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Illumination
1989

soprano
women's chorus
piano

duration 16'

first performance: NuClassix Residency Series: Mary Ann Bozzuti with The Boston University 
Women’s Chorus cond. William Cutter / 1st & 2nd Church, Boston / October 2, 1990



RECORDING
first performance: 




SCORE
Movement 1
Movement 2
Movement 3
Movement 4


TEXTS
Movement I 
Chorus
Vishnu, Krishna,
Brahma, Shiva.
Vishnu, Brahma, 
Shiva, Rama, Krishna.
Eka, Naika, 
Bhutabhavana.
Aprameya, Shanti, 
Shantida.
Keshava, Hari, 
Kshama.
Pritivardhana, Pratardana, 
Prabhuta, Kumuda, Kundara.
Nila, Sarvatomukha, 
Lohitaksha.
Amurti, Prana, 
Achintya, Shokanashana.
Bhayakrit, Bhayanashana, 
Sundara, Govinda, Manohara.
Rathangapani, Jivana,
Nirvana.
Sutantu, Tantuvardhana,
Amrita, Virata.
Kritakarman, Krishna,
Deva.
Bhagaha, Anandi, 
Lakshmi, Ishta.
Aniyama, Brahmakrit, 
Veda, Brahamavid, 
Kama, Kamaghna, 
Guru, Mantram.

He Who is Everywhere, He Who Attracts,
The Creator, The Auspicious.
He Who is Everywhere, The Creator,
The Auspicious, Joy, He Who Attracts.
The One, The Many,
The Essence of All Things.
The Immeasurable, Peace,
Giver of Peace.
He Who Has Beautiful Hair, The Thief,
Patience.
Who Makes Love Increase, The Destroyer,
Abundant, Water Lily, Jasmine.
He Who Never Sleeps, Whose Face is Everywhere,
Rosy-Eyed.
Who Has No Form, Energy,
Beyond Thought, Destroyer of Sorrow.
Maker and Destroyer of Fear, Beautiful,
The Cowherd Boy, Stealer of Hearts.
Charioteer, Sustainer of Life,
Freedom from Self Will.
Whose Thread is Good, Who Keeps Expanding 
His Web,
Immortal, Free From Craving.
Whose Work is Complete, He Who Attracts,
The Shining One.
Destroyer of Good Fortune, Bringer of Joy,
Good Fortune, Whom We Desire.
Freedom, Maker of Reality,
Wisdom, Knower of Reality,
Desire, Destroyer of Selfish Craving,
Teacher, The Holy Name.


Movement 2
Chorus
yad adityagatam tejo
jagad bhsayate 'khilam
yac chnadramasi yac chagnau
tat tejo viddhi mamakam.
gam avishya cha bhutani
dharayamy aham ojasa
pushnami chausadhih sarvah
somo bhutva rasatmakah.
aham vaishvanaro bhutva
praninam deham ashritah
pran'apanasmayuktah
pachamy annam chaturvidham. 

The brightness of the sun,
which lights up the world,
the brightness of the moon and fire— 
these are my glory.
With a drop of my energy I enter the earth
and support all creatures.
Through the moon,
the vessel of life-giving fluid,
I nourish all plants.
I enter breathing creatures
and dwell within as the life-giving breath.
I am the digestive fire in the belly . . . 

Soprano
I am the true Self in the heart of every creature,
and the beginning, middle, and end of their existence.
Among the shining gods I am Vishnu; 
of luminaries I am the sun; 
among the storm gods I am Marichi,
and in the night sky I am the moon . . .
Among the trees I am Ashvattha, the sacred fig;
among the Gandharvas or heavenly musicians
I am Chitratha . . .
I was born from the nectar of immortality as the primordial horse 
and as Indra's noble elephant. 
Among men, I am the king.
Among weapons I am the thunderbolt. 
I am Kamadhuk, the cow that fulfills all desires;
I am Kandharpa, the power of sex, and Vasuki,
the king of snakes.
I am Ananta, the cosmic serpent, and Varuna,
the god of water
. . . Among the forces which restrain I am Yama, 
the god of death.
Among animals I am the lion; 
among birds, the eagle Garuda.
I am Prahlada, born among the demons, 
and of all that measures, I am time . . .
I am the beginning, middle, and end of creation.
Of all the sciences I am the science of Self-knowledge
. . . I am infinite time, and the sustainer
whose face is seen everywhere. 

Chorus 
vadantakrd vedavid eva chaham. 

All scriptures lead to me; I am their author and their wisdom. 

Soprano
I am death, which overcomes all, 
and the source of all beings still to be born. 
I am the feminine qualities;

Soprano & Chorus
Fame, beauty, perfect speech, memory, intelligence, loyalty, and forgiveness . . .
Among months I am Margashirsha, the first of the year; 
among seasons I am spring, that brings forth flowers.
I am the gambling of the gambler 
and the radiance of all that shines

Chorus 
dvav imau purusau loke
ksaraschakshara eva cha
ksarah sarvani bhutani
kutastho 'ksara uchyate. 

In this world there are
two orders of being:
the perishable, separate creature
and the changeless spirit. 

Soprano
I am effort, I am victory, and I am the goodness of the virtuous. 

Soprano & Chorus
uttamah purushas tv anyah 

But, beyond these there is another 

Chorus 
param'atm'ety udahrtah
yo lokatrayam avishya
bibharty avyaya ishvarah. 

The supreme Self,
the eternal Lord, who enters into the entire cosmos
and supports it from within. 

Among the Vrishnis I am Krishna, 
and among the Pandavas I am Arjuna. 
I am the silence of the unknown and the wisdom of the wise. 

Soprano
I am the silence of the unknown and the wisdom of the wise.
I am the seed that can be found in every creature. . . 
for without me nothing can exist . . .


Movement 3
Chorus
Eka, Naika, Bhutabhavani.
The One, The Many, The Essence of All Beings.
Aprameya, Shanti, Shantida.
The Immeasurable, Peace, Giver of Peace.
Keshava, Hari, Kshama.
He Who Has Beautiful Hair, The Thief, Patience.
Protovardhana, Pratardana, Prabhuta, Kumuda, Kundara.
Who Makes Love Increase, The Destroyer, Abundant, Water Lily, Jasmine.
Nila, Sarvatomukha, Lohitaksha.
He Who Never Sleeps, Whose Face is Everywhere, Rosy-Eyed.
Amurti, Prana, Achintya, Shokanashana.
Who Has No Form, Energy, Beyond Thought, 
Destroyer of Sorrow.
Beautiful, The Cowherd Boy, Stealer of Hearts,
Charioteer, Sustainer of Life, Whose Thread is Good,
Immortal, Free From Craving, Whose Work is Complete,
He Who Attracts 

Soprano & Chorus
The Shining One.
Happy—Nanda
Lover of His Devotees—Bhakyavasala
The Uplifter—Uttarana
All-Knowing—Sarvajna
Beauty—Sri
Ornament—Bushana
Giver of Wealth—Dhanya
Punishment—Danda
Lotus-Eyed—Aravindaksha
Bringer of Tears—Rudra
Full—Purna
Sacrifice—Yajna
The Auspicious—Shiva
Joy—Rama
Self Control—Dama
King of Death—Yama
All—Sarva


Movement 4
Soprano & Chorus
The brightness of the sun, which lights up the world,
the brightness of the moon and of fire–these are my glory.
With a drop of my energy I enter the earth and support all creatures.
Through the moon, the vessel of life-giving fluid, I nourish all plants.
I enter breathing creatures and dwell within as the life-giving breath.
I am the digestive fire in the belly . . .
In this world there are two orders of being:
the perishable, separate creature and the changeless spirit.
But, beyond these there is another, the supreme Self, the eternal Lord,
who enters into the entire cosmos and supports it from within. 

from The Thousand Names of Vishnu and The Bhagavad Gita trans. Eknath Easwaren