POEMS FOR
ORCHESTRA

AFTER SO MANY YEARS HELPING OTHERS TELL THEIR STORIES WITH MY MUSIC I WANTED TO TELL A FEW OF MY OWN.

"SIT, THEN, AS IF YOU WERE A MOUNTAIN, WITH ALL ITS UNSHAKABLE, STEADFAST MAJESTY. A MOUNTAIN IS COMPLETELY RELAXED AND AT EASE WITH ITSELF, HOWEVER STRONG THE WINDS THAT BATTER IT, HOWEVER THICK THE DARK CLOUDS THAT SWIRL AROUND ITS PEAK. SITTING LIKE A MOUNTAIN, LET YOUR MIND RISE AND FLY AND SOAR." - SOGYAL RINPOCHE

RADHA

PURE UNCHANGING AWARENESS, IN THE FORM OF KRISHNA, LOVED TO VISIT THE WORLD TO BE ENCHANTED BY THE MAIDEN RADHA, THE EMBODIMENT OF SENSATION AND PERCEPTION.  

SHE WOULD BECKON AND HE WOULD DRAW NEAR, LOSING HIMSELF IN HER BEAUTY, THEN RETREATING BACK TO REST IN HIS NATURE.

THEIR COURTSHIP BECAME A DANCE, WALTZING AS IF IN A DREAM THROUGH ALL FORMS OF PHENOMENA, SOFT AND BEAUTIFUL, UGLY AND BRASH, EVER UNDULATING BETWEEN UNION AND REPOSE, INSPIRATION AND EXPIRATION, UNTIL THE SEDUCTION WAS CONSUMMATED.  THEIR CHILD WAS NAMED PADHA.

"ETERNITY IS IN LOVE WITH THE CREATIONS OF TIME." - WILLIAM BLAKE

AESCHYLUS

"HE WHO LEARNS MUST SUFFER. AND EVEN IN OUR SLEEP PAIN THAT CANNOT FORGET FALLS DROP BY DROP UPON THE HEART, AND IN OUR OWN DESPAIR, AGAINST OUR WILL, COMES WISDOM TO US BY THE AWFUL GRACE OF GOD." - AGAMEMNON, AESCHYLUS.

THE CITY OF PRAGUE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

CONDUCTED BY CHARLES SYDNOR

CONCERTMASTER:  LUCIE SVEHLOVA

RECORDED AT SMECKY MUSIC STUDIO, PRAGUE AUGUST 20

RECORDING ENGINEER: JAN HOLZNER

ORCHESTRAL CONTRACTOR AND SESSION SUPERVISION:  JAMES FITZPATRICK FOR TADLOW MUSIC

DEDICATED TO THE ARTISTRY AND LOVING MEMORY OF CARITA KING SYDNOR

SPECIAL THANKS TO JACK SMALLEY