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| ASCENSION
TO LIGHT Steve Coleman and Five Elements |
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| Most of
these compositions are studies in sound. The written notes are
meant to provide some insight into the intended symbolism in the
music. Many people may want to have some idea of what the music
is about. Others will prefer to simply listen to the music and
supply their own images. The approach that is taken is up to each
individual. 1. Reciprocity (February 23, 1999) Personnel: Steve Coleman, Gary Thomas, Ralph Alessi, Shane Endsley, Vijay Iyer, David Gilmore, Anthony Tidd, Sean Rickman, Valerie Coleman, Toyin Spellman, Mariam Adam, Monica Ellis, Jeff Scott, Min Xiao-Fen Notes: The concept of reciprocity is everywhere manifest, though not always obvious. The pulsating two tones in the Bass and Pipa (A and G#) represent duality. There are only two keys in this music, all melodic material consists of dual tonal spirals analogous to the Ida and Pingala of yoga practice, the yin and yang of Chinese philosophy, Lunar and Solar energies (G# and A). These spirals alternate as follows (red = yang, blue = yin): The Drums always represent movement and the principle of becoming. The interplay of Lunar and Solar energies intensifies with the entrance of the long speech-like horn melody/improvisation (similar to a language) played by alto saxophone and Ralph Alessiís trumpet. The harmonic cells played by the woodwind quartet symbolically represent duality progressing to diversity, the progression is a study in balance. Shane Endsley and Jeff Scott play a majestic melody over diversity (woodwinds). After the section that features spontaneous composition of individual musicians the various sonic symbols are played together. Improvisations: Steve Coleman, Gary Thomas, Shane Endsley, Ralph Alessi, Steve Coleman 2. Embryo (April 25, 1999) Personnel: Steve Coleman, Shane Endsley, Gregoire Maret, David Gilmore, Anthony Tidd, Sean Rickman Notes: Again, the stirrings of the Bass and Drums represent movement, in this case primordial movement. This movement organizes itself into the pulse of life, a cosmic heart beat. The structure of the Bass and Guitar figure, ascending E-C-F and E-C-F-Bb is the ëstuff of lifeí which in turn mutates into the melody transforming into spontaneous composition. The improvisations here (as elsewhere on this CD) are not based on anything like chord structures but are evolved from the sonic structure of the music and are musings on the source of life. They are based on the concepts of germination and growth. Improvisations: Steve Coleman, Sean Rickman, Gregoire Maret, Shane Endsley 3. The 42 Assessors (February 23, 1999) Personnel: Steve Coleman, Gary Thomas, Ralph Alessi, Shane Endsley, Vijay Iyer, David Gilmore, Anthony Tidd, Sean Rickman, Valerie Coleman, Toyin Spellman, Mariam Adam, Monica Ellis, Jeff Scott, Min Xiao-Fen, Cassandra Wilson, Sophia Wong Notes: Conceptually, this composition is a holdover from a previous CD (The Sonic Language of Myth). Much of this music is conceived without regard to the particular CD it is contained on; the music is part of a continuum. This composition represents the details of the symbolic journey of the Soul in the Dwat (the Kemetic underworld) and is a sonic exposition of one of the many tests the Soul must meet on the road to Light (cosmic knowledge). The compositions "The Gate" and "Seth" from the CD "The Sonic Language of Myth" also represent part of this process. The gong, representing openings and closings, announces the Soul being brought before the presence of the 42 Assessors (judges). The Soul speaks the various names of the Assessors and states what has been called "Negative Confessions," a series of moral declarations stated in the form of "I have not ...," etc. This text is a precursor to the Code of Hammurabi and the Ten Commandments. Far from being a ëconfession of sinsí in the Catholic sense, the various levels of disclosure symbolize the throwing off of obstacles that block the Soulís progress toward further Light. The music is a sonic rendering of this symbolism and the improvisations gradually build as collective statements. The change in mood that occurs at about 12:50 of the composition represents some aspect of the serenity of Light, a reduction of the aforementioned obstacles. Voices: Steve Coleman, Sophia Wong Spoken text: Taken from what is commonly called "The Papyrus of Ani" as contained in the ancient Kemetic text "The Book of Coming Forth By Day" or "The Book of the Master of the Hidden Places." Improvisations: Sean Rickman, Min Xiao-Fen, Cassandra Wilson, Vijay Iyer, Jeff Scott, Ralph Alessi, Anthony Tidd, Steve Coleman, Shane Endsley, Gary Thomas, David Gilmore, Toyin Spellman, Valerie Coleman, Mariam Adam 4. Urban (April 25, 1999) Personnel: Steve Coleman, Shane Endsley, Gregoire Maret, David Gilmore, Anthony Tidd, Sean Rickman Notes: A study of Life as lived in most major cities in the world. Improvisations: Sean Rickman, Shane Endsley, Steve Coleman, Gregoire Maret 5. Instantaneous (June 22 1999) Personnel: Steve Coleman, Gary Thomas, Ralph Alessi, Shane Endsley Notes: A musical conversation celebrating language, a natural discourse. Improvisations: All 6. Obscurity (February 21, 1999) Personnel: Steve Coleman, Gary Thomas, Ralph Alessi, Shane Endsley, Vijay Iyer, David Gilmore, Anthony Tidd, Sean Rickman Notes: The title of this composition is the translated name of one of the personified principles in ancient Kemetic thinking, sometimes called Amon-Amonet. This music forms a sonic image of layers of uncertainty, delusion, false reality and confusion ó obstacles which hinder the ascension to Light. Improvisations: Steve Coleman, Ralph Alessi, Gary Thomas, Vijay Iyer, Shane Endsley, David Gilmore, Sean Rickman, Anthony Tidd 7. Cüd Ba-Rith Redraft (February 23, 1999) Personnel: Steve Coleman, Gary Thomas, Ralph Alessi, Vijay Iyer, David Gilmore, Anthony Tidd, Sean Rickman Notes: A study in form, using a revamped version of an older composition, dealing with a relation of time symbolizing different dimensions as the simultaneous activity of principles of a dual and triune nature. Improvisations: Steve Coleman, Ralph Alessi, Gary Thomas 8. Polarity and Equilibrium in a Fluid (February 22, 1999) Personnel: Steve Coleman, Gary Thomas, Ralph Alessi, Shane Endsley, Vijay Iyer, David Gilmore, Anthony Tidd, Sean Rickman Notes: Study of the balance of forces and displacement in liquid. Improvisations: Steve Coleman, Ralph Alessi, Gary Thomas 9. Treading Water (February 24, 1999) Personnel: Steve Coleman, Gary Thomas, Ralph Alessi, Shane Endsley, Vijay Iyer, David Gilmore, Anthony Tidd, Sean Rickman, Valerie Coleman, Toyin Spellman, Mariam Adam, Monica Ellis, Jeff Scott, Min Xiao-Fen Notes: Study of the flow of water, ever changing in shape, but not quality. This composition flows through a total complex of tonal relationships. Improvising within the form is similar to the saying ëyou can never step into the same river twiceí. Here, water is meant to symbolize the flow of Life. Improvisations: Steve Coleman, Shane Endsley, Gary Thomas, Ralph Alessi, David Gilmore Special thanks to Thomas Goodwin for his help and advice with some of the spiritual/philosophical information that is contained herein. Thanks to Carl Walker and Terence Nicholson for their work in the pre-production of "The 42 Assessors." Much of this music is a continuation of processes that began with the material recorded on the "CD The Sonic Language of Myth". However, without the work done and represented on previous CDs ("Genesis", "The Opening of the Way", etc.) this work would not now be possible. Therefore, the contributions of all of the musicians and other people involved with working on the previous recordings, tours, rehearsals, etc., is greatly appreciated. Steve Coleman (ORIGINAL
LINER NOTES)
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| STEVE
COLEMAN alto saxophone,
clavé, chinese gong, vocals, composer GARY THOMAS tenor saxophone RALPH ALESSI trumpet SHANE ENDSLEY trumpet VIJAY IYER piano DAVID GILMORE guitar ANTHONY TIDD bass SEAN RICKMAN drums GREGOIRE MARET harmonica THOMAS GOODWIN philosophy MIN XIAO-FEN pipa CASSANDRA WILSON vocals SOPHIA WONG vocals Imani Winds personnel: VALERIE COLEMAN flute and piccolo TOYIN SPELLMAN oboe MARIAN ADAM clarinet JEFF SCOTT horn MONICA ELLIS bassoon |
Recording
Engineer Joseph Marciano Assistant Engineers Michael and Nancy Marciano Mixed by Steve Coleman and Joseph Marciano Mastered by Nicholas Prout Recorded at Systems Two Recording Studios, Brooklyn, NY February, April and June 1999 Mixed at Systems Two Recording Studios, Brooklyn, NY April, June and September 1999 Mastered at Foothill Digital, New York, NY on October 1, 1999 All songs composed and arranged by Steve Coleman and published by Goemon Publishing Co. (SESAC / GEMA). Steve Coleman plays Vandoren mouthpieces and reeds. The woodwind quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn) play together as a group called Imani Winds. Producer Steve Coleman Assistant Producer Sophia Wong Information Consultant Tom Goodwin Executive Producer Daniel Baumgarten Overall Project Coordinator Rémi Sommers Cover Photography Caroline Mardok Model on CD booklet Leslie Salmon Cover Design and Layout Rebus Liner Notes Steve Coleman |
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