La Koro Sutro

I didn't know Lou Harrison from chopped liver until this lovely late spring evening of 2004, when it was given to me to hear Lo Koro Sutro whilst watching a Hudson Valley sunset.I have been "working" with the Heart Sutra for about 30 years...and I write to you all, not as a music person (though I have those credens) but as a very thankful Dharma person who finally heard a version of this sutra proper for the West.Btw, it happens to be beautiful too.

Five stars for the music----Harrison was sui generis. But while I agree with the other reviewers about this beautiful music, the copy I just recently purchased (July 2011) directly from Amazon is an incredibly cheap-looking CDR---not a Redbook-standard CD, repeat, not an actual "permanent format" compact disc---with a shoddy insert containing NO LINER NOTES or recording info at all, only a track listing. It says "copyright New Albion" but the larger label listed is "Ioda: digital done right", with a large "Compact Disc" logo, and "CD-R Format" written in tiny print beneath that. What a fly-by-night, dishonest con. New Albion should be ashamed of themselves. I've seen illegal downloads of this album that are more complete. Amazon features a small note about this, but this review should stand as an additional red flag to potential purchasers.EDIT/ADDENDUM: since my review was written, Amazon has added a little CDR caveat to at least some items that are sold as burn-to-order CDRs. There are still CDRs being passed off as actual "new" CDs by some Marketplace sellers, even reputable sellers, who are being sent CDR stock without being told. If this media downgrade/switcharoo bothers you, as it bothers me----or rather, if you're bothered by the evasiveness and dishonesty of the presentation of one media as another---then caveat emptor when you purchase anything from the New Albion or Nimbus labels, for starters. I've also had trouble with the Danacord and Metronome UK labels. Arkiv Music sells loads of out of print classical music in this way, but they at least offer a semi-honest description in their Marketplace description of the item. (They don't call the discs CDRs, but the discs are indeed CDRs, even if they are legal, licensed, professional burns with liner notes etc.) Arkiv's method is a nice way to keep stuff in print (really, the same is true with Nimbus and the other companies), but the evasiveness when it comes to letting you know what the actual music is printed on....it lacks class, it reeks of scheming. It's not an "oversight", it's a scheming way of assuaging consumer concerns by JUST NOT TELLING THEM THE TRUTH about what they're getting.

Poor quality copy. Worse than 70's radio tape. Muddy dynamics. Last 3 tracks unintellible.

Excellent recording of a hauntingly beautiful piece. Glad to find some of the old CRI records are now available on CD Wish more of Harrison's music could be made available.

Lou Harrison is an American composer who is not often mentioned but should be. His compositions meld Asia and Western music traditions. If you enjoy gamalan music, you must give him a try.

Very original, magical music.

The American Gamelan is a great piece.

It's Lou Harrison's composition in Esperanto. It's great music to listen to for calming down or for working on homework.

Finest example of avangard music! A must for your music collection, shame it wasn't released on vinyl.