Colleagues, as always, I am amazed at the depth of this resource. What
wonderful ideas you shared!

Many thanks,
Betsy Burleigh
Cleveland State University
b.burleigh(a)csuohio.edu


Original Posting:
I am looking for repertoire with Sanskrit text, or anything that refers to
the Indian sub-continent. We will be singing a concert as a memorial
service for an ethnomusicologist whose passion was India. I'd love to
include something that would be somehow more specific a tribute to him than
the Faure Requiem which is already on the program. All I can think of are
the Holst Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda. Any other ideas? I'll post a
compilation.

===============From: Nick Jones
When you said Indian and Sanskrit, my second thought
(after the Holst Choral Hymns) was Philip
Glass's opera , based on the life of Gandhi and with a Sanskrit
text adapted from the . Glass, in his book Glass>, says he had been a choral singer himself and worked to make this
chorus-heavy opera singable. He also says each of the seven scenes is
structured as a chaconne. The opera is available on RCA CD. You might
just find something of use in it.
=============From: Bruce Lengacher
You might try Dravidian Dithyramb by Victor Paranjoti. It is published by
Earthsongs and you can hear a clip of it on their website. It has extensive
performance notes and might work for you .
===============From: Andre de Quadros
Please refer to my series published by
Earthsongs in Oregon, entitled 'Music of Asia and the Pacific'. There
are 8 Indian pieces in this series.
================From: Andrew Megill
I don't know if it's exactly what you're looking for, but Lou Harrison has
set the heart sutra, but in an Esperanto translation in his piece "Lo Koro
Sutro" for mixed choir and American gamelan orchestra (a set of huge
gamelan pieces desigend by Harrison and his partner). It's quite a good
piece, I think.
=================From: Linda Gingrich
There is a piece called the Dravidian Dithyramb, published by Earthsongs,
that isn't Sanskrit (it uses mostly nonsense syllables if I remember
correctly), and is tricky, but a neat piece. I've done it with my community
choir and it's a challenge, but it's pretty Indian sounding.
=================From: John Erwin
There is piece by Gerald Kechley using Sanskrit entitled "The Dwelling
of Youth" I believe. I cannot remember the text, however it is about 7
to 9 minutes in length and has piano or orchestra acc.
=================From: Joan Catoni Conlon
You probably have been told about the Dravidian Dithyramb. But it
is fast, and perhaps not appropriate for a meditative service. Ron
Jeffers also publishes four other perhaps Hindi-language titles. As I
recall, the titles all are seasons of the year, 'Hemant,' 'Vasant,' etc.
So you might check with him. There really is not much, because choral
composition has yet to catch on in India. There is group singing, but not
much choral.
==================From: Elizabeth Norton
Do you know the Dravidian Dythiramb?(sp!). It's by Victor Paranjoti and is
published by Earthsongs. It does not have a Sanskrit text - in fact it has
no text at all. It is sung to neutral syllables. It's an ecstatic hymn.
Very exciting rhythmically (and somewhat challenging) but still accessible.
I do it with my church choir from time to time. Get it. It's great.
=================From: Jonathan Miller
Look at "Gate, gate" by Brian Tate, published by earthsongs.
================