytochemicals. The Waorani also rely on the forest in the construction of their homes. While Waorani society is reported to be quite egalitarian, with relative equality between men and women, many Waorani women, in particular, are boldly leading the people into the future and raising awareness of the necessity of forest protection.

Senior citizens are an invaluable source of precious wisdom and provide us with love, understanding, and advice whenever we are in need. In Greek culture, elders are associated with wisdom and closeness to God. In ancient times, sages and oracles were mostly associated with the wise older men and women. It was noted in the history of ancient Sparta that politeness for elders was customary. In Ancient Rome, elders were respected for their wisdom and virtue , and were often looked up to as role models for the young. In many European nations, especially northern countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Germany, are deemed the “best region in the world for the elderly.” Governments ensure their seniors are well cared for by providing quality healthcare and generous pensions. Africans regard their elders as treasures, and expected to pass down knowledge, beliefs, and precious traditions to the younger generations. In Australia, the native Aboriginal people believe that respect is an essential virtue everyone must have, and is the foundation of harmonious relationships between humans, and with the natural environment. Care and respect for our elders is also an important principle in many religious doctrines.

In this 2-part program, we celebrate the cultural traditions of respecting elders around the world across various religions. In Asian societies, honoring elders is one of the fundamental principles. For example, in the Chinese culture, there is a saying, “among hundreds of moral behaviors, the virtue of being filial comes first” The long tradition of Filial Virtue or Filial Piety is considered the highest virtue in Chinese culture. It is more than just respect, and also includes love, care for, support, and devotion to the elderly. Honoring the elders extends to older siblings, family members, teachers, and citizens of high position in the Chinese culture. This moral principle contributes to establishing a peaceful society. In Âu Lạc, also known as Vietnam, there are usually many generations living together in one household. This allows all the generations to support and care for one another. In almost all the cultures of the Orient, there is a common reverence for elders for their wisdom, lifelong hard work, and all the sacrifices for family.

In Japanese “Taiko” means the “great drum.” For generations, the method of taiko playing has been taught and passed on by grand masters. In varying shapes and sizes, taiko drums have long been a part of Japanese cultural, religious, and musical traditions. The art of taiko drumming is known for its tightly choreographed movements similar to martial arts. The instrument’s fluid, powerful, and rhythmic playing style symbolizes the heartbeat of Japan. With the emergence of art forms such as Noh and Kabuki dance-drama, taiko drums eventually became an accompanying instrument in theatre and court music. The Buddhist and Shinto religions gave taiko drums a sanctifying role. Taiko drumming is also an integral part of Matsuri festivals in Japan, where communities celebrate the gods and honour their ancestors. There are now over 8,000 taiko groups in Japan, more than a dozen groups in Canada, and many more worldwide. Let's enjoy a synchronized drumming performance by Kokyo Taiko.

The Kalinago, previously known as the Caribs, are a proudly independent group of people who emigrated from South America to the Caribbean islands around the 13th century. Their skills as boat builders and sailors helped them expand their territory so that by the time the Spanish arrived two centuries later, they were the dominant culture on the islands. Today, most of the remaining 3,500 or so Kalinago live in Kalinago Territory, an autonomous region on the rugged eastern coast of Dominica. Fortunately, certain elements remained very strong, including basket weaving, cassava processing and canoe-building. Canoes have been a bedrock of the Kalinago culture since their ancestors left the Orinoco River Delta in South America 800 years ago. Through the concept of a living museum, the Kalinago Cultural Village by the Sea has created direct and indirect economic opportunities for the people, including employment for the Kalinago youth that enables them to showcase their traditions.

Ethiopia is one of the world’s oldest countries. In today’s show, we are delighted to share with you three Ethiopian worship songs in Amharic. The First song is called, “Holy Spirit,” performed by Zuriyash Tsega W/Tensai and Samuel T Michael. The song expresses one’s deep longing for the radiant presence of the Holy Spirit. Our next song is “Igziabeher’s Peace” composed by Mesfin Gutu, and performed by Bereket, Ephrem, Sammy, and Teddy. “Igziabeher” means “Our Father Lord of Eternity” in Geez, a language used by the ancient Ethiopian Tewahado Church. Finally, our third song is called “It is Possible,” performed by Kalkidan Abebe and composed by Ayouab Gebremariam. This Amharic Gospel song uplifts our spirit and reminds us of all the things we can do when we remember God.

The Bandura was believed to be a companion of humanity, producing heavenly reverberations to comfort our souls in this material world. This exceptional instrument originates from the spiritual culture of the ancient Sumero-Akkadian civilization. The Akkadians played early versions of the Bandura in their religious events as well as in festivities and for entertainment. Later, the charming instrument was introduced into eastern European countries. The beautiful bandura where several distinctly recognizable styles are used in performances. Many Ukrainian people considered these singing bandurists to be “God’s messengers,” or “vessels of God’s word.” Like their musical predecessors, modern-day folk bandurists assimilate melodies from a wide range of inspirations. Let’s now enjoy a delightful solo by a famous bandurist, Victor Mishalow, as he performs for the National Library of Australia Collection.

Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the most prominent architects in American history. During his lifetime, he designed over 1,000 structures, including churches, schools, museums, and residential houses, eight of which were acknowledged as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in July 2019. Mr. Wright is recognized as “the greatest American architect of all time” by the American Institute of Architects. His design philosophy of “organic architecture” which emphasizes the harmony of human structures and nature, still influences generations today. One of the most famous designs that best exemplifies Mr. Wright’s philosophy is a house called, “Fallingwater.” The most famous one was The Robbie House, built in 1906. Another of his famous designs is the Unity Temple. Frank Lloyd Wright passed away in 1959, but his legacy lives on. The good building is not one that hurts the landscape, but one which makes the landscape more beautiful than it was before the building was built.

Since ancient times, humans have expressed their love and longing for God through singing and music. These holy songs connect us with the Divine and remind us of our heavenly Home. In today’s show, we are delighted to share with you three Buddhist Songs from Bangladesh. The first song is called “Lumbini Kanon,” which praises the Lord Buddha. “Lumbini Kanon is a flower. The name is Buddha. In the sweet aroma of the flower, the world is fascinated today in meditation, in thoughts and philosophy. Make life pure.” Our next song is “Ajj Ki Je Valo Lagche,” or “I Feel So Good Today,” is also performed by Ms. Moumita Barua with lyrics by Pankaj Dev Opu and music by Subrata Das Anup. By following Buddha’s Teachings, many Buddhists have found inner peace and happiness. The next song is “Buddham Saranam Gacchami,” or “I Take Refuge in the Buddha” Sung by Apon Barua Ami. We thank all the singers and songwriters for making these beautiful songs that remind us of Buddha’s love and wisdom.

Fully embracing their multi-culture identity, Malaysians have a unique custom called, “open house,” which means during important cultural and religious festivals, they would open their houses to welcome not only friends and families, but also strangers. Through feasting and chatting together, cultural barriers are broken and new friendships are formed. Though 60% of the population are Muslims, national holidays such as Christmas, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, and native harvesting festivals are also celebrated, alongside various Islamic holidays such as the holy month of Ramadan, Eid-ul Fitr, and Eid-ul Adha. Now let’s take a look at how Malaysians celebrate some of their other holidays. His Excellency, Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, actively promotes harmonious existence among citizens of different races and backgrounds. “Malaysia was built on the foundations of tolerance, goodwill, mutual respect, the readiness of giving and sharing, selflessness, and a desire to make sacrifices for the sake of the country.” “Without such traits, Malaysia would not have grown into a developed country, which is capable of giving its people all the comforts and progress it has today.”

Dance is an integral part of the African culture, and today we are delighted to share with you a very exceptional and unique dance form from West Africa. Zaouli is regarded as a homage to feminine beauty. The dance was created in the 1950s by the Gouro, an ethnic group in the midwestern part of Côte d’Ivoire, with each Gouro village having a prized Zaouli dancer. The dance and accompanying music were inscribed on the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017. Let's now enjoy a spirited Zaouli performance. An interesting component of the distinctive dance is that it is always performed by a male! The costume consists of bright colors. The mask and cloth adorn the body from the head down to the shoulders and arms. They will perform at parties, social gatherings, and funerals. Zaouli is viewed as a peace-making component of West African culture. Ethnic Jewels Magazine describes the dance as “a celebration of calm following conflict.”

Since ancient times, humans have expressed their love and longing for God through singing and music. In today’s show, we would like to present a few holy songs as a dedication to this beloved Enlightened Master. Our first song is called “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” performed by !Audacious Band from !Audacious Church, Manchester. Our next song is “Oh How I Love Jesus” performed by Upper Room Church of God in Christ with music. "There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth. It sounds like music in my ears, The sweetest name on Earth. Jesus is His name." We can never get tired of listening to these elevating Christmas songs. They remind us of the Divine Love embodied by Lord Jesus Christ, the same Love that’s within us all.

The proud Bribri cultural legacy passes from one generation to the next through an oral tradition. This indigenous group has a strong bond with Mother Earth. Their language is called Bribri, which approximately 60% of the residents of the Talamanca Bribri Indigenous Reserve speak. Within the Bribri, people belong to different clans, and membership is based on the clan affiliation of one’s mother. Today, the Bribri remain an agricultural group, and besides corn, raise tubers, cacao, bananas, pejibaye, yucca, rice, and beans. Their belief regarding their origin as a people has agricultural roots. There is a belief among the Bribri that all are equal and that humans are not above the trees or water in the forest in terms of importance. As a result, nature is treated in a reverential manner.

Both the Baka and the Mbuti see the forest as their spiritual father and mother. They are a semi-nomadic group who have historically lived by foraging in the forest to supply all their needs. Whether Mbuti or Baka, everyone participates in the making of music as part of their every day interaction with others in their community and the forest. The Mbuti are categorized as a peaceful society for several reasons. Social customs are built around sharing, cooperating, interdependence, and avoiding disharmony with other groups of forest dwellers.

Since ancient times, humans have expressed their love and longing for God through singing and music. These holy songs connect us with the Divine and remind us of our heavenly Home. The artists are able to emulate the heavenly melodies and the beauties from above and try to express them on Earth as much as they can through their physical instrument and vocals. Sufism is a noble and beautiful branch of Islamic faith that is practiced in various regions across the world. Sufism focuses on the inward search for God and spiritual development of the soul. Because of so, Sufism is often referred to as Islamic mysticism. Today, let us enjoy a few devotional songs of Sufism.

The “World Tour 2018” was very impressive with the 39 “Small Island Big Song” concerts garnering over 100,000 attendees. The musician and dance troupe from eight island nations covered 20 cities in 12 countries on four continents! When we looked out at that stage and they were all such strong, proud musicians who are absolutely respected cultural voices and it was so humbling for us to be amongst those people and for them to be standing up on stage and the presence that they bring, because it’s not just them, they’re all representing this lineage, and they’re aware of that, too, when they’re standing there. The respect (they have) for each other.

Today is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, and to mark the occasion, we are excited to share with you an introduction to an extraordinary album celebrating unity, music and traditional culture. “Small Island Big Song” that unites indigenous island musicians who share an ancient seafaring ancestry across the two oceans. The album was composed and recorded in nature, on the artists’ custodial land, with all songs featuring only traditional instruments and lyrics in indigenous languages. Over a hundred musicians from 16 island nations are showcased.

In fact, their firm belief is that they are the guardians of the heart of the world. With deep spiritual insight. Seeking to uplift global awareness on the vital need to safeguard the environment, the Kogi worked with BBC filmmaker Alan Ereira to make a 1990 film entitled “From the Heart of the World: The Elder Brothers’ Warning.” The work’s message is clear - the Kogi are gravely concerned about the future of our planet, and we, their “younger brothers,” must change our ways to protect the Earth.

Guelaguetza represents the longstanding, great occasion where native Oaxacans worshipped the ancient goddess of maize “Xilonen.” In order to pray for a bountiful harvest in the coming months, the people would gather and hold ceremonies and rituals. The modern-day festival is dedicated to the goddess of maize called “Centeotl”. The word “Guelaguetza” comes from a Zapotec term meaning “reciprocal exchange of gifts and services.” In other words, it is an event celebrating the spirit of sharing and giving, which is what makes a family, community, and county strong.