The Dance of Love and Time
We fear time, thinking that it limits us and steals all that we love.
We also fear love, believing it will take what we need for ourselves.
But the long dance of love and time is the inner story of all our lives.
What are we if not love wrapped in time and cast into space?
This album is dedicated to my sister-in-law Dorothy Blythe Lloyd
Frostick, who died unexpectedly, and far too young, on January 16,
2005.
When on Waves arrived about two weeks before this, and I include it as an overture, or opening prayer, because it seems like an introduction to a wider state of mind. The rest of the album appeared at one sitting, the day after Dorothy died. This was my way of saying goodbye to her, and wishing her well on her journey beyond our vision. I sat down for an hour and played for her, and this is exactly what came out, with nothing added or removed.
Of course, I cleaned it up some, divided it into songs, named them, and later rendered the MIDI recording again using better piano sounds than I originally had available. The piano sound in this version of the album is by a wonderful VSTi program named Synthogy Ivory. [web site]
New version – January, 2009
Subjected to a more detailed cleanup to improve the musical clarity and beauty, especially in the "Love Ascending" tracks, which I think really deserved the extra attention. Rendered again and MP3-encoded at 192 rather than 128 kbps. There might be one more version to adjust the reverb a bit.
A physical CD should be available soon. Meanwhile I suggest that you not buy the old MP3 version linked to below, until I get a chance to update it. Please contact me by email if you really want a copy now.
Purchase Album (old version)
Song 1: When on Waves
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 6:49
A plaintive and contemplative interplay of oboe and piano.
How this song came to be ...
I got out of bed at night after reading Rumi, thinking to finish the poem "when on waves", whose last line has eluded me for years. This music came to me instead. Here is the poem, with this year's version of the last line. Or maybe it just doesn't want a last line at all...
when
on waves
of endless
causes i ride
no wave my own but
no wave not my dear child
the unceasing change my seat
the vast love my compass and guide
the untold openness my clear sky
the ever presence my soul's constant wind
right here, an endless song of sure liberty
(© Bruce Frostick)
Song 2: Songs of a Happy Home I
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 5:16
Piano and cello.
Song 3: Songs of a Happy Home II
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 2:01
Piano solo.
Song 4: Songs of a Happy Home III
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 4:42
Piano solo.
Song 5: Deepening Textures I
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 0:52
Guitar solo.
Song 6: Deepening Textures II
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 6:45
Guitars, piano, harp.
Song 7: Deepening Textures III
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 1:21
Organ solo.
Song 8: Deepening Textures IV
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 5:47
Clarinet, sax, organ, strings.
Song 9: Dances with Winds I
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 4:59
Piano and flute.
Song 10: Dances with Winds II
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 6:48
Piano and oboe.
Song 11: Threshold of Newness I
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 1:49
Piano solo.
Song 12: Threshold of Newness II
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 2:01
Piano solo.
Song 13: Love Ascending I (Love You Always)
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 5:49
Piano solo.
Song 14: Love Ascending II (Fly Away)
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 5:43
Piano and flute.
Song 15: Love Ascending III (Left Behind)
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 1:50
Piano solo.
Song 16: Love Ascending IV (Here Is There)
Artist: Bruce Frostick
Time: 5:25
Piano and organ.
