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Brilliant Star

Volume 21, Number4 September-October 1989 "Izzat Might/Mashiyyat Will/’Ilm Knowledge 146 B.E.

Dear Friends,

Ever since people have been, they have had music. From clapping hands when they are delighted, to composing big symphonies, people have reached out with music to show how they are feeling. Often the music is a way of saying “Thank you, God, for this wonderful world!” People offer that thanks in many ways: by playing drums, by dancing, by singing by themselves, by singing in a group, by writing music, and by playing instruments.

This issue of BRILLIANT STAR is about music and praise. Write and let us know how many ways you use music in your Baha’i communities, to worship, to teach the Faith, and to make each other feel happy and close.

Love,

About the Cover Aaron-Eshraq Baha’i

Clayton developed the artistic style in the front cover drawing entitled “Jazz”. His initials ABC are also found in the drawing.

Aaron became a Baha’i when he was 10 years old; he will be 14 this year. Besides art, Aaron’s other interests include sports, animals and nature, exploring, traveling, and drama. Aaron lives in northern California.

/

»

Answers to Changed Words, p. 24: 1 — MAIL, NAIL.

2— SONG, KONG.

3 — HILL, PILL.

4 — BALL, FALL.

Brilliant Star Editorial Board

Deborah Bley Editor-in-Chief Mimi McClellan Music Editor Pepper P. Oldziey Art Director, Production Janet Richards Secretary, Manager Keith Boehme Consultant Terri L. Earl Consultant

Rita Leydon Consultant

Ed Muttart Consultant

Subscriber Service Candace Moore Hill

Brilliant Star is a publication of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’ of the United States. It is Su lished six times each year, in January, March, ay July, September and November. Copyright © 1989 ational Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i of the United States. World rights reserved.

Manuscripts should be typewritten and double-spaced throughout, Brilliant Star does not offer monetary compensation to its contributors. Return eae should be included if manuscript is to be returned. Single copy $2.50; 6 issues (one year) $12.00; 12 issues (two ven $20.00; foreign, surface mail, one year $15.00, two years $28. os foreign, air mail, one year $25.00, two years $47.00. a index for the preceding year's issues is available for $2. 00.

Address manuscripts and other editorial contributions to: Brilliant Star/Bley

2512 Allegheny Dr.

Chattanooga, TN 37421 ; For subscriptions, change of address and adjustments write to: Brilliant Star

Baha'i Subscriber Service

Baha'i National Center

Wilmette, IL 60091 All other correspondence should be addressed to:

Brilliant Star/Richards,

4 Village Dr.

Yardville, NJ 08620

Brilliant Star is intended for children of all ages and

strives to:

¢ develop the child’s awareness of the oneness of humanity

increase the child’s conscious awareness of his

spiritual nature and the need for its development

¢ provide practical approaches to viewing life’s difficulties

¢ develop the child’s reasoning power and stimulate his love for the order of the universe

provide a standard by which the child may learn to

relate to others with love and justice

assist parents and teachers in developing all of the

child’s hidden talents and virtues

Printed in the U.S.A. ISSN 0884-3635 [Page 1]

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whals

inside

What’s Inside

Beebird’s Song by Peggy H. Langgle

God Loves Music a poem by Susan Engle

“Praise Ye the Lord” 8 Psalm 150

“The Musician’s Art” 9 Abdw'l-Baha

Last Night I Dreamt 10 I Was Beethoven by Deborah Bley

Brilliant Star September-October 1989

BS

Naomi Is Not Alone 12 by Sidney B. Smith

You Can Make

Sugar Crystals

an activity by Amy C. Heitz

15

A Visit to Shirdz 18

by Candace Moore Hill

Musical Mr. Krupps 22 by Susan Allen

a —

Changed Words 24 a rhyming game by Fawn MacNamera Jazz! 26 by Deborah Bley

Unity Song a song by Janice Finley

Making Music an activity by Pepper P. Oldziey

30

Harmony in Color an activity by © Pepper P. Oldziey

Book Nook 31 Profile 32 Parents’ Page 33 1 [Page 2]

Letters from our friends

7S Rose The pre-youth and youth classes in the Darlington,

SC area have been studying the life of Louis Gregory. Rhonda Hannibal, age 12, of Lee’s Crossroad, wrote this report and poem:

What I like best about the story (of Louis Gregory) is how he reached his goal without hurting other people’s feelings. Why I like it is because it tells us that if we have a goal, don’t give up. Try to go about your goal and one day you might end up successful like

Louis G. Gregory. I really think this should be a lesson o 4 Ww that you can adjust to and learn from... P.S. I wrote a

poem about the world. It can be sung or said.

Rose Bradley-Phillips is As the sun rises five years old and sent us the world fills with surprises this beautiful drawing. the days go by

faster than a blink of your eye

When you wonder

about rain and thunder

You can’t realize how life

goes by

When you feel sad

things aren’t really not that bad

In life don’t worry about toys and a curl Where there are terrific things in the world.

Your Baha’ friend, Rhonda VP

Clayton Bradley-Phillips drew this realistic picture “Dance-a-leena” was

of a cobra and a lizard. He drawn by four year old is eight and lives in Anna Bea Pacileo. Doesn’t Rochester, NY. she look friendly?

Brilliant Star September-October 1989

[Page 3]Lee Meyer lives in Clearfield, Utah, and sent a poem he wrote for his mom. It won an award and a trophy in a special PTA contest! Here’s Lee and here’s his poem:

Wonderful Mom Mom is great and I love her. My mom is a Baha’i and my family likes her too. My teacher likes my mom. My mom likes to make my favorite foods lots of times. When I get cut my mom puts a bandaid on it so it don’t bleed. And I love her.

Nabil and Na’im Fanaian live in Valencia, Venezuela and are busy teaching again! Here is a photo of them presenting WHAT IS THE BAHA'I FAITH? to their school librarian in honor of the Birthday of Bahau’llah. Looking on is the school’s principal. Their school’s name is El Colegio Internacional de Carabobo.

Scott Grant sent us this drawing of himself and his friends peeking over the backyard fence at Baha’i children’s classes.

Penpals, Please!

April Holmes (age 15) 43 Union S.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49503

(enjoys reading, writing letters, stickers)

Renie Yengel (age 13) 431 N. Elm Cortez, CA 81321

(enjoys baseball, swimming and more!)

Justin Scott (age 8) Box 485 Many Farms, AZ 86538

Carrie Whitney (age 9) 438 Oak St. Sherwood Pk.

Alberta T8A 0W3 Canada

Nicole Whitney (age 11) 438 Oak St.

Sherwood Pk.

Alberta T8A 0W3 Canada

Sia Ai Ping (age 7)

54C Jalan

Rejang Setapak

Jaya 53300

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Queenstown Children’s Classes c/o Karina Purushotma

2 Pandan Valley #10-204 Singapore 2159 [Page 4]by Peggy H. Langgle

Le ago, when the

creatures ruled the land, all animals lived in harmony with each other and were ruled by the Goddess of Creatures Great and Small. Each morning the Goddess awoke to the call of the birds and animals and slept with the songs of the night creatures in her ears. The animals’

music was her rhythm of life.

Her favorite song was the Beebird’s; he had especially beautiful music. And Beebird sang day and night with only tiny pauses while he slept. Beebird’s wings were a blur of color as he darted here and there, sipping nectar from each flower.

One sunny morning Wolf and Squirrel went to the Goddess with a complaint. “Goddess, we can’t get any

sleep,” said Wolf. “Beebird has a beautiful song, but it keeps us awake when we need to rest.”

“Yes,” agreed Squirrel. “All the animals elected us to come before you. No one is sleeping because Beebird is too loud.”

The Goddess said she would talk to Beebird and immediately sent for him. When the Goddess told Beebird about the com

Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 5]plaints, Beebird buzzed in circles around the Goddess.

“Oh, Goddess, what shall I do? I love to sing. It makes me feel happy. I thought it made others happy, too. But I don’t want the animals to be angry at me. What can I do?”

“T don’t know what you can do. But I do know that, for a while at least, you must not sing.”

“T will try to be quiet,” promised Beebird. “I will try very hard.”

And Beebird did try hard. For three days he did not make a sound. But inside him his song grew. It began as a little nut in his toes and then grew branches into his legs. Soon his song had blossomed into a leafy tree in his belly and wings and he couldn’t hold it back any longer.

Beebird’s song filled the air, floating and swirling through the trees. Glorious notes danced among the flowers, leaped over rocks, trickled over streams, and spun in the air.

Once again Wolf and Squirrel complained. The Goddess called Beebird before her and scolded him.

“Beebird, you leave me no choice. If you cannot control your song, I will take it from you.”

Even though the Goddess loved Beebird’s song, she had to think of the other animals. “The day I stop your song will be a sad day for everyone,” she said.

Beebird was ashamed as he left the Goddess. “There must be a way to sing quieter,” he thought. But

Brilliant Star September-October 1989

his problem was time. He could already feel another song building inside him.

Two days passed, and Beebird had not figured out how to sing quietly. He felt like popcorn ready to burst. Beebird closed his eyes, willing the song back down. When he opened his eyes he spotted a thick, green vine wrapped around the branch he was perched on. “Maybe,” he thought “there is a way I can make my song quiet!”

He flew through the forest, looking for the Goddess. When he found her, she granted him an audience.

“Goddess, I can’t stop singing,” said Beebird. “But I may have the answer.”

“T hope so, Beebird. Your song is too beautiful to silence.”

“Perhaps if you wrap a piece of vine around my beak,” suggested Beebird, “it might hold back my song.”

The Goddess was willing to try, so she broke a piece of thin vine off a bush and tied Beebird’s beak together. When she was done she sent him on his way with good wishes.

The next day Beebird held his song as long as he could. At first only a note or

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please turn the page [Page 6]two leaked out. Soon, the song started, and Beebird could not stop. But his song had no words—and it was not at all loud. It was soft!

All day Beebird sang as he tried to gather food. The vine prevented most of the food from going into his beak. But Beebird was happy anyway. He could sing!

The other animals noticed his song and they told the Goddess. Once more the Goddess sent for Beebird. She commanded that he sing and she listened to the happiness in Beebird’s song. She saw the joy he felt in singing and she was delighted.

She removed the vine from Beebird’s beak.

“Beebird, how do you feel about your song now?”

“Oh, Goddess, it is wonderful! And I can sing without bothering anyone. But there is one problem.”

“What problem?”

“With the vine on my beak it is hard to eat,” said Beebird. “To drink the sweet flower juices, I need to open my mouth. But I can’t do that with the vine on.” Beebird’s shoulders slumped. “I wish I could have my song,” he sighed. “But I must eat.”

“Your wish is granted,” said the Goddess.

Suddenly Beebird’s beak began to grow. It grew long and thin, like a flower stalk.

“Sing, Beebird,” the

ee

Goddess commanded.

And sing he did. It wasn’t the ordinary warble or tweet of a bird. Beebird hummed so high you felt like you were at the top of the tallest tree and so low you could feel the grass surround you.

“One more thing,” the Goddess said. “You shall not be called Beebird anymore. To remind everyone of your unique song, you will be called Hummingbird.”

And from that day Hummingbird hummed his soft song, and all the animals of wood enjoyed hearing it. x We hope you enjoyed this myth that

uses goddesses, like old Greek tales about creation.

Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 7]

’God Loves Music

God loves music. How do I know? He taught all the winds in the world how to blew et With a whistle-y a Se rustle-y shivery-o.

God loves music. aces How is this true? cr

He gave the birds whistles to trill in the blue — With a twitter-y tweet-ery tweedle-y doo.

God loves music. How can I tell? He gave us the oboe, piano and bell Playing tootle-y plink-ety ding dongy-dell.

God loves music. How can it be? I hear Him in voices of my family. They sing fa la la tra lala tweedle-y deedle-y happily I love you and you love me.

Brilliant Star September-October 1989

[Page 8]

raise ye the Lord. Praise God in pis sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

Psalm 150

Fe Paaeg pies ath eke

aa —_ Si ie

Illustrated by Faye Lewis Hoban

=

(footnote: a psaltery is a kind of zither and a timbrel is a small drum or a tambourine)

Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 9]

BS oon : Enea} =a S| al ase a” Ra eer ms, x eae so EG ee — Sd a jane mi

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SS

bird that singeth sweetly of the (as Beauty! ...in this new age

the Manifest Light hath, in His holy Tablets, specifically proclaimed that music, sung or played, is spiritual food for soul and heart.

The musician’s art is among those arts worthy of the highest praise, and it moveth the hearts of all who grieve. Wherefore, O thou Shahnaz, play and sing out the holy words of God with wondrous tones in the gatherings of the friends, that the listener may be freed from the chains of care and sorrow, and his soul may leap for joy and humble itself in prayer to the realm of Glory.

‘Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha,

(footnote: Shahnaz is the name given to the person receiving this Tablet from ‘Abdu’l-Baha, but it is also the name of a musical mode)

Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 10]by Deborah Bley

_[Dreamt I Was Beethoven

oung Ludwig lay on

his back, looking at the clouds in the blue, blue sky. He closed his eyes and then listened. He heard birds singing, the wind in the trees, the brook running nearby. There was the “moo” of the cows in the field and from far away, a church bell. He hugged himself happily. Life was so full of its own songs!

Little Ludwig van Beethoven would grow up to be one of the most famous and most loved writers of music who ever lived. His life would be full of the joy of music, but also of sad and hard things that he would need to rise above.

Ludwig was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770. He came from a family that loved music. His grandfather directed the court orchestra. His father sang in the royal choir. Ludwig’s father could have made a good living, but he spent a lot of time and the family’s money in taverns. Ludwig’s mother was a kind woman and Ludwig loved her very much.

When he was only four, Ludwig’s father began

music lessons for him. His father hoped that little Ludwig could earn money for the family by playing music. He was often mean to Ludwig, forcing him to practice long hours and hardly letting him have any time to play. Ludwig decided he would work hard so that he could earn money to make life easier for his mother.

Ludwig van Beethoven found out early that he liked to write music, and that people liked what he wrote. By the time he was 12, some of his music had been published. When he was 17, he went to Vienna, Austria and he performed for the famous composer, Mozart. After hearing Beethoven, Mozart said, “Someday he will give the world something to talk about.” And he was right!

Beethoven began writing music that was free and full of more feeling than music in Europe had ever been. He broke rules that composers had followed for many years, but most people didn’t mind. Their hearts were touched by Beethoven’s music.

When he was 28 years old, something very sad

began to happen to Beethoven. He began to lose his hearing. Soon he was deaf and could hear nothing. He became deeply sad and kept himself apart from people for a while. But he soon found he had so much music still inside himself that he had to write it down! He could hear every note and every instrument in his thoughts. Some of the most beautiful music ever written was composed by Beethoven after he was totally deaf. When his Ninth Symphony was first performed, a member of the orchestra took Beethoven by the hand and turned him to face the audience after the last note sounded. The people were standing and clapping hard. Many people were so moved by the music of the Ninth Symphony that they wept as they clapped. How pleased Beethoven must have felt that this work made people so happy! Over 160 years since Beethoven died, the story of his courage and his musical gifts still fills us with love for him, and his music still thrills people around the world. x

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Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 11]

Brilliant Star September-October 1989

11 [Page 12]

By Sidney B. Smith

aomi Fuller listened to the beautiful music by Mozart all afternoon. Her mother had been playing records of his music because January 27th was Mozart’s 231st birthday.

“Mom, please read this,” said the small second grader, who had trouble with some of the words on the record jacket. Peggy Fuller, who listened to classical records all the time, read to her daughter,

or! " AUT IN

Ph i

—~

m

ATIvIT ih!

Illustrated by Rita Leydon

Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 13]“Wolfgang Mozart wrote this harpsichord sonata for a performance at the Court of King Louis XVI of France. It is one of a number of pieces he wrote during the long second tour he took with Leopold, his father, and Nannerl, his sister. He was seven years old when arriving in Paris. They had first performed for nobility in Germany and in his home country, Austria, the previous year, when Mozart was just six.” “Why can’t I play like that yet, Mom? And how can anyone write music that good at my age?” Naomi knew the answers in her heart. She was afraid of what her parents and friends would say if they knew she had written a Piano Nocturne last week while Mom was shopping for groceries and baby clothes for brother Aaron. Naomi had surprised her parents when she asked for piano lessons at age five. She had become one of Mrs. Lawson’s best elementary piano students in just two years. Knowing that Mozart composed at her age made her feel that she could write music and perform it, too. She knew her family and friends felt it wasn’t quite normal for a little girl to spend so much time at the piano. But now that she had written her very own music she felt wonderful. Two days after she had heard the Mozart records, she was practicing a piece by Felix Mendelssohn that Mrs. Lawson had just given her. Her teacher had told

Brilliant Star September-October 1989

her that he wrote it when

he was about her age. She was now sure that Mozart wasn’t the only child who

wrote music after all.

She walked into the den where her father, George Fuller, was reading the newspaper. “Dad, can you read me something about Felix Mendelssohn?” She showed him her piano piece.

Dropping his newspaper to the floor, Mr. Fuller reached for a large book on the nearby bookshelf. She snuggled into his lap resting her black curly hair on his shoulder.

He read, “After early piano lessons in Berlin, Germany, Felix went with with his father, Abraham, to Paris at the age of seven to study a short time with Marie Bigot. His performance ability astonished those who heard him. Yet when he returned home, Felix also became very interested in composing. He soon joined the famous Singing Academy at the age of ten, and later that year the Academy performed his choral piece based on Psalm Nineteen. He had performed to critical acclaim, the previous year, in Berlin, the piano part of a Trio for Strings and Piano....”

Naomi interrupted, “Dad, how can young people play together so easily?”

“It isn’t easy, Naomi. I certainly was no concert performer, but when I was in college I loved playing trumpet in the football band. You have to learn your parts carefully, then

you have to listen to everyone else so you can play well together. And you have to watch the conductor all the time.”

“But Dad, do they have conductors in a trio?”

“No, but every band and orchestra has one. Small groups are harder to play in because each person has to be on his own, but play perfectly with everyone else. That’s part of being a well trained musician. It’s a hard life, too hard for me. Although I enjoyed the trumpet, I’m glad I went into computer work.”

It was a lot to think about; composing, piano, trios, conducting, and all those other musical words she had been learning. What did she want to do most? As Naomi went on practicing the next few weeks, she decided to compose two more piano pieces, “Walking To School” and “The Snowstorm.”

If Mozart and Mendelssohn wrote and played their own music for other people, why couldn’t she? She was very afraid, but at her next piano lesson she played her two new pieces for Mrs. Lawson. She even played the Piano Nocturne she had written earlier.

“Naomi, those are really excellent. I can help you improve them a little, if you would like? I won’t change your ideas, but I can show you how to make them a bit stronger pieces. It would be wonderful if you would work on them and play all three at our Spring Student

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please turn the page [Page 14]14

Naomi kept her own pieces a secret at home, only rewriting and practicing them when her parents were not likely to hear or when brother Aaron wasn’t sleeping. She was sure that her parents didn’t want her to compose. But the idea that children had composed and even published their music as children still amazed her. Maybe if her parents heard her original pieces as a complete surprise at the Spring Student Recital, they would realize maybe she could be a musician after all.

While waiting for her lesson the next day, she heard another student play a piece by French composer Camille Saint-Saens. She asked Mrs. Lawson how old he was when he wrote it. On the front page of the sheet music it said he was seven. He also had played in public at the age of four.

As she walked home it was not a firm idea in her head, but every few days now she was hearing about more musicians who did all kinds of musical things at her age, or even ata younger age. If Mozart, Mendelssohn, and SaintSaens had done all that, she thought they probably weren't the only child musicians in history. She would plan to find that out soon. In fact, she would bet there were other children living right now who loved music as much as she.

If she could compose, then perform her own pieces in front of a large audience at the age of

seven, Mozart had nothing on her. She knew the child Mozart and other children had never given up. They went on to work as

musicians their entire lives.

She knew she had to do it. She could do it!

With great energy she put the final touches on her three original pieces and had them memorized perfectly. How surprised her parents were to read on Mrs. Lawson’s Spring

Student Recital Program in April:

Original Compositions by NAOMI FULLER

A) Walking to School B) Piano Nocturne C) The Snowstorm

As parents, piano students, and friends all gathered near the punch and cookies after the recital, Peggy and George Fuller hugged Naomi tightly. They were so very proud of her and both told her it was wonderful to have the only child on the entire recital program who played any original pieces.

Naomi was still a bit afraid, but she now knew her parents were proud of her. She said, “If you liked those three pieces, just wait until you hear what I’m going to write next week.” x

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Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 15]You Can Make

“SUGA

CU

Here is an interesting science experiment which will give you something to offer with tea at the celebration of the Birthday of the Bab. Since it takes a week to grow the crystals, be sure to start your crystals no later than the 11th or 12th of October, so that you will be ready to offer them by October 20!

Sugar is an interesting thing to think about when we are remembering the Bab. Did you know that sugar was sometimes a gift? Baha'u'llah sent a loaf of Russian sugar and some tea to Mulla Husayn

Illustrated by Corre Mott

Brilliant Star September-October 1989

after Mulla Husayn had sent a scroll of the Bab’s Writings to Baha’u'llah by a messenger. You must remember that this was in the first years of the Babi Faith, long before

Baha’w’ llah declared Himself as the One the Bab spoke of as “Him Whom God Shall Make Manifest”. Can you imagine what Mulla Husayn did when he received the gift his messenger brought from Bahau'llah? He bowed his head, took the gift from the messenger’s hands, and then kissed the packet of sugar and tea! Then he

RIS.

ALS’

kissed the eyes of the messenger that had gazed upon the face of Baha'u'llah. Do you think Mulla Husayn’s keen spiritual sight had helped him know who Baha’u'llah was?

When you serve your sugar crystals and some tea at the celebration of the Birthday of the Bab, remember the sweet gift Bahau'llah gave to Mulla Husayn, and how much both Baha’u'llah and Mulla Husayn loved the blessed Bab.

please turn the page

15 [Page 16]16

M2 sugar crystals is fun and easy and besides, when you’re finished, you can eat the tasty candy, sometimes called “rock candy”.

There are many kinds of crystals. For instance, if you find a rock that looks like glass or has straight sides and is all of one color, you probably have found a crystal. These crystals were formed millions of years ago.

The shape of a crystal depends on what it is made of. Crystals of different substances have different shapes. Some look like building blocks with flattened corners and others come to a point at each end. The crystal shapes we see are built of many tiny crystals of the very same shape. Long ago, people kept crystals because they believed these rocks had magic powers. Some people still believe this to be true today and collect crystals because of their shapes and colors.

The word crystal comes from the Greek word meaning “ice”. For a very long time people thought that only rocks that looked like glass or ice were crystals. Later, scientists found that dark rocks could also be crystals. We often see the clear crystal that we call quartz or rock crystal. Skilled craftsmen have used this crystal to make beautiful drinking glasses. Other crystals that we often see in jewelry are diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. The basic crystalline structure of these gem stones allows them to be cut into the various shapes that you see in jewelry.

Some types of crystals are also used in electrical equipment and in radio sets to produce an electrical current.

Two of the kinds of crystals we eat are sugar and salt. A spoon full of sugar that you put on your cereal is a heap of tiny crystals. The shape of the sugar crystal is cubic. You can use these crystals to make your own larger sugar crystals, also called rock candy, in this simple experiment with crystallization.

1. First of all, you'll need an empty mayonnaise jar with its lid. Making sure the jar is clean, punch three small holes in the top of the lid, spaced about one half inch apart. Carefully use a nail and a hammer to make the holes. Get Mom or Dad’s help!

2. Next, cut three pieces of clean cotton string the length of the jar and lace them through the holes in the lid. Tie a knot in each of the three strings at the top of the lid so that the strings hang securely inside the jar. At the bottom of the strings, tie one small clean nut or washer on each end to keep the strings hanging apart and straight down into the jar.

Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 17]3. Now with the help or permission of an adult, use a measuring cup to measure 2'4 cups of granulated sugar and 1 cup of water and combine them in a metal sauce pan. Cook on medium heat on the stove top, without stirring, until the mixture becomes a thick syrup. This will take about twenty minutes. Do not boil!

4. Slowly and carefully pour the hot mixture into the jar and place the lid loosely on top, not screwing it on, making sure the strings hang straight through the mixture and are not touching each other. This syrup sometimes takes a week to crystallize. Watch and wait and you will be able to see these crystals form right before your eyes. The longer you leave the crystals in the mixture the larger they will get.

Brilliant Star September-October 1989

5. Now that all your crystals have formed, cut the knots off the top of the strings and the nuts or washers off the bottom of the strings. Lift the strings carefully to the sink and quickly rinse the crystals under cold water. Lay them or a baking rack with a cookie sheet underneath the rack. Now put them in the oven on its lowest setting of warm until the crystals are dry.

As a suggestion, you may break the crystals into small pieces and pile them in an open bowl to make an attractive display for your home made sugar crystals and an easy way to serve your rock candy to the people you know with a sweet tooth. *

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[Page 18]18

A Visit to Shiraz

by Candace Moore Hill Illustrated by Pepper P. Oldziey

How did it all begin? My (How Prof. E.G. Browne family is from Uley in might tell you about his Gloucestershire and my visit to Shirdz, mostly in his father was what you would own words.) call an industrialist. He

wanted me to follow in his

H” kinditisofyouto footsteps and become an

stop by and see your engineer, but I felt the call old professor. Your visit to of medicine. I was just the East will be sure to sixteen when I began to unfold many mysteries and_ read all that I could find adventures. I am touched about the Turko-Russian that you would want to war in 1877 and ’78. I did know more about my not know much about the journey to Persiasomany ‘Turks then, except that years ago because, you see, they were the underdogs it is still a surprise to me and very much abused. My that, instead of becoming pity for them turned to the doctor that I trained to admiration, and then to be, I became Cambridge eagerness to know all about Professor Edward G. them, to live with them and Browne, an Orientalist. to help defend their land.

By the close of the war, I would have died to save Turkey.

And so later, when I went to college to study medicine, T also learned to speak Turkish, and then Arabic and Persian. While at St. Bartholomew Hospital in London, I met a number of young Persian students and learned their language quite well. I developed an interest in Islam and the sufis, and while looking for books in the University Library I came across a book by Count Gobineau of France about the Bab. He wrote about the life of the Bab, His gentleness and patience, the cruel fate which had overtaken Him and the unflinching courage wherewith He and His followers, from the greatest to the least, had endured

| So ee eee

The House of the Bab, Shirdz

Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 19]the abuse by their enemies. I began to believe that a faith that could inspire a strength so admirable must surely contain some noble principles. Now, not only did I want to visit Persia, but especially the renowned city of Shiraz. Shiraz, as you know, is the home of the most famous Persian poets, Hafiz and Sa’di, and it is also the birthplace of ‘Ali-Muhammad, the Bab. It became for me a place of pilgrimage. But it was not until 1887, when I concluded my medical studies, that I could even think to travel from England to Persia.

As I traveled throughout Persia I was very eager to meet the followers of the Bab, the Babis, who were then known as Baha’is. But there was no one who could tell me about them, so

persecuted were they by the authorities. Then one day, after four months in Isfahan, a man, shall I say, a “vendor of curiosities” approached me in the street. He whispered into my ear that he was one of the very people I was seeking, a Bahai. Why he was so brave as to reveal himself to me, a Westerner, I will never know. It was his trust in me that was the beginning of a most wonderful adventure, and the beginning of my true calling, to explain the history and beliefs of the peoples of the East to the peoples of the West.

I proceeded to visit Shiraz and of the three weeks I spent there I look back with the greatest pleasure. I approached the city from the north and as

we turned a corner of the road there burst upon my delighted gaze a view like I had never seen before. At our very feet, in a grassy fertile plain ringed with purple hills and half concealed amidst gardens, studded with many a slender minaret and many a turquoise-hued dome, lay the home of Persian culture, the sanctuary of poetry and philosophy, Shirdz. Words cannot describe the rapture which overcame me as I gazed upon that city of which I had long dreamed.

Shiraz is an ancient city, capital of the province of Fars. In truth, Shiraz is famous throughout the East for its Muslim saints, its poets and its gardens. Most of these gardens are behind high walls, some as

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Brilliant Star September-October 1989

The House of the Bab, Shiraz

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19 [Page 20]much as four feet thick. The gardens are densely planted with trees like the tall and lofty cypress, knotty pines, kingly oaks, sweet myrtles, and with fruits like grapes, pomegranates, pistachios, peaches, chestnuts, cherries, quinces, figs, dates, and melons exceeding fair and of incomparable sweetness. There were also flowers rare to the eye, sweet to the smell, and useful for making medicines, I learned. There are no neat walks or shaped flower beds such as we are used to in England. A Shiraz garden is tangled and untrimmed. Its beauty comes from the coolness at the end of a day’s journey, and the sound of trickling water after the silent desert, after the miles of shadowless plain. In one garden I remember ropes stretched from tree to tree and boys, girls, and sometime adults swinging upon them.

Once again I met one of my Persian friends from student days in London. Imagine my surprise to learn that he was a Baha’, a member of the family of the Bab and willing to introduce me to other family members. He took me to secret meetings, where grave faces greeted

E. G. Browne in Oriental dress

me, shining with the light of inward conviction and eyes gleaming with faith. We spoke with low, earnest tones of God, of the New Light of the Bab, of their pains and triumphs. They met me with such kindness and I was impressed with their fairness, courtesy, and freedom from prejudice. The memory of those gatherings can never fade from my mind, the

recollection of those faces and those tones no time can erase. Much later, while visiting the Baha’is in ‘Akké I met another very old man who had known the Bab from earliest childhood. How eagerly I gazed upon him and listened to his every word, for I believed that one day the whole world would want to know the story of the life of the Bab.

Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 21]You might enjoy this poem by Sa’di that was translated by E.G. Browne:

O joyous and gay is the New Year’s Day, and in Shiraz

most of all;

Even the stranger forgets his home, and becomes its willing thrall.

O’er the garden’s Egypt, Joseph-like, the fair fed rose is King,

And the Zephyr, e’en to the heart of the town, doth the scent of his raiment bring. O wonder not if in time of Spring thou dost rouse such jealousy, That the cloud doth weep while the flowrets smile, and all on account of thee!

I later wrote a book about the Bab and His followers. I met with Baha’u1lah at the mansion in Bahji, one of the only persons from the West to do so, and I knew the Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, and later met with Him when he visited London not so many years ago. Let me read you a letter he sent to me from ‘Akkd. See here, the elegant handwriting.

Brilliant Star September-October 1989

He says that of all the historians of Europe that “none attained the Holy Threshold but you. This bounty was specified unto you. You must indeed cherish this heavenly gift and divine bounty. Although at the present time its significance is not known, in future its import will be established.” He ends this letter saying, “We

are all always happy remembering you.” How well I remember them all also, in Shiraz, Isfahan, and ‘Akka.

Well, and now you also have a journey to go on, don’t you? Bon voyage, and may you have some wonderful adventures of your own.*

us ica;

b ATTN urna NAAM OY Ay: woe J ye OS,

And if it’s rainy, well, he blinks his chubby eyes, shakes his other chubby leg, puffs his chubby cheeks and trills in that same chubby voice:

r. Krupps is certainly a musical

man. In fact he’s a pretty funny, chubby musical man. Every morning at 7:15 sharp he jumps out of bed, runs to the window and looks out.

If it’s sunny, he shakes one chubby leg, wriggles his chubby nose, puffs his chubby cheeks and trills in a chubby voice:

Oh my, rainy day!

Make the best of it, I say! Work-a-day, splash-a-day Whatever can go wrong, I say?

Hee Ho sunny day! And rain or shine Mr. Krupps trundles

Quite a lovely day, I say! off to the bathroom to wash his chubby 9 2 Work-a-day, laugh-a-day face, brush his chubby teeth, and smile at

Whatever can go wrong, I say? that chubby Mr. Krupps in the mirror.

Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 23]Then he makes his way to the kitchen. And what a kitchen it is! Just the sort of kitchen for a chubby Mr. Krupps. Gleaming white cupboards — full to the brim with ... what do you think? Boxes and boxes of pancake mixes! Chubby Mr. Krupps loves his pancakes. And there, next to the door, an enormous freezer — full to the brim with ... what do you think? Bags and bags of frozen shrimp! Mr. Krupps loves his pancakes with shrimp. He ate them once in France and has eaten nothing else since!

Chubby Mr. Krupps sets about busily mixing up his pancakes and shrimp. He’s very good at it and has a special song just for the occasion:

Toss it high and down it comes So feathery and light,

Set it on a nice big plate,

A lovely Krupps delight!

At that, dear Mr. Krupps sits down, takes a big sniff with his chubby nose, wriggles his chubby fingers and trills in his chubby voice:

Mix it up, fix it up, Shrimp day! Pancake day! Splash it left and right! Quite a lovely day, I say! Shrimp and flour, milk and eggs, Work-a-day, chew-a-day We eat it day and night! Whatever can go wrong, I say? And for musical Mr. Krupps nothing 2 3

ever does go wrong! *

Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 24]

The Pieces

by Khandan Monajem, age 13 Illustrated by Sonya Brown

No shattered glass scattered, No more children battered, Instead of these pieces, Let’s have world peace.

No more divorces,

No conflicting forces, Instead of these pieces, Let’s have world peace.

If Ebony, Ivory,

All shades in between, Contemplated, Concentrated, Cooperated,

Took hold of a piece,

Put this puzzle together,

Instead of these pieces,

We’d have world peace!

[Page 25]Changed Words: A kenAymiIng Game

by Fawn MacNamera

Did you know you can make all kinds of words just by changing one letter? By following the clues given for each word see what you can come up with.

Example: Ten dimes make this The top of a shirt

1. What the postman brings

What you hang a picture on

2. Music that you sing

Ape in the movies

3. Mound in the earth

Doctors have you take this

4. What you play catch with

When leaves come down

A Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 26]

26

ae?

by Deborah Bley

Jazz!

o you know that

there is a kind of music loved around the world that has its roots deep in Africa, but is purely American in its grown-up form? That music is JAZZ.

Illustrated by Keith Kresge

Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 27]Jazz is a wonderful mix of the sad and the happy. It tells us about life’s troubles and about how we overcome them. Sometimes it tells us with words, and sometimes just with the cry or laugh of an instrument, but however it does it, jazz makes us FEEL.

Jazz began with the traditional music AfricanAmericans brought with them to this country when they were forced to come here as slaves. The drums and dance of home in Africa were a comfort and a way for AfricanAmericans to still say who they were, even though they were captive in a new and often cruel land.

In Africa in many places, rhythm and song were part of everyday life. There were worksongs and songs to sing or play when dancing. Music wasn’t just to perform. It was to tell how a person was feeling. In the United States, AfricanAmerican slaves kept the tradition and made up songs in their new language, English, and rhythms to do their hard work by. “Field hollers” talked about how hard life was and helped get the slaves through the grueling work of each day, while “spirituals” and “jubilees” talked about how life would get better with the help of God.

In New Orleans, Louisiana, the music of the slaves sank its roots deep into the soil of that port city. The music of France and Spain also mixed

Brilliant Star September-October 1989

themselves in a bit and jazz was born.

In the late 1800’s and early 1900's, jazz began to grow up. The blues brought sad, often wailing kinds of songs that told of life’s bad times. W.C. Handy was the first writer to have the blues published in written music. His “St. Louis Blues” was published in 1914 and became known all over the world.

Around the same time, a new piano music called “ragtime” came about. The drum rhythms and the rhythms of worksongs were played on the piano in a very syncopated way. Scott Joplin was one of the most famous ragtime writers. His “Maple Leaf Rag” was published in 1899. Jelly Roll Morton was one of the best blues and ragtime piano players, and other younger piano players who would become famous, too (like Fats Waller), learned from Jelly Roll.

Boogie Woogie kept up a rolling bass line that the left hand played on the piano, while the right hand played a blues or ragtime melody in a different rhythm. Different styles of playing were invented, shared and changed, and jazz itself began to change quickly.

Soon jazz that had been played on piano or trumpet came to be played by bands: marching bands, brass bands, and finally big bands. The Dixieland music of New Orleans began to be played in big

American cities and then throughout the world.

Jazz is fun! The musicians play off of each other, making up their melodies, or taking a familiar song and weaving it into new music. This is called “improvisation” and is at the heart of jazz.

Among the many great jazz musicians are Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and our own Baha’i brother, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, who was a pioneer of another jazz form: be-bop.

Be-bop uses lots of improvisation and challenges the players with complicated rhythms and harmonies. It is usually played by small groups. Dizzy Gillespie was asked by the U.S. government to take his music to South America, which he did as a kind of friendship ambassador.

From the rhythms of Africa, out of the painful lives of African-American slaves, a great American artform — jazz — was born. It is still growing and changing and today you can find it from Russia to islands in the Pacific, and in EVERY corner of the U.S.A. *

27

Photo courtesy of Bahai National Center [Page 28]Unity Song

We ll live here to- gether. The earth is all our home.

Let’s builda peaceful planet and fill the world with song.

“—

Chorus: U-ni-ty, U-ni-ty, U-ni-ty ——U-ni-ty, U -ni- ty now

—

U -ni- ty, U -ni- ty, You and me U -ni- ty, U - ni- ty now.

2. Although we may be different 4. Come let us work together And not alike at all Come every living soul We can forget our separateness We'll join our hearts forever And live in har-mo-ny. And we will reach this goal. Chorus: U-ni-ty, etc. ... Chorus: U-ni-ty, etc. ...

3. It’s time we grow together 5. We all live here together Instead of far apart The earth is all our home U-ni-ty in di-ver-si-ty Let’s build a peaceful planet Is what the world needs now. And fill the world with song.

2 R Chorus: U-ni-ty, etc. ... Chorus: U-ni-ty, etc. ...

Illustrated b eee aaa aaa Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 29]by Pepper P. Oldziey

Ma king Mus 1C You can make the music!

On the side of this page are pictures of different music makers inside of musical notes. Some are musical instruments. Some are animals that make music. Some are parts of your body that can make music. Cut them out and paste them on this music sheet and make your own music!

Can you try to sing your music by making the sounds of the

different music makers? Illustrated by Pepper P. Oldziey

Brilliant Star September-October 1989

to e

| | | |

é [Page 30]Harmony in Colt rcs

‘bdw1-Baha said *“The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.’”* Here is a music page that you can color in. Fill the notes with the colors of the human family: Red, Yellow, Brown, Black, and White. Make your own harmony of colors.

eal d

EbG OO WO PD

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J

Zp Vv

LY +

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“OOD DODD

Dre

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Illustrated by Pepper P. Oldziey *Paris Talks, P.53 ——— Brilliant Star September-October 1989 [Page 31]

Profile

usan Allen is best known in

BRILLIANT STAR for her wonderful adpatations of events from Baha’i history. In this issue, she wrote the purely fun story about the musical Mr. Krupps.

Susan was born in Virginia but, since becoming a Baha’, has lived in Taiwan, Togo and Gabon. She and her husband and two daughters (both of whom were born in Africa) now live in Gabon, which has been home for nine years.

Susan works as director of the American Cultural Center English Program in the city of

Brilliant Star September-October 1989

Port Gentil. She also teaches English privately and is interested in classical music, woodcarving, and developing Baha’i children’s materials. For the past several years, much of her energy has been focused on creating children’s class materials for use by the friends in Africa.

Susan says, “My major goal in writing is to try to bring Baha’i history alive for children so that their love and reverence for the Central Figures of the Earth becomes the prime motivating force in their lives.”

udy Noyes-Farnsworth was

born in Massachusetts and then raised in the Chicago area from the time she was six years old. Her love for drawing and her natural talents for art were encouraged from a young age by her mother, who shared Judy’s artistic learnings.

Judy majored in art in college, with an emphasis on drawing and painting. While in college, she became a Baha’i. With her husband Jerry, who is a woodworker, Judy produced and sold original wooden painted puzzles until the birth of her two daughters, Ruth and Carrie.

Judy is starting back to school this fall to pursue a degree in library science at Indiana University. In her spare time, she loves to garden.

She and her family live in Bloomington, Indiana, with their two cats and a rabbit named “Rascal”, whose favorite activity is untying Judy’s shoes!

ol [Page 32]

Book Nook 5. xia:

by Ann Keehner and Deborah Bley

Z\Olm 4 >A < ZN

32

Conversations by John Hatcher, George Ronald, Publisher, 1988. If you had the pleasure of taking Ali to your heart in reading John Hatcher’s first book for young people, Ali’s Dream, then you will be happy to immerse yourself with your children in this new book which reprises the character of Ali, his beloved grandfather Moayyed, and his loving family. The new main character of this story is a cousin of Ali’s, Hasan, who has come to ’Akka to live with Ali’s family after the death of his grandmother. Hasan is the orphan of Baha’i parents who were martyred when he was only three. He has been raised by a Muslim grandmother who, while not vehemently opposed to the Baha’i Faith, was bewildered when her two daughters (Ali’s mother and Hasan’s mother) embraced the Faith.

Hasan’s journey of discovery and reconciliation with his family history is compelling, and once again, John Hatcher presents Baha’i history and the teachings of Baha’u’llah in a way which rings true and is accessible to children and youth. He tackles tough questions that concern youth: What is love? Is there really a God? What is marriage like? Best of all, Dr. Hatcher does it in a way which conveys his profound respect for the capacity of young people to discover and internalize truth themselves.

In Vera Williams’ Music For Everyone (Greenwillow 1984), Rosa’s grandmother is sick and the family money jar is nearly empty. In order to earn some money Rosa forms a band to play at an anniversary party. The colors are bright and the family feeling is strong in this sequel to A Chair For My Mother and Something Special For Me.

The Lullaby Songbook

by Jane Yolen is full of traditional lullabies from several cultures.

Each lullaby is lavishly illustrated by Charles Mikolaycak. The artwork alone is reason enough to enjoy the book. The luscious colors complement the melodies and the culture from which the lullabies come, and there is Mikolaycak’s use of strong lines and formal style. The music is very singable and while most of the lullabies will be familiar, some will be new to you.

Music is the focal point in Paul Fleischman’s Rondo In C (Harper 1988). At a piano recital a young girl is playing Beethoven’s Rondo in C. On each two page spread a different member of the audience is hearing different things in the music. This book shows us how we can all experience the same thing in different ways.

There are many excellent records and tapes for children. Musicians such as Sharon Lois & Bram have several records out. One Two Three Four ...and Singing And Swinging as well as others introduce children to a wealth of music both traditional and original. Their music is hard to resist, it is so full of spirit. Fred Penner also has several children’s records that are a delight including The Polka Dot Pony and Special Delivery. Mike And Michlele are from Australia. Their record Playmates has an interesting version of Old McDonald — he has a kangaroo on his farm (with a boing boing here and a boing boing there. ..). Tickle Tune Typhoon has three excellent records: Circle Around, Hug The Earth, and All Of Us Will Shine. All of these musicians are excellent and irresistibly foottapping. These records are well worth hunting up in your local library or through a local record store.

Brilliant Star September-October 1989

[Page 33]

Parents page

“Music: Food of the Spirit”

“The art of music is divine and effective. It is the food of the soul and spirit. Through the power and charm of music the spirit of man is uplifted. It has wonderful sway and effect in the hearts of children, for their hearts are pure and melodies have great influence in them. The latent talents with which the hearts of these children are endowed will find expression through the medium of music. Therefore you must exert yourselves to make them proficient; teach them to sing with excellence and effect. It is incumbent upon each child to know something of music, for without knowledge of this art, the melodies of instrument and voice cannot be rightly enjoyed. Likewise it is necessary that the schools teach it in order that the souls and hearts of the pupils may become vivified and exhilarated and their lives be brightened with enjoyment.” (Abdu1-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pages 49-50.) Music enhances the quality of life, at home, at school, and at community gatherings. It brightens our lives with enjoyment, as ‘Abdu’l-Baha says; it is a wonderful form of selfexpression, and it is a universal language which can be an avenue for understanding one’s own and others’ cultures. The more we know about and understand music, the better we can appreciate and gain from it. Beautiful music has the power

to exalt the human spirit, and good musical training expedites cognitive learning, enhances a child’s self concept, and contributes to his social and emotional growth. Musicality is a distinctly human trait which

ee Brilliant Star September-October 1989

should and can be developed, and the sooner the development process begins, the easier it is. We are all musical; with proper exposure to and experience in music we can all make music a part of our lives. Let us take advantage of this wonderful gift!

Read once again the words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. How can we do it? What can parents do to foster the development of our children’s musical potential? We can expose our children (even before they are born) to a variety of styles of music of various cultures. We can sing to and with them, and play with them, moving freely to music. We can teach them to listen: use your imagination to encourage your child’s aural sense every day. Listen to the sounds around you that the world makes!

What else can we do? We can make an effort to introduce music into our Baha’i gatherings as well as our homes, and we must let our school boards and administrators know that we consider music an important and indispensable part of the school curriculum.

Many parents want to know when to start their children on instruments. The best time for starting instrumental lessons is when a child shows interest in a particular instrument. Consult a professional to determine whether a child is physically mature enough to handle the instrument. Find a teacher who loves music and children.

Last but not least, we must learn to be selective where music is concerned, recognizing that

some music available today does not uplift the human spirit, but rather appeals to our animal

natures, and is not appropriate for our children, or dignified enough to accompany the Sacred texts.

Wouldn’t it be nice if our Baha’i World Community could be a musical one? After all, music has the power to both bind and attract human hearts. *

Maggie McClellan returned in June, 1988, from Hungary, where she studied the Kodaly Method of Music Education for 2 years. She received her Master of Music degree at Catholic University last May.

She will begin teaching full time at the Maret School in Washington, D.C. in September, ° where she will be in charge of the lower school music program.

[Page 34]Kanzo Jonathan Nara lives in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan. He is seven and sent us this “Picture of prayer”.

Gia Parkes, age 11, from Kuranda, Australia, sent us this poem about peace:

Peace and war are not the same

Peace is pleasant, war is insane

We must fight for peace, and not for war

We must stop war forever, right down to the core Peace will bring love, war will bring hate

So let’s all love each other, before it’s too late

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