This recording offers Kalatit Jeff Baker’s arrangements of Sri Chinmoy’s songs about the life of the Buddha. The music was composed for a performance of the play “Siddhartha Becomes the Bhuddha” in New York, during the 1990s.
“Siddhartha Becomes The Buddha”- Incidental Music by Kalatit Jeff Baker
Last modified February 4, 2014
These instrumental recordings feature a variety of instruments and provided an atmospheric backdrop for performances of the play.
“Kalatit’s incidental music for Sri Chinmoy’s play “Siddhartha Becomes the Bhuddha” is a contemplative piece which sparks the listener’s imagination and transports us to that ancient, Eastern world where Lord Buddha lived.
This collection of twelve short pieces is, in my opinion, a masterpiece of theater music. It has an inner, constant pulse which drives it forward, as Siddhartha’s life also was propelled towards self-realisation and enlightenment by the compassionate awareness of his soul.
The inner beauty of Sri Chinmoy’s melodies finds a proper frame in the pictorial world which Kalatit is able to create with his musical creation. There is a solemnity weaving through this masterpiece, a sacredness implied in both the inner vibration of the melodies and in the arrangements and orchestrations woven by Kalatit.
From the peacefulness of “Buddha Deber”, the Gamelan- like flow of “Lamp”, the sacred vocals of “Buddham” and the resounding victory-battle of “Enlightenment”, Kalatit’s music is a meditation in itself, a tale in tones of majestic and subtle nature, and a contemplation of that wonderful story in which Prince Siddhartha becomes Lord Buddha.
Our gratitude to Kalatit Jeff Baker for this illumining and soulful offering.”
– Kamalakanta Nieves.
Related pages
- “Siddhartha Becomes the Buddha” -at Sri Chinmoy Library
- Thought of the day on Buddhism by Sanjaya Spettigue
- Buddham Sharanam Gachhami” – Hiya Bhasha
Credits
Artist: Kalatit Jeff Baker
Name: Incidental Music for “Siddhartha Becomes the Buddha”
Composer: Sri Chinmoy- Arrangements by Kalatit Jeff Baker
Release Year: 2010
Duration: 50 minutes
Acknowledgements: Sri Chinmoy
Tracks uploaded and published: Kamalakanta Nieves and Tejvan Pettinger
Format: Advanced Audio Coding
