The Kirtan was developed for a grant I didn’t get. David Angel suggested I use a free jazz technique to accompany the Sanskrit chant from the Bhagavadgita I chose. Each of the player’s parts has five hexachords numbered one through five. In the performance or session, while listening to what had been recorded before, I would indicate the number I wanted the player to play with my left hand, and the duration and tempo with my right. I have used this technique and variations of it in other compositions and have been very pleased with the results. It opens many opportunities for chance music and gives the improvisers room to swing.
There were two Kirtan recording sessions, one in October of 1986 (Kirtan 10/17/86), and February of 1987 (Kirtan 2/28/87). In June of 1987, a Kirtan was performed at the Echo Park Library, in October of 1988 in the dance department at the University of California at Los Angeles, and in June of 1990 at the Los Angeles Photography Center.