“Dhamma Gita” is a CD containing music composed and performed by Buddhist practitioners. “Western music” has permeated the rest of the world, so it’s nice to see that Buddhism can work in the opposite direction, manifesting itself in contemporary forms of music.

The question of just what contemporary “Buddhist music” might be is one that I am deeply interested in. Is it enough to merely append a Buddhist term as a title? Can instrumental music be Buddhist? Is the fact that the person playing the music is Buddhist enough to make it “Buddhist music”?

This collection offers some possible answers. The music is in a variety of styles: some tracks use the standard rock instrumentation of guitar/bass/drums (for example, “White Lines” by Dave Smith and the Country Rebels or Duncan Ross’ “Rabbit Horns”), others mainly acoustic guitar and voice (check out “Yer Gonna Git You” by Ladyfinger!). There are pieces that sound influenced by “Asian” harmonies and instruments as well, such as Jay Harper’s “Lu Shan Cha” or Ravenna Michalsen’s “Ki Ki So So.” There are also instrumental pieces, including Brad Gibson’s “Bedtime Waltz” and the closing track, Lucky Vita’s “Swell.” One genre notably absent is rap, though the Beastie Boys already breached that barrier with 1994’s “Bodhisattva Vow.”

This CD’s greatest strength is its variety, not just stylistically but also in its variety of approaches. If you were to play some of these songs to someone without telling them that it is “Buddhist music,” I have a feeling they would not be able to guess on their own. Fortunately, the set comes with brief biographies of the performers, as well as quotes from each in their own words, explaining their music, and illuminating for the listener the background of each song.

Overall, “Dhamma Gita” is an inspiring collection of music documenting the depth to which the Buddha-Dharma is spreading in Western culture. Buddhism has always expressed itself through sound, but it is encouraging to hear how it is emerging in music now.

Listen to clips from the Dhamma Gita album here.

hieronymous
hieronymous is the musical alter-ego of Rev. Harry Gyokyo Bridge. His musical aspect and Buddhist aspect were kept separate for a long time, but have become more interconnected in the past several years.

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