Chorus America - Shruthi Rajasekar

Winner of the Inversion Ensemble Competition, USA, 2021
Winner of the Vox Nova Chorale Competition, USA, 2016. 

Performed by Vox Nova Chorale (Director: Vicki Peter)

Program Note:
Mary Elizabeth Frye's beautiful poem has provided solace and comfort for generations across the world.  Translated into various languages, this poem has traveled a long way from its origins as a text written to comfort a grieving friend. No matter its storied history, it remains a timeless source of peace.

I was personally drawn to Frye's vivid imagery. The various depictions of nature inspired me to compose a ragamalika: a garland of ragas, the emotive scales of Indian classical music. Above all, the quiet elegance of her text conveys a message of hope that I aspired to capture musically.

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep (2016)

German Text:
Laß uns auf dich sehen,
Laß das Licht
Deines Worts uns heller scheinen 
Und dich jederzeit treu meinen.

-Author: Anonymous, from the tenor aria of J.S. Bach’s Cantata BWV6 (1725). 

Sanskrit Text:
man manā bhava mad-bhaktho 
mad yājī mām namaskuru 
mām evaisyasi yuktvaivam 
ātmānam mat-parāyanah
mām evaisyasi satyam te 
pratijāne priyo ‘si me

-Lines 1-4 (Bhagvad Gita 9.34); lines 5-6 (Bhagvad Gita 18.65). Krishna is addressing the mortal Arjuna.

German Translation:
Let us look upon You, 
Let the light 
of Your word shine brightly upon us
and always bring You faithfully to mind.

Sanskrit Text:
Think of Me always, 
follow the path of devotion,
offer your humble worship to Me 
and you will come to Me. 
Being completely devoted, you will surely come to Me;
I promise you this, for you are My very dear friend.

-Translations by Shruthi Rajasekar


Performers: 
-SSAA ensemble: Meredith Hooper, Paige Kunkle, Maddy Kushan, Rosamond van Wingerden
-Carnatic vocalist: Shruthi Rajasekar

Recorded live by Andrés Villalta in Taplin Auditorium, May 2017

Image captured at the Chapel in Princeton University, New Jersey, USA. Credit to Nick Barberio

Devotee (2017)

Indian-American composer & vocalist. Please visit my website (www.shruthirajasekar.com) and contact me at shruthirmusic@gmail.com