Composer

:

Lou Harrison

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1970 - Oct 1971

First Performance

:

Nov 5, 1971

Average_duration

:

28:24

La Koro Sutro is a choral work composed by Lou Harrison in 1972. The piece was premiered on June 3, 1972, at the Cabrillo Music Festival in Santa Cruz, California. The work is based on the Buddhist text, the Heart Sutra, which is a central text in Mahayana Buddhism. La Koro Sutro is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a different section of the Heart Sutra. The first movement, titled "Prajnaparamita," is a setting of the opening lines of the sutra. The music is characterized by a slow, meditative pace, with the choir singing in unison and accompanied by a drone on the tambura. The second movement, "Gate Gate," is a setting of the famous mantra from the sutra, which translates to "gone, gone, gone beyond." The music is more lively and rhythmic, with the choir singing in harmony and accompanied by percussion instruments such as the tabla and the gong. The final movement, "Mantra," is a setting of the closing lines of the sutra. The music is characterized by a sense of resolution and peace, with the choir singing in unison and accompanied by a simple, repetitive melody on the harp. One of the most striking characteristics of La Koro Sutro is its use of non-Western instruments and musical traditions. Harrison was known for his interest in world music, and he incorporated elements of Indian classical music and Indonesian gamelan music into the piece. The use of the tambura, tabla, and gong in the second movement, for example, gives the music a distinctly Eastern flavor. The piece also features a large choir, with up to 80 voices, which creates a powerful and immersive sound. Overall, La Koro Sutro is a unique and innovative work that combines elements of Western and non-Western music to create a meditative and spiritual experience. Its use of the Heart Sutra as a text adds an additional layer of meaning and depth to the music, making it a powerful expression of Buddhist philosophy and spirituality.

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