MAHAKALA ORATORIO

BY LEILA ADU

LYRICS

OVERTURE

Courage now, on and on!

Uncertain times confront us all – every creature, every place. All our own responses, arising from the deep,
Can be empowered by compassion and thus protect and discipline
The outcome of expression.

CHENREZIG MAHAKALA

Chenrezig powerful!

Mahakala is an expression of...
Mahakala is an expression of...

LOOK NOW

Look now, all around!
Look now, all around!
There are abusive states, new in the world.
Look now, all around!
There are abusive states, Careless of all life, immersed in selfish wants.

burn the fog of apathy
burn the fog of apathy
burn the fog of apathy
There are abusive states, new in the world.
There are abusive states, new in the world.
There are abusive states, new in the world.

Chenrezig Mahakala (x6)
can tame the darkest energy and burn the fog of apathy.
can tame the darkest energy and burn the fog of apathy.

CLEAR ALL DANGER FROM THE PATH

Clear all danger from the path

one to one, all to all, Continuous, unbroken, active synergy
one to one, all to all, Continuous, unbroken, active synergy

Garner wisdom and authority, vitality and power

Collective compassion is able to face, quell, control and transcend All forms of harm and ignorance.

Eminent, bright radiance, blue black clarity, Fearless in the midst of deep time force and energy, Transform the lower world
Charge our many hearts with clear determination; Find right understanding; map the common ground.

The mind that goes awry, losing sanity – that mind can be healed! Within each human birth there is a truth, a torch of certainty,
A light that can reveal a way to live more graciously.

Bodhicitta, great blessing in the human birth, essential understanding (x3)
Call the tiger to your side

MAHAKALA HAS STRONG LEGS, MAHAKALA HAS SURE FEET

Mahakala has strong legs and Mahakala has sure feet;
They are well able to trample down demonic thoughts and deeds!
Teeth are bared; hair and eyebrows upward blaze; (x3)
The body of passion is fully awake, focused and engaged. (x6)
The body of passion (x3)
Is awake, focused, and engaged

GREED DESPOLIATES THE WORLD

Delusion has the power to destroy and deform; Greed despoliates the world; hatred is a disease.

ENCOURAGE PEACE

Remember the purpose of practice! Remember why the Teachings are created!
Renew always the vow for peace; strengthen practice in accord;
Encourage peace (x3)
throughout the world;
Encourage peace throughout the world (x6)

OM MANI PADME HUM

OM MANI PADME HUM (x12)
Resilient compassion takes many forms To suit the many different needs:
White to temper pride; green to ease fierce jealousy;
Yellow to gladden yearning want; sky blue to free entangled thought; Red to quell consuming greed; blue-black to pacify
The realms where hatred rules.
Chenrezig in this last place, Reveals the power, Mahakala
Chenrezig in this last place, Reveals what must be said and done
Chenrezig in this last place, Reveals the power, Mahakala

AKSOBYA

Aksobya,
A tranquil place and purpose, like a sacred grove. Clear, reflective mind, white light wisdom mirror (x3)
The blessings of the natural world are recognized and valued here
Air, water, earth and energy; living world, Gaia (x2)
May gratitude and offering be accepted and enjoyed. May the way of compassion be wise with its power.
Bodhicitta, right intention, knowledge, teaching, dialogue: Contribute and bestow, expand and liberate The power, peaceful mind;
Bodhicitta, right intention, knowledge, teaching, dialogue; Alive and realised.
Purify delusion, confusion and fixated views.
In thought and word and deed, this intent is deeply felt;
Faith and aspiration grow in confidence.
Now the light of all experience can illuminate the path. The suffering in the world becomes the cause of practice.
Skill and means be with us now; light of peace, compound; Become the inner lamp, grace the sacred ground.

ABOUT THIS WORK

lyrics adapted from the Plainsong Pujua of Mahakala
originally compiled by Lama Chimé Shore from texts received
from the late Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche
and the late Ven. Kalu Rinpoche

Video stills from Aaron Sherwood

about MAHAKALA ORATORIO: Written by Leila Adu, Mahakala Oratorio’s inspiration draws directly from the Buddhist deity of the same name. In her work, Leila Adu uses ancient texts describing Mahakala as a tool to empower listeners to consider the idea of radical compassion in this era of social, political, and environmental extremism. The music itself reflects Leila's genre-mixing style, which draws on the traditional music of New Zealand; her informal training in punk, indie, and hip-hop as well as freely improvised music in the African-American free jazz tradition; and formal training for chamber ensemble and orchestra.

CREDITS

Mahakala Oratorio
Composed by Leila Adu
Commissioned and performed by chatterbird
Celine Thackston, Founder and Artistic Director
Jesse Strauss, Assistant Artistic Director

MUSICIANS

Joe Lee, Conductor
Rebekah Alexander, Soprano
Leila Adu, Vocals
Ryan Cockman, Violin
Annaliese Kowert, Violin
Clare Yang, Viola
Joshua Dent, Cello
Benjamin Jones, Double Bass
Celine Thackston, Flute
Mark Cramer, Clarinet
Maya Stone, Bassoon
Jennifer Kummer, French Horn
Matt Jefferson, Trombone
Timbre Cierpke, Harp
Jesse Strauss, Percussion

AUDIO

Recording Engineer, Mixing, and Mastering: Kevin Edlin
Asst. Recording Engineer: Aaron Dethrage
Producer: Jesse Strauss
Audio Recorded at Eastside Manor, Nashville, TN
LEILA ADU-GILMORE VOCALS
Recording Engineer: Erik Bell
Assistant Engineer: Kevin Kopczynski

FILM

Videographer & Editor: Lauren Balthrop
Interactive Media Art provided by: Aaron Sherwood
Additional Camera Operator: James Paul Mitchell
Dance/Choreography: Kiori Kawai

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM

Erich Barganier
Trinity Community Commons

SPONSORS
Metro Arts, Nashville
Tennessee Arts Commission
New Music USA
MediaTHE Foundation
Puffin Foundation West, Ltd.

INTERACTIVE LESSON

Created by Emma Supica

Made possible through generous funding from the Tennessee Arts Commission