 The Myth of Dying is a musical journey that follows a deceased young poet through the afterlife. The story combines excerpts from famous literary sources--C.S. Lewis, William Blake, Dante, et al--to create an original vision of the hereafter. Artwork from the 18th through 21st centuries accompany each Canto as visual representations of the music. As The Myth of Dying begins, we find ourselves witnesses to a young poet's final moments of earthy life as he dies on Charing Cross Road--a London street well-know for its rare and second-hand bookstores (Canto I). A series of Cantos follows in which the protagonist finds himself in different realms of eternity. Following his demise, the young poet transcends to a realm of concentric and brilliant lights (Canto II). There he encounters a spirit who informs the poet of his whereabouts and the nature of eternity. The spirit prompts the poet to travel about infinity. Overwhelmed by the multitude of paths and visions of eternity, the poet is uncertain of which path to follow (Canto III). Seduced by a black star, he travels for miles and miles beyond the light (Canto IV). In the dark Realm, he encounters a second spirit who warns the poet that he has chosen a path to a dreadful state. The poet asks to be shown the black star and is obliged by the spirit. There the poet meets the devil who invites him to peruse his domain (Canto V). After surveying hell, the poet slips out. The devil, angry at his evil minions for not successfully recruiting the poet, chastises his servants for having lost a soul (Canto VI). The itinerant poet travels then to a Realm inhabited by the well-known skeptics--Hume, Kant, Plato and others (Canto VII). The skeptics hover, perpetually circling like a carousel, in endless contemplation about the afterlife. Travelling to the highest peak of eternity, the poet encounters a golden staircase on which the Divine awaits him (Canto VIII). There, in The Mysterium of the Divine, the poet witnesses the Supreme being performing miracles to pass the time. Forced to continue his aimless journeying, the poet recognizes the truth of eternity (Canto IX): Whatever we imagine the afterlife to be is precisely what it is. Accordingly, the scholarly young poet, steeped in the dramatic visions of eternity presented by the great literary and philosophical figures, encounters the very visions to which he had ardently subscribed. As the work concludes, a degree of pathos surrounds the wandering poet as he calls out to the living and expresses an existential angst and loneliness brought about by his fate of endless wandering through all time. The
Myth of Dying was composed, performed, and recorded in a short
period
during 2010. All of the instruments and vocals are performed by a solo
artist except the violin and viola, which are played by an eminent
guest artist. The music is constructed as a single, continuous work;
however, separate tracks are provided on the CD to facilitate
navigation to particular Cantos. It is recommended, however, that the
work be listened to in its entirety.
CD Liner Note |
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Dying or The Psychedelic Ensemble please send email to: info@thepsychedelicensemble.com
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