HAPTADAMA

The seven creations of ancient Persia

Over the course of several months between 2006 and 2008, The Esoterics' Founding Director traveled to Mumbai, India to study the chants and myths of Zoroastrianism, the world's first monotheism. Banks then wove these ancient legends and melodies into a surround-sound a cappella opera called The seven creations. Banks’ opera is based on the Gathas, the original songs of Zarathushtra and arguably the oldest songs in recorded human history, as well as the Bundahishn, the Persian creation story, in which the struggle between good and evil results in the creation of the seven elements we know as the sky, water, earth, plants, animals, humans, and fire. For this composition, performance, and recording of this seven-movement concert-length work, Banks and The Esoterics were honored with an Access to Artistic Excellence grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind concert at Seattle Art Museum’s PACCAR Pavilion at the Olympic Sculpture Park.

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