Vijay Upadhyaya - Symphony No.1 "Prayer Flags" - Fourth Movement "Meera"

The work has four movements, combining the languages and philosophy of the Indian Middle Ages, Indian rhythms and melody sequences with Western symphonic music. The texts are of three poets from mediaeval India – Kabir, Amir Khusro and Meerabai as well as the work of the American poet Robert Frost. Mysticism in Indian poetry reached its peak with the Bhakti cult of Sufism between 1200 and1500 A.D. It advocates a complete surrender to God.

The musical content is freely tonal and the soloists are required to sing with both western and oriental vocal techniques. The melodic patterns are pentatonic or irregular hexatonic scales in most cases. In order to reveal how some regressive present day societies have evolved, the image of the woman in medieval India has been especially highlighted depicting the liberal thought of this age.

Meera (1498-1547), the poet of the fourth movement says that spirituality and sensuality are in no way contradictory. This idea was also anchored in the Christian tradition of Medieval Europe. However, the world of today has taken a step backwards as far as this is concerned. The rhythm of this movement is based on Indian folk rhythms which are played not only by the percussionists, but also by the lower strings. The tonality ranges from a clear A♭ major to an augmented C with an additional dominant seventh. Disconcerting harmonies represent Meera’s torment and longing which finally find salvation on the heavenly bed of the groom/God.

Prayer Flags is a musical journey into the realm of spirituality, love and longing. The mystical relationship of a lover and his beloved where divine love embraces creation and the depths of the human soul are touched. The journey is full of inner torment; but in this desperation and fear something transcends the human understanding and the seeker is transformed. His identity merges with God and leads him from duality to unity.

Our world is on the brink of self-destruction and there is an urgent need for introspection and reflection to find peace. This symphony reflects the longing for this inner peace and harmony in a world full of turmoil and upheaval.