Biosphere - The theme of Biosphere is that we truly live in the one and only biosphere known to exist in our (humankinds) universe and to pay homage to it's creation and elements. The tunes are derived from a variety of sources of inspiration or musings. The CD is intended to provide the listener with relaxation as well as reflection and conveyance of spirituality. Message and/or inspiration behind the individual songs: Aurora - I chose the title because I wanted to reflect the dawning of time and perhaps the universe itself. The title also doubles as the opening/dawning passage of music for the collection of songs. Earth and Stars - I wanted something orchestral and grandiose to indicate that we are part of a very large and greater whole. I was going for a reflective mood and I hoped to accomplish that with the strings and synthesizers. The classical repeating theme is intended to convey the vastness beyond our small known existence. Genesis - The creation or beginning as far as man is concerned. The big bang at the beginning of the song symbolizes the beginning of life on earth. The low droning synthesizers represent deep sounds emanating from the sea and perhaps dinosaurs roaming forests. The song evolves through many stages including rhythms and the sound of angels voices at about a minute and a half into the piece. At about 2:50, the bird sounds reflect avian life. The voices at the end of the piece, perhaps at a train station, are a representation of man and our modern day life. Space and Time - who kept time a million or billion years ago? This is essentially what I was trying to express here, the timelessness of our existence. The opening tones reflect a repetitive gong or deep chime that counts out a beat. As the song evolves, around the middle, it sounds like someone keeping or counting time with a rhythmic repeating theme. The synthesized sounds are designed to create a sense of space. Ocean's Edge - The sounds of the surf and birds offer peace and tranquility and represent the sheer beauty of the ocean itself. The waters are life giving and without which we would not be here. So this is a tune designed to pay homage to a major source of life itself. Pura Vida - Literally this term is Spanish for Pure Life and is used liberally in Costa Rica for example as a positive greeting and message. It can also be considered a synonym of 'hakuna matata'......life is wonderful so enjoy and celebrate our existence on this beautiful planet! Rain Prayer - Just because the oceans are a major part of earth, man needed freshwater and rain waters to survive. This song is a rain dance and is a throwback to Native American Indians with chanting and howling and whistling, pleading for rain from the God or gods in whom they trusted would provide it. This piece is somewhat more geographic than many of the other pieces on this CD but I felt inspired to include it. Red Rocks Monsoon - Imagine yourself out in the desert canyons or among the red rocks and the rain is coming through, perhaps the beginnings of a much needed monsoon as they call it in the Sonoran Desert . You are out in it and lapping up every minute of it. The harmonica offers a humble thank you for the storms. This could be considered the song that answers the prayer of the previous song. River to Ride - This song I originally wrote in 1973 and with the creation of Biosphere I found use for it, revisiting it after 40 years. It is as much the message of the song than the song itself..........rivers were a lifeblood for those living inland and without which transportation, commerce, you name it, would not have existed for many years. Progress of Man - Toiling, plodding, building......man through his own inventions uses and misuses our earth's resources, constantly pushing forward, not without significant effort. Machines take over much of the work as represented by many of the sounds on this track. Given our forward progress and growing intelligence, can we protect our earth or not? Musica Consilio - Consilio is Latin for: intentionally, on purpose, designed
