Rande Reed
The Symphony
© 2006 Fountainhead Melodys (634479365942)
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This is pure 70s contemporary progressive art-rock for those who grew up with groups like early Jethro Tull, Kansas, ELP, and Yes.
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Although recorded in 2005-2006, this album actually represents a significant period of time in my past. In 1973/74, I composed (along with other members of my rock band in Milwaukee, WI) a rather ambitious work consisting of multiple movements, all connected by various key signature and timing changes. I was inspired (and “enlightened”) by the groundbreaking Jethro Tull concept album "Thick As A Brick", where the fast moving complex musical sections wound along creating a framework for the esoteric lyrics. Since I had just only written a sufficiently-contemporary tune entitled "Bizarre" (which later appeared on my "Getting A Round Tuit" CD), I was so immersed in the idiom of the intricate nature of that type of composition that it seemed only natural to undertake such a challenge.
After composing dozens of short musical fragments -- in effect, unrelated assortments of various melodies in different keys and unusual time signatures -- I set about connecting them all somehow. My band (at the time) became quite interested in contributing to the work and added several sections, which helped the project grow in different ways. Our drummer captured the focus of the piece and entitled it THE SYMPHONY after weaving a story line around his studies in philosophy. Since he was quite influenced by the philosophy of Existentialism (see the writings of Jean-Paul Sartre, among others) it became the story of seeking the meaning of life. The central figure of the piece explores many different aspects of that timeless question, "Why are we here"? He ultimately comes to realize that the journey to find the purpose of existence – and, indeed, creating your own reality and purpose -- becomes the reason for existence itself! Discovering that simple truth then liberates ones' anxiety and turmoil, and creates an everlasting peace.
In early 2005, I realized that I had some recordings of my old band as we performed this epic adventure. In addition, I discovered that I still had the sheet music for the entire piece, complete with cues and footnotes! The most encouraging thing was that, after listening to it front to back only one time, I actually remembered how to play the entire piece. All the intricacies of the sections became real to me once again. Around the same time, I had just been reunited with the same bass guitarist from my old band -- we discovered that we had been practically neighbors all these missing years! We determined that this work was too good to not see through to its' fruition. And so we set about to keep it from becoming the UNfinished Symphony. In due course I found our original keyboard guy who had moved to California 30 years ago and not only was he still playing, he was eager to join this project!
Just as a classical symphony is a musical work consisting of many different instrumental voices, tones, and timbres all working smoothly together and in harmony, so too are our lives all intertwined as if in one great Symphony of existence. It is up to each of us to determine if we resonate in harmony or dissonance with each other.
Rande Reed, February, 2006