CROWN - Croatian World Network - http://www.croatia.org/crown
Buddha - one of the most popular saints in the Christian calendar of the Middle Ages
http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11365/1/Buddha---one-of-the-most-popular-saints-in-the-Christian-calendar-of-the-Middle-Ages.html
By Nenad N. Bach and Darko Žubrinić
Published on 12/30/2022
 

Could you ever imagine that one of the most popular saints in the Christian calendar of the Middle Ages was - Buddha? After ten years of researche, Katarina Livljanić and her ensemble Dialogos, bring the incredible story of saints Barlaam and Josaphat, a christianized version of Buddha's life, which crossed over at least four religions and was transmitted through almost all the medieval languages. Powerful songs sing the legend about the king's son, prince Josaphat, who leaves the noisy world of opulence to search for inner peace - songs which follow the path of his story from one medieval language to another, from Greek, Latin to Old Croatian, Italian, Church Slavonic...

The story originating from India, translated from Greek, Latin to Old Croatian, Italian, Church Slavonic...


'Barlaam & Josaphat: Buddha - a Christian Saint?' by Dialogos and Katarina Livljanić [INTRO]



'Barlaam & Josaphat: Buddha - a Christian Saint?' by Dialogos and Katarina Livljanić [THE STORY]



Could you ever imagine that one of the most popular saints in the Christian calendar of the Middle Ages was - Buddha? After ten years of research in a multitude of libraries worldwide, Katarina Livljanić and the ensemble Dialogos, faithfull to their exploratory and fearless spirit, bring yet another surprise from the less known medieval lands, after its award-winning albums such as Dalmatica: Chants of the Adriatic (A395), Lombards & Barbares (A319), La vision de Tondal (A329), Judith: A Biblical Story from Renaissance Croatia (Alpha702).

It is the incredible story of saints Barlaam and Josaphat, a christianized version of Buddha's life, which crossed over at least four religions and was transmitted through almost all the medieval languages. Powerful songs - incarnated by voice and instruments, sing the legend about the king's son, prince Josaphat, who leaves the noisy world of opulence to search for inner peace - songs which follow the path of his story from one medieval language to another, from Greek, Latin to Old Croatian, Italian, Church Slavonic...

This project is a unique new experience: a multimedia e-book, in French and English, is included in this CD. It tells the story of Barlaam & Josaphat and leads the listener/reader through one of the most intriguing labyrinths of medieval world. Through a rich and original video, audio and iconographic material, it opens the doors into the artistic creative process which transformed a medieval legend into a music performance.

From Katarina Livljanić's description acompanying the above video



'I poide Barlaam' by Dialogos and Katarina Livljanić [sung in old-Croatian]



A Christian Buddha: Story of Barlaam and Josaphat (Buddha as a Christian Saint)