Pearls
ISMN : 979-0-2325-8055-5
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The piece is the opening composition of the songs cycle Pearls.
At its centre is the historical figure of Akka Mahadevi, a saint poetess who lived in South India during the twelfth century. She is considered one of the most significant writers of vacanas, short poetic compositions in the Kannada language, which is still officially spoken in India.
Akka Mahadevi defied all social norms to pursue her spiritual path: she left her family and husband to dedicate her life to finding her true beloved, her chosen god, Channamallikarjuna. She wandered across various parts of South India, entrusted herself to a guru, and followed the religious practices of the Viraśaiva movement. Eventually, she retreated to a cave, where in profound solitude and devotion, she achieved union with her beloved.
Her poems narrate the journey to this union with god, and the text for this first song describes her passionate search for him.
Commissioned by and dedicated to Anne Harley
Supported by the Canada Council for the Arts
Pages - 14
Jean Pascal Chaigne
Maurício De Bonis
Feliz Anne Reyes Macahis
