Michael Robinson will premiere and discuss his new album, Jetavana, together with selections from Trembling Flowers, Luminous Realms, Nagamani, Adorned with Pearl and Polynesian Woman. Michael Robinson voices and colors his compositions with instrumental timbres and scale tunings from diverse world music cultures including India, Africa, the Near East, Japan, China, Korea, Bali, Java, Cuba, Brazil, Australia, Europe, North America and Southeast Asia.

He composes using traditional Western notation and programs a computer and electronic sound module to perform his music in real time without overdubbing.

“I’m interested in discovering and liberating the expressive quality – the essence – of computer-performed music. I want this music to emanate from the computer in the same way other sounds emanate in nature, like wind and water.” (Michael Robinson quoted in Keyboard)

From Jetavana liner notes by Michael Robinson
A Rhodes electric piano pulsates evocative chords expanded upon by an intimate Vox organ both declarative and soaring in a crystalline, radiant setting.

Jetavana, near the Rapti river in the northeastern part of Uttar Pradesh India, close to the Nepalese border, is where Buddha spent 19 of his 45 rainy seasons composing and preaching the sutras.

Lahaina, Maui has the largest statue of Buddha outside of Japan which I would walk miles from my home to visit. It is an elevated creation to imbibe and ponder having a larger than human scale sculpted with exquisite grace, framed by the majestic West Maui Mountains in the distance. During my visits, I took pleasure in sounding several giant Japanese gongs in the vicinity. The Buddha and the gongs are on the grounds of a Japanese temple alongside the ocean opposite the mountains.

About five years ago, a sublime statue of Buddha was lent or given, I’m still not sure which, and sits inside the front area of my Los Angeles home. Appearing to be made of metal or stone, this rather large statue is actually painted wood, and I love having it there.

While Buddha was born in Nepal and lived in India, my overwhelming exposure has been to Hindu spiritual concepts, discovering they are one with Indian classical music. North Indian or Hindustani music was spawned by the historic commingling of Hindu and Muslim cultures, with South Indian or Carnatic music being traditionally free of Muslim influence. My teachers and primary focus represent North Indian traditions, while simultaneously pursuing a keen interest in Carnatic music independently.

Jetavana was named after the music was composed and realized, the title manifesting most naturally, myself never having heard of Jetavana before, translated with an alternate spelling from an ancient Chinese poem I was reading.

A jade flute, by angels long ago
Borne as a gift to the Garden of Jetavan!
It blows a music sweet as the crane’s song
That Spirits of Heaven earthward well might draw.
– Po Chu-I (772-846) (translated by Arthur Waley)

Relating the music to the title, the chords repeat a fourteen measure cycle, and perhaps the joining melodies may be thought of representing the searching for freedom from the cycles of life, said to be Buddha’s primary mission.
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TRACKLIST:

1. Jetavana

2. Yellow Bird (from Trembling Flowers)

3. The Forest of Brinda (from Luminous Realms)

4. Nagamani (excerpt)

5. Soma Creeper (from Adorned with Pearl)

6. Black Pearl (from Polynesian Woman)

7. Haunted Trees (from Trembling Flowers)