Brandon Nelson

Commissioned by Matthew Valenzuela (Eugene, OR)

The Dhammapada (or “Path to Virtue”) is a compilation of concise yet profound teachings on the basic values and ethics of Buddhism. Often using down-to-earth imagery to illustrate its points, these ancient texts transcend the limitations of time, tradition, and culture to express the great wisdom and compassion that Gautama Buddha himself originally taught.

The five movements of this piece are musical paintings of particularly vivid teachings found in the Dhamapada. Each is a meditation on both the literal image and the underlying philosophy of the chosen verse. In the Buddhist tradition of detaching from one’s ego, I chose to apply chance techniques to assist in making many important musical decisions, including rhythm and form.

Namaste.