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Vedantic
Arts Recordings
Music celebrating the spiritual life
Music by John Schlenck
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John
Schlenck |
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Timothy
Mount |
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Susan
Jolles |
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Charla
Gulino |
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ShaunDarius
Gottlieb |
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Ramakrishna:
A Prophet for Our Time
An Oratorio
2
compact discs
To be released November 30, 2006
John Schlenck, composer
Vedantic Arts Ensemble
Timothy Mount, conductor
Douglas Purcell, tenor soloist
Dramatic musical account of the life and teachings of the great
nineteenth century mystic. Celebrates his message that all religions
are paths to the same goal of God-realization, with texts from
world scriptures and saints. Includes events from his childhood,
spiritual practices, marriage and ministry.
Listen
to mp3 selections from Ramakrishna: A Prophet for
Our Time:
IS
GOD REAL?
- excerpt
 MP3
Real
Media
TANTRA
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
THE
GATHERING
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
THREE
DISCIPLES
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
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Order
Ramakrishna:
A Prophet for
Our Time
2CD
box
Available
Nov. 30, 2006
Download
Order Form
click here.
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Seek
the Eternal: An Interfaith Oratorio Celebrating the Spiritual
Life
Released
on Albany Records, 2005
John Schlenck, composer
Moscow New Choir and soloists
Russian State Symphony Cinema Orchestra
Timothy Mount, conductor
Produced by Vedantic Arts Recordings
Released on Albany Records: Troy 778
A universal pilgrim’s progress, using a collage of texts
from major traditions. This profound four-part work begins with
“Why We seek,” proceeds through “The Divine
Promise” and “Who Shall Ascend to the Hill of the
Lord?” and culminates in “Enlightenment / The Beatific
Vision.”
Listen
to mp3 selections from Seek the Eternal:
WHY
WE SEEK
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
THE
DIVINE PROMISE
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
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Order
Seek the Eternal CD
Download
Order Form
click
here.
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Kanyakumari:
Vivekananda at Land’s End
Three Vesper Hymns
Released on Albany Records, 2004
John Schlenck, composer
Vedantic Arts Ensemble
Timothy Mount, conductor
Produced by Vedantic Arts Recordings
Released on Albany Records: Troy 682
Dramatic cantata celebrates Vivekananda’s meditation on
the Rock. Traveling the length and breadth of India, Vivekananda
arrived at Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of the country,
in December, 1892. After worshipping at Mother's temple, he
swam through turbulent, shark-infested waters to the farther
of two rocks jutting out from the sea. For three days and nights
he meditated intensely on the condition of India—her present
degradation, past glory and future potential. His heroic mission
to India and to the West began here.
Listen
to mp3 selections from Kanyakumari:
CRY
OF THE PEOPLE
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
MEDITATION
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
ETERNAL
MOTHER
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
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Order
Kanyakumari and Three Vesper Hymns CD
Download
Order Form
click
here.
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Cantata:
The Bard and the Prophet
Released
by CRS Artists, 2004
Text
from Walt Whitman and Swami Vivekananda
John Schlenck, composer
Moscow New Choir, State Radio Television Symphony Orchestra
Timothy Mount, conductor Marat Galiakhmetov, tenor
Produced
by Vedantic Arts Recordings
Released
on CRS Master Recordings: CRS CD 0377
Lyrical
and dramatic work celebrates the spiritual journey. Imaginary
dialog between the American poet and the saint /prophet of the
Indian Renaissance as they journey toward freedom. Also on the
same CD: short works of Tchaikovsky, Jacob and VanAppledorn.
Listen
to these MP3 excerpts from The Bard and the Prophet:
THE
CALL -
excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
THE
AFFIRMATION -
excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
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Order
The Bard and the Prophet CD
Download
Order Form
click
here.
Visit
the CRS
Artists website
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Cantatas
on the Bhagavad Gita: Raise the Self by the Self
Life of All Lives
Released
on Albany Records, 2003
John
Schlenck, composer
Moscow New Choir Russian State Symphony Cinema Orchestra
Timothy Mount, conductor
Sergei Aksenov, baritone
Produced
by Vedantic Arts Recordings
Released on Albany Records: Troy 550
Moving
works for chorus and orchestra set to texts from the Bhagavad
Gita. "Raise the Self by the Self" gives a vivid musical picture
of the opening battlefied, Arjuna's anguish on the eve of the
battle, his dialog with Krishna, and Krishnaıs teachings on
the divinity of the Self and the paths of knowledge and action.
The more lyrical "Life of All Lives" celebrates the all pervading
divine presence and the path of devotion, evoking awe and mystery
as well as Godıs tender concern for his devotees.
Listen
to mp3 selections from Cantatas on the Bhagavad Gita:
ILLUMNED
SEER
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
COSMOS
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
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Order
Raise
the Self by the Self CD
Download
Order Form
click
here.
Listen
to a MP3 sample and visit the Albany
Records website
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Released
March 2003
Hymns
of Yearning: An Album to Sing With
On
Vedantic Arts Recordings' sixth release (VAR006), Timothy Mount
conducts the New York-based Vedantic Arts Ensemble, 16 world
class singers, accompanied by flute, cello and guitar.
These
inspirational hymns by John Schlenck, designed for congregational
singing, have been arranged for professional chorus, but with
the melodies pitched so that average voices can sing them. Ideal
for Vedanta study groups or centers without a music director.
Also suitable for meditative home listening. Sheet music of
the tunes and texts may also be ordered, either with guitar
chords only or with both keyboard accompaniment and guitar chords.
Click
here for a printable PDF CD order form, or order online
using the convenient "Add to Cart" buttons, at right.
Sheet
music for Hymns of Yearning can be ordered using
the PDF order
form.
Listen
to mp3 selections from Hymns of Yearning:
THOU
ART THE REFUGE
-
excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
BY
YOUR PURE LOVE
-
excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
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Order
Hymns
of Yearning CD
Order
Hymns
of Yearning
Cassette
Download
Order Form
click here.
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The
Illumined Self: A Choral Cantata
Vedantic
Arts Ensemble directed by John Schlenck. Twelve World-Class
choral singers with East-West instrumental ensemble.
A
spiritual journey told through music, based on Shankara's Crest
Jewel of Discrimination & the Upanishads. Full of yearning and
awe, a spiritual aspirant approaches an illumined teacher, receives
instruction, practices intense meditation and at the end attains
enlightenment.
Listen
to mp3 selections from The Illumined Self:
THERE
IS A WAY
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
RAISE
THE GREAT BOW
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
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Order
The
Illumined Self CD
Order
The
Illumined Self Cassette
Download
Order Form
click here.
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The
Interior Christ: Choral Suite with Harp
Vedantic
Arts Ensemble conducted by Timothy Mount. Fourteen World-Class
choral singers with Susan Jolles, harp
Settings
from the Christian mystics, the Ordinary of the Mass, the Bible,
and the Hesychast Prayer, range from quiet, meditative calm
to soaring, searing intensity, all celebrating the joy, struggle
and consummation of the spiritual life.
Listen
to mp3 selections from The Interior Christ:
GLORIA
IN EXCELSIS DEO
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
FOR
THEY SHALL SEE GOD
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
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Order
The Interior Christ CD
Order
The
Interior Christ Cassette
Download
Order Form
click here.
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The
Bard and the Prophet: Journey to Freedom A Cantata and Three Vesper
Hymns
Vedantic
Arts Ensemble conducted by Timothy Mount Jonathan Goodman, tenor
soloist; instrumental ensemble
Fourteen
World-Class choral singers perform this dramatic cantata set to
poetry of Walt Whitman and Swami Vivekananda. Also included: original
settings of the traditional Ramakrishna Order vesper hymns in
English translation.
Listen
to mp3 selections from The Bard and the Prophet:
BATHE
ME, O GOD, IN THEE
-
excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
FRIEND
OF THE LOWLY
-
excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
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Order
The Bard and the Prophet CD
Order
The Bard and the Prophet Cassette
Download
Order Form
click here.
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Hymn
to Holy Mother: Choral Suite with Flute, Harp, Organ, Tambura
and Finger Cymbals and Invocations: Hymns from the Upanishads
Vedantic
Arts Ensemble conducted by Timothy Mount; Linda Chesis, flute;
Susan Jolles, harp
Fourteen
World-Class choral singers perform this many-faceted hymn which
celebrates the gentleness, compassion and power of Divine Motherhood,
and venerates the life of Sarada Devi. Also included: settings
of Peace Chants from the Upanishads.
Listen
to mp3 selections from Hymn to Holy Mother:
SUPREME
MOTHER
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
THE
NECTAR
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
MAY
WE HEAR WHAT IS GOOD
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
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Hymn
to Holy Mother CD
Hymn
to Holy Mother Cassette
Download
Order Form
click here.
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Meditations
on Indian Themes: Songs without Words for Flute, Cello, Violin,
Guitar & Keyboards
Charla
Gulino, flute; ShaunDarius Gottlieb, cello; Rhonni Hallman,
violin; Kenton Youngstrom, guitar; John Schlenck, harpsichord
and harmonium
Subtle
harmonies and counterpoint weave through traditional Indian
themes to create exquisite chamber and solo works combining
meditative calm with passion and yearning.
Listen
to mp3 selections from Meditations on Indian Themes:
PRELUDE
ON A POEM OF TAGORE -
excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
THE
CALL OF THE SHEPHERD
- excerpt
MP3
Real
Media
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Meditations
on Indian Themes CD
Meditations
on Indian Themes Cassette
Download
Order Form
click here.
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| VAR
NEWS |
| Oratorio
on Ramakrishna’s life and teachings recorded in New York |
Ramakrishna,
A Prophet for Our Time, a 2-hour oratorio by John Schlenck, was
recorded during May and early June, 2006, in New York City by
Vedantic Arts Recordings. Timothy Mount conducted the Vedantic
Arts Ensemble, 17 world-class singers and 8 instrumentalists.
Lyric tenor Douglas Purcell sang the leading solo part in the
role of Ramakrishna.
This dramatic work
in three parts begins with the ancient Vedic dictum, Truth is
One; sages call it by various names. The common prayers of five
major religions are presented in their traditional languages and
in English, then woven together into a universal prayer. A hymn
to the major prophets follows. A nativity hymn to Ramakrishna
begins the story of his life. His childhood is presented through
a series of key incidents. Part One concludes with a portrayal
in music of his intense longing to see the Divine Mother and his
first vision of Her.
Part Two tells of Ramakrishna’s
marriage, his spiritual practices, and his realization of the
truth of all religions. Part Three focuses on his relationship
with his disciples: his wife and first disciple, Sarada, his householder
disciples, Narendra (later Swami Vivekananda) and other young
men who will become the Ramakrishna Order, Brahmananda, their
leader, Gauri Ma, and M. The work concludes with his last illness,
the bond between the disciples, and the commissioning of Sarada
and Narendra.
Three pre-existing
musical themes—from Vivekananda’s vesper hymn, Khandana
Bhava Bandhana, from a song of the saint Ramprasad, and from an
ancient Gregorian chant—are interwoven into the texture
of the music. Release of the recording is expected toward the
end of 2006 or early 2007.
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Contact
us by phone: 212-877-4730 or by e-mail to vw@vedantawest.org
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