Music
from Indra Thiagarajah's stunning contemporary dance 'Twilight Tempest' Home |
News |
Composing |
Education work |
Writing |
Biography |
Contact/links |
Music
from Indra Thiagarajah's stunning contemporary dance 'Twilight Tempest'
| Moragh Brooksbank, Maryam Best; Vocals Silbert Morris, Henry Miller; Djembe, Kumina Drums Elizabeth Hall; Xylophone, Gyile (Ghanaian Xylophone), Djembe, Stick Christopher Best; Marimba, Glass, Voices, Sequencing, Sampling Charlotte Stock, Andrew Jones, Anna Clark; Strings Peter Bernard; Trumpet Madeleine Bischof; Contrabass Flute Leo Bachmann; Contrabass Tuba With members of the Dartington College of Arts Balinese Gamelan orchestra led by Saj Heming Recording engineered by Christopher Best |
Track listing:
1] Spirits of Yamalya
Yamalya is the mythological realm of the spirits of the dead, ruled
over by Yama God of Death. The spirits have no physical embodiment and serve
partly as messengers; dragging the dead before Yama's throne to receive divine
judgment.
2] Gyile Song
Savitri, a young Princess, sings to her husband Satyavan a song of love and
happiness. Savitri however bears a terrible secret, for it has been foretold
that Satyavan will die within the year.
3] The Veiling (listen)
The prophesied death of Satyavan.
4] Last Chorus
The mortal world is angered and embittered that such perfect love should have
been denied. Savitri determines to win back Satyavan from Yama's grasp.
5] Yama's Kingdom
Yama surveys his domain and watches over the turmoil below. Ever the 'restrainer'
- keeping mankind in check - he remains unmoved by their pleas and protests.
6] Processional
Amidst high ceremony, Satyavan's body is carried to its place of rest.
7] Mortal Love
Savitri swoons over the body, re-living memories of spiritual and sexual ecstasy.
8] Wake Dances (Kumina, Pacha,
Yanvalu) (listen)
Savitri's reverie is broken by preparations for Satyavan's wake. To the pounding
rhythms of the Kumina drums, she transforms into 'Queenie', Priestess of the
Wake Dance. Astride the mortal and immortal worlds, she is able to seduce and
entrap Yama, thereby tricking him into a promise which demands the return of
Satyavan to the living world.
9] The Unveiling
Satyavan is miraculously revived.
10] The Deceit
As he attempts to consummate their union, Yama is betrayed by Savitri, leaving
him heart-broken and incensed. Savitri and Satyavan are re-united, destined
to live happily together for 400 years.
11] A Fire Ritual (Agna Ayahi Vitaye)
(listen)
With Yamalya in turmoil over Savitri's deceit, Yama invokes the Mantra 'Agna
Ayahi Vitaye', cleansing the world by ritual fire and restoring divine order.