‘The Prayer Cycle’ by Jonathan Elias is a choral symphony in 9 parts where various prayers/poems are sung by different known and unknown musicians. Names include Alanis Morissette who sings in French and Hungarian, James Taylor and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, to name just a few.
The prayers/poems are included in the booklet and the theme of the album touches upon nuclear weapons and the affect they have upon the world. This may sound bleak to some people, but this is a deep, moving album and it is also an album of staggering beauty that never fails to take my breath away.
The blend of choral and solo voices with the orchestra is perfect (there is no other description) and the raw, emotive vocals that Morissette brings sits alongside the plaintive, penetrating singing of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and the whole thing becomes a stirring experience.
The first time I listened to this album I read the poems at the same time and it was an incredible, memorable event. My spirit was affected by the music I heard in my ears and my mind and thoughts were overwhelmed with the imagery and emotions given in the words. It was, and still is, a powerful experience.
There is a second album in this series called ‘The Prayer Cycle:Path to Zero’ and this also has some well known vocalists who add their talents to the piece. It has similar themes and it is a good album and is as moving in places, but the original album has a depth and power to it that I will never tire of.
I was recently able to pass on the pleasure this album has given me when a colleague at work heard me playing it and remarked at how beautiful it was. I bought him a copy of the album that evening and I am so happy to pass on something that has affected me so deeply and share something that has now become a part of my life with him. It sounds melodramatic when you put it that way, but music (some more than others) has the ability to make you feel that way. I guess I just need to thank my brother for introducing me to something so profound and beautiful and sharing this music with me.
http://www.globalzero.org/ (The organisation Elias supports and tries to highlight with his Prayer Cycle albums).
This sounds as if I would love it. I am so proud that you chose me to point it out to...I don't think you know that I have a bead book called Beading for the Soul that I have treasured for years. I think that many people drift through life not quite grasping how amazing it is. I think that there is way too much sentimentality and way too little real feeling--possibly out of a sense of fear? What is there to fear. I have been driven, since I was a child, to find out everything I can about everything I could possibly want to know and wonder about. I am so grateful to you for writing about this album. I know, because you wrote this, that the experience of listening to this is going to be incredibly moving. Thank you, Spider Monkey, and your brother as well.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely and honest piece of writing. Great to see the blog back!
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