[Buddha-l] For music lovers--Buddhist composers

[jkirk]

I just read an obituary of the acclaimed mezzo-soprano Loraine Hunt 
Lieberson, and began looking up her husband Peter Lieberson's recordings. As 
a practicing Buddhist (Shambhala school) he has written music based on 
Buddhist themes.

Lieberson is a new name to me among the few Buddhist composers around since 
the 30's or 40's, not all of whom are still with us:  John Cage (d. 1992), 
Lou Harrison (d.2003), Pauline Oliveros, Terry Riley, La Monte Young, Philip 
Glass. I had the joy of being at a performance of a puppet opera by Lou 
Harrison, where he did everything--puppets, set, all the voices and 
music.......can't recall exact title, something about Julius Caesar's 
dalliance with a glorious youth on some distant shore somewhere. (Not on a 
Buddhist theme, but it was Harrison.)
There must/might be more Buddhist composers out there somewhere.

http://www.sonyclassical.com/releases/57971.htm
Peter Lieberson's chamber opera, King Gesar:  Sony Classical releases the 
world-premiere recording of Peter Lieberson's King Gesar featuring Yo-Yo Ma 
, Emanuel Ax and Peter Serkin. Omar Ebrahim narrates the chamber work about 
the fabled 10th-century Tibetan king....... [More on the piece and the 
composer]
-----------------------------------------------
Music of Peter Lieberson: Rilke Songs, The Six Realms, Horn Concerto 
(CD-Bridge) ASIN: B000FC2I5S

...The largest work on this disc is The Six Realms, a twenty-seven minute 
cello concerto in six movements, originally composed for Yo Yo Ma. Based on 
the composer's long standing practice of Tibetan Buddhism, The Six Realms 
reflect the Buddhist realms, which offer a detailed portrait of human 
consciousness. The music of this utterly original concerto ranges from 
sensuously lyrical to humorous, and gives full voice to the cello's ability 
to sing long lyric lines throughout its range.
The six realms tracks:
6. The Six Realms - The Sorrow of the World
7. The Six Realms - The Hell Realm
8. The Six Realms - The Hungry Ghost Realm
9. The Six Realms - The Animal Realm
10. The Six Realms - The Human Realm
11. The Six Realms - The God Realm and the Jealous God Realm
---------
Lieberson also wrote an opera, titled Ashoka's Dream. Seems it hasn't 
appeared on CD yet.

Joanna