The score is headed “...reside in the mandala, the celestial mansion, which is the nature of the purified gross body.”
I was in North India recently where I witnessed purification rituals in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. This work is influenced by those experiences. The famous low horns, tungchens, the magnificently raucous four-note oboes, gelings, the distinctive rolmo cymbals— all these and more were played by the monks in deeply moving ceremonies full of lama dances, chanting, and ritual actions. There is a fierce wildness about some of the purifications, as if great energy is needed to purge the bad ego–tendencies. But also great exhilaration is present. And calm.
The body, when moved with chanting, begins to vibrate and warm at different chakra points and “sing” internally. As it were, “lit up” with sound.

© Jonathan Harvey 2006