The Light of Asia is anoratorio by the American composerDudley Buck. Thelibretto is based onEdwin Arnold's 1879 epic poemThe Light of Asia, or The Great Renunciation. According to Howard Smither inHistory of the Oratorio, it was the first oratorio in the history of the genre to be based on the life ofBuddha.[1] It was composed in 1886 and published that same year as piano/vocal score byNovello. Its first public performance took place in Washington, D.C., on 6 May 1887. Two years later it premiered in London atSt James Hall and became the first oratorio by an American composer to have been produced in Britain.[2]
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