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The Inner Light: Music for Chorus

by Arthur Durkee

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1.
American Roads Put the kettle on the Coleman and fire up the truck, load up the blankets and the tent and turn the radio on. I got this urge for going’ right off the deep blue end, a corner of a long sky road going’ ‘round the bend. American Roads, winding through the heart, someplace I’ve never been. American Roads, open wide for me and take me home again. Along this highway runnin’ true far as the eye can see, these lines of power on their poles, no place I’d rather be. There’s a yearning’ in my fingers, an itchin’ in my toes, to spin out down this blacktop and see where it will go. American Roads, winding through the heart, someplace I’ve never been. American Roads, open wide for me and take me home again. A river runs beside this road, tall trees along its banks, I’ll find a place to park my ride and take a dip in thanks. I don’t know where my home is, I lost it long ago. Can I still find that long road home? When will I ever know? American Roads, winding through the heart, someplace I’ve never been. American Roads, open wide for me and take me home again. American Roads, don’t settle for less! Come steal that highway now. American Roads are the brightest and best way to be outward bound!
2.
Shine 04:41
(Let It) Shine Lyrics ©2012 Arthur Durkee Some things don't need to be forgiven like stars that fall from desert skies like tears that urge the heart to widen like a newborn daughter's cries Some places in the heart are broken it's friendship's edge we use to bind ourselves together to each other your limping half-healed heart to mine There's nothing here can't be redeemed if given life and give time no sundered homeland we can't heal no sacred mountain we can't climb City of death or dream of light whatever path your feet may find valley of shadow where rivers meet release your love and let it shine Let it shine Let it shine
3.
Magic 03:30
Magic Lyrics @2017 Arthur Durkee The birds in my heart love the wind in your hair I climbed up a mountain you were already there There’s blood in my sail you stride through the air It’s magic I love you It’s magic Gotten lost on my way can’t see that you care I sleep where I fall at the foot of your stair I’ve made love in my day but the moon’s in your hair It’s magic I love you It’s magic Some days have been tragic some days have been fair Some nights you’re a beacon from I don’t know where Sometimes I feel fragile but not when you’re there It’s magic I need you It’s magic Sometimes I feel lost my body stripped bare Life’s just a habit like breathing in air Then light flares around you you’re suddenly there The moon’s in my heart but the sun’s in your hair It’s magic I love you It’s magic It’s magic I need you Desire you You fill me Because you are Magic
4.
Lux aeterna 03:19
Lux æterna luceat eis, Domine: Cum Sanctis tuis in æternum: quia pius es. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Cum Sanctis tuis in æternum: quia pius es.
5.
Tikkun 05:32
Tikkun The shattering of the vessels of all Creation the dew of lights rising O Lord, release the sparks of light within these bones to rise up and meet you in Heaven! Tikkun ha-olam mending the world TIkkun ha-nefesh mending the soul Shevirat ha-kelim Tzim-tzum, tzim-tzum . . . Shevirat ha-kelim TIkkun ha-olam Mimalei kol ol-min Ein Soph Ohr Shevirat ha-kelim TIkkun ha-olam God is a consuming fire Ohr Ein Sof Ein Sof Ohr Light of the Infinite Endless Light Ohr Ein Sof Ein Sof Ohr Endless Light Infinite Light Mimalei kol ol-min Tikkun ha-olam TIkkun ha-nefesh For God is an inifinite voice singing in a place filled with Light. Amen.
6.
Weavers of Light Words and Music by Arthur Durkee (except * original Goddess chant by Deena Metzger) Stone, sea, wind, light, Earth, water, air, fire, Eternal Light, return Isis, Asarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Innana * We all come from the Goddess, And to Her we shall return, Like a drop of rain Flowing to the ocean Hoof & horn, hoof & horn, All that dies must be reborn, Vine & grain, vine & grain, All that falls shall rise again Ganapati Ganesha, Ganapati Ganesha Winter stone, shrouded snow Bear sleeping, silent heart Blizzard frost, hearthstone warm Ice apple, cider heart Remember, remember Summer rain, cooling porch Bee shelter, thunder heart Eternal Light, return God is a verb, Lord of the Dance, Horned God dancing, Light, return Sustaining light, blown out like a candle, We all fall away, Light, return There is only the Now, past Dreamtime spun, No history, no future, Light, return Dip into waters, touching ripples, Rivers of changing, Light, return Eternal Light, return Light, return
7.
Ave Mater Noctis Salve, mater tenebrae fertile, et terribilis nimis salve mater atra qui pluviamque sanguinem dissipat salve, tenebra miraque dives concavum infintum unde gnascamur et in quo egrediemur ave mater noctis qui ad nos cum somno venit qui dolores nostros consolat qui nobis pacem dat salve, tenebra muta mare gravidum ubi incolet non ortum ave mater atra in qua et nos post mortem requiescimus, ave mater tenebrae terribilisque fecunda in cui utero crescit semen lucis • Hail, Mother Night (original poem by the composer) hail, mother of darkness fertile and terrifying hail, dark mother who brings rain and blood hail, darkness rich and strange endless void from which we arise and to which we shall return hail, mother night who comes to us with sleep who comforts our sorrows who brings us peace hail, silent darkness pregnant sea where dwells what is not yet born hail, dark mother in whom we rest at death hail, mother of darkness terrible and fecund in whose dark womb grows the seed of light
8.
Words by Harvey Milk: You gotta give ‘em hope You gotta give ‘em hope . . . I know that you can’t live on hope alone But without it, life is not worth living. And you, and you, and you gotta give ‘em hope! Hope will never be silent. It takes no compromise to give people their rights. (You just do it.) It takes no money to respect the individual. (You just do it.) It takes no political deal to give people freedom. (You just do it.) Hope will never be silent. If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door. Burst down the closet doors Once and for all, And stand up and start to fight. And you, and you, and you gotta give ‘em hope! Hope will never be silent. My name is Harvey Milk, and I’m here to recruit you!
9.
The concluding poem/text used in "Light" is my original poem "in another world": in another world in the rain, in another world, stand and watch the mating of light reflected in pooling water, and water, drop by drop, falling into water. in another world, this would be foolish; in another world you could be dry and warm and naked under the warming sun. in another world, you could be standing under the rain, under a roof of thatch or tin, and hearing the hiss or clatter of the warm rain on the roof. in another world, this would be a dream, a night fantasy, not something to tell your grandchildren, to wake in another world, to wake with tears on your face in the bright morning and shake your head and try to hide from suddenly prying eyes. in another world, you would be unable to explain your sudden sadness. you would have no excuse for the beauty of light reflected in a pool in the rain. you would be unable to articulate even your easiest griefs. regret would be a ghost growing silent, unquestioned, mute. a silent cry. the rain would answer, gently. in another world, you would be naked to the air, raw to the burn of the sky; the wind would scatter your hair, blinding you in the reflection of your own pure body, white or black or some purer shade. in another world, you could be a part of the rain, not only a mute spectator to its message; now, it sings at you, hisses to you, glows at you, through the sky and the black sky so bright, dark dark so dark; now, the rain is a caress, a completion, the many-handed lotus-touch on your whole skin at once; now the rain is here, and here, is always here, now, always present in you, however bright or dark you are. in another world, the rain has no potency. now a ghost's tears, now your own. in another world, now, then, you echo as you watch, ending with the streams of rainwater in the ground, ending as a river seeking the lowest ground, seeking finally an ocean, a sea, a sunrise, an orrery of stones. in another world, now, you would be a river, you would be the rain, now, in another world. © Arthur Durkee

about

This album features live recordings of songs and notated choral compositions written for TTBB chorus since 2008. Most of this music was commissioned, as was "Heartlands," available here on my Bandcamp site; a couple pieces have been performed multiple times.

"The Inner Light" album showcases an ongoing series of choral works on the theme of the mystical Light, expressed across many styles of music, and inspired by multiple music cultures. The series explores texts from several mystical and spiritual traditions about the experience of the mystical Light, a universal force of human aspiration, spiritual truth, and revelation found in all human cultures across all of history.

My intent is to create a multifaceted perspective, to see the jewel from many facets. My appreciation extends across cultural and time barriers; as a multicultural child myself, trained not only in music but in anthropology and folklore, I find resonances and echoes of the Light everywhere, everywhen. My goal is to make those connections for the audience; my desire is to share the beauty found.

Compositions (so far) in the series The Inner Light are:
Lux aeterna
Tikkun
Weavers of Light
Ave Mater Noctis

Scores for review or performance are available from the composer.

credits

released November 23, 2019

Written and Produced by Arthur Durkee

All tracks except "Light" were recorded live in concert. While all efforts have been made to reduce ambient and audience noise, please forgive any that remain.

American Roads, Shine, and Magic:
Performed by American Roads String Band
Produced by Arthur Durkee
Recorded in concert, Mixed, and Mastered by AD

Lux aeterna, Tikkun, Weavers of Light, and Ave Mater Noctis:
Performed by Perfect Harmony Men's Chorus and
City of Festivals Men's Chorus, Ken Forney, Artistic Director
Produced by Ken Forney and Arthur Durkee
Recorded in concert, Mixed and Mastered by AD.

You Gotta Give 'Em Hope:
Performed by Perfect Harmony Men's Chorus
Ken Forney, Artistic Director
Produced by Ken Forney and Arthur Durkee
Recorded in concert, Mixed and Mastered by AD.

Light:
text/sound poetry for multiple voices
Performed and realized by Stuart Hinds and Arthur Durkee
Produced by AD/SH

Remastered tracks 2019 at Dragonsweyr

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about

Arthur Durkee Ann Arbor, Michigan

Arthur Durkee is a composer & songwriter who records & performs on Chapman Stick, bass, analog modular synths, bamboo & wood flutes, keys, frame drums, and voice. He has won awards for composed, notated music as well as for his recordings, & is a published poet, & designer & illustrator. ... more

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