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Songs of the Thirsty Sword: Song 3

from Voluptuous: Works for Solo Piano by Nicholas Chase

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Songs of the Thirsty Sword (For Lucky Mosko)
(2008)
In 2001 my mentor and close friend, composer Stephen "Lucky" Mosko gave me a book entitled: The Thirsty Sword: Sirat Antar and the Arabic Popular Epic. It was a literary analysis of the great poems of Antar, figure of Syrian folklore, a half-black slave who wins his individual freedom and eventually the hand of his beloved Abla through feats of stone-hearted bravery and incorrigible strength. Early in the stories, which number about 300 in episodes, Antar acquires a mystical sword called Djami, purportedly forged of a thunder-bolt. With Djami in hand, Antar slays not only enemies, but entire armies, the stuff on which his legends are built.

Texts about Djami are not mild: "... the sword Djami, at whose edge flow the waves of death..." and "... Djami played among them, causing the heads of warriors to fly through the air like balls, and scattering their limbs like the leaves of trees," typify the imagery describing the mythical object.

Simple note groupings with the indications "softly, patiently, gently, freely" form the material of the four songs. The concert version integrates 4-channel electronic enhancements that extend the acoustic space of the piano to envelope the audience. Additionally, an animated film is projected across the performance area generating an undulating environment of light through close-up explorations of insects.

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from Voluptuous: Works for Solo Piano, released July 8, 2014
Nicholas Chase - composer, performer

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Nicholas Chase

Chase distills his Syrian heritage, Indian raga & Early Music into “refined classical minimalism” (Vital Weekly, NL). Described as “liquid and sensual” (Kathodik, IT) & “expansive, exploratory & mischievous” (Eugene Weekly), his music has been highlighted on Hearts of Space & Other Minds radios, KMHT TV, NY, Salve Television, DE & noted in Strad, Double Bassist, & American Record Guide magazines. ... more

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