A Buddhist Master's Poetry Put to Music

May 13, 2009

By Nicole Seiferth

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Buddhist monk, internationally renowned author, and the inspiration behind a song composed by associate organist Rob Ridgell. The song, Peace is Every Step , will be performed by the Trinity Youth Chorus at their spring concert at Trinity on June 7.

Rob originally wrote the piece in 2005. "I was looking for something related to nature and something of prayerful origination," he says. "It gets backs to my philosophy that music is a form of prayer, same as poetry."

Earlier this year, Rob sought permission from Plum Village, Hanh's Buddhist community in France, to use the song in concert. One of the monks wrote Rob back, saying that Hanh was pleased to let his poetry be put to music and promising that "if it is good music" there would be many young Buddhist students who would be singing it in the future.

Nicole Seiferth is assistant editor for web and parish publications at Trinity Wall Street.

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