Publisher's no.: Loft Recordings: LRCD 1005--LRCD 1007 (on container: LRCD 1005/06/07). Organ pieces, organ and synthesizer duets, organ and pre-recorded organ duets linked by added narration to form a larger work or "series". Some of the pieces were composed independently; others were composed specifically for this "series". Robert Bates, organ; Alan Wiemann, narrator. Recorded at Stanford University, Jan. 23-28, 2000. Compact discs. Program notes (20 pages : illustrations) by Robert Bates, with biographicl notes on the performers and specifications of the organs ast Stanford University, and audience scores (14 pages : illustrations) for Orpheus and the winged creatures, Charon's oar, and Hades' realm inserted in container.
Contents:
CD 1: Part 1. The universe within : a journey of the mind. Prelude I: Trivium : part 1 (2:08) ; Pythagoras: Annum per annum = Year by year (10:25) / Arvo Pärt -- Heraclitus: Orpheus and the winged creatures / Robert Bates (6:34) -- The philosophers of Miletus: Hyperion. Les feux du silence = The fires of silence / Jean Guillou (5:17) -- Democritus: Ricercare / György Ligeti (5:05) -- Plato: Le jardin suspendu = The suspended garden / Jehan Alain (6:56) -- Plotinus: Birthday tribute / Bates (9:11) -- CD 2: Part 2. Contact : a journey of the body. Prelude II: Trivium : part 2 / Arvo Pärt (2:07) -- Beginning of the universe: Zwei Etüden für Orgel. Coulée = Flow / Ligeti (5:38) -- The stars: Sept méditations sur le Saint-Esprit. Lumière = Light / Jeanne Demessieux (4:19) -- Emergence of life: Coalescence (15:27) ; The Cambrian explosion: Gavotte primitive (5:38) / Bates -- Creatures of land and air: Messe de la Pentecôte. Les oiseaux et les sources = The birds and the springs / Messiaen (6:54) -- Fool, fool: Ikarus (Saga No. 6) / Guillou (6:01) -- Worlds beyond: Time machine / Bates (8:46) -- Harmony of the universe: Zwei Etüden für Orgel. Harmonies / Ligeti (9:49) -- CD 3: Part 3. Life after life : a journey of the soul. Prelude III: Trivium : part 3 / Arvo Pärt (2:09) -- Cortege and descent: Trois danses. Danse funèbre = Funeral dance / Alain (13:46) -- Journey to the other side: Charon's oar (5:32) ; Entry: Hades' realm (3:46) ; Trial: Last judgment (9:03) / Bates -- Ascent to the light: Ascent / Joan Tower (8:10) -- Release: Three pieces for organ. In Paradisium / Calvin Hampton (4:51) -- Journey's end: Trivium : complete / Pärt (8:32).
Summary:
"Viaticum takes us on three journeys: of the mind, of the body, and of the soul. During each journey, we seek an answer to the same question: 'What is the nature of the universe?' Three answers are given: one by the voice of philosophy, another by the voice of science, and the last by the voice of religion"--Program notes, p. 5.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.