Michael
Hotltzclaw 22 May 2005 Daily Press Article
Michael
Hotltzclaw 11 Sep 2005 Daily Press Article
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KAKEHASHI: That We Might Live, A Documentary in MusicDescriptionRemember the Future... for Truth is Timeless. Our bridge to the Future is a place THAT WE MIGHT LIVE, a finally-fulfilled destiny beyond the Past, a new world born of facing our mutual and unfortunate Pasts with Hope, of forgiveness, of Love and Freedom. Such is the Home, then, now and always, that all of us have longed for. The Japanese concept of "Kakehashi" refers to a this bridge of Hope, of Friendship, of our mutual overcoming of the Past. KAKEHASHI: That We Might Live, A Documentary in Music is made complete by an historically accurate, pre-recorded CD of authentic radio & musical clips from World War II, excerpts and lyrics of which are pertinent to events in the Pacific. In fact, 70 Copyrights were purchased in order to recreate the Past, firstly inspired by the Survivors of the Conflict in the Philippines, and now... in this more Universal telling of the story, the perspective of the Home-longing Japanese and the Innocent Souls lost in the destructive conclusion of World War II, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The connective thread? HOME. At the conclusion, we hear 2 arrangements. God Bless America, the key words of which are "Home Sweet Home", and then Furusato, which means... "My Home". Furusato, becomes the connective conclusion. Home, Home Sweet Home, Heimat. To complete the international flavor of this Universal Version, Furusato is brought to us by Thomas Rundel of Germany. And it was in Germany that the first inspiration for a piece about HOME began. This concept of Home is explored in the connected and further concluding piece: JIDAI. It is the idea of Home, of HEIMAT. This large scale, but accessible work utilizes a large chorus, the extended instrumentation of Band of the 3rd Millennium as described in the "storm" works, theatrical reenactments, comparable to David and Ahab!, and a disk of prerecorded Radio Broadcasts, songs, morse code clips and more from the period. This prerecorded CD will "accompany" the ensemble in the same manner as was premiered and demonstrated in The Universe Below. This new and evolved work, KAKEHASHI: That We Might Live, A Documentary in Music is inspired by the Leadrship and Vision of The Japan Air Self Defense Force Band who bravely recorded this work for the Chapter 5:8 CD Set: WRITINGS on the WALL. Here now, to better sum the special Gift of the Japanese, please enjoy my opening comments for the Chapter 5:8 CD Set:
This piece is from the STORMWORKS... Chapter V∞ CD. Please also read: That We Might Live... by Grace C. Nash. I did not know this book existed until long after writing both THAT WE MIGHT LIVE and KAKEHASHI: That We Might Live. And the SYNC? It's enormous!
Testimonials"Steve, words cannot express the soaring emotions which one experiences when hearing this monumental work. You deserve the Medal of Freedom for this piece of patriotism, especially for your success in having the spirited cooperation of a once-despised and brutal enemy. I salute you, Sir!" -Joseph R. Priestley, LCDR, USN (Ret.) Served in WWII, Korea & Vietnam "Stephen's new CD, Chapter 5:8 "Writings on the Wall" is indeed a historic groundbreaking album and a total artistic triumph. The Japanese military band and American voices superbly deliver a phenomenal performance of music that is at once gripping and spellbinding! From the moving mega work Kakehashi to the great uplifting rendition of God Bless America this double CD set is packed with masterworks. Cuba skillfully weaves music which creates two distinct atmospheres - one of the fun party nature of Tropicana - like casinos and the other of the oppression of the island's present dictatorial regime. Melillo migrates back and forth between these two moods with absolute musical mastery and with the full command of all his instrumental resources. The Violin Concerto, on the other hand, symbolizes the utmost in modern Romanticism. It is an outstanding expressive work which puts the violin through a myriad of expressive and technical paths. Bravo to Melillo on this fantastic achievement!" -Aldo Rafael Forte, Composer "Stephen, Thank you so much for sending us the CD Chapter 5:8 Writings on the Wall... That was incredibly kind of you... After that phenomenal experience with our son playing in your New York Conference All-State Band last month in Rochester, I started listening to the other tracks on Wait of the World, A Walk on the Water and now the most powerful and epic Writings on the Wall... (That work is musical theatre in the truest sense!) I have to tell you that in as much as we enjoyed the very dramatic pieces that were played at all-state, I discovered that there are also dozens of other exquisite pieces in these three compilations... As a matter of fact, I want to order the whole Stormworks series! The more I hear the music, the more I hear it! It is beyond awesome!!! In this music, I hear a rare spirituality that has awakened me in a profound way. There is a soulful, poignancy in all of the melodies - an unfulfillable longing that leaves me breathless in its incredible beauty. The music is like a journey... It is a parallel to life... You never know what's coming next or when you will suddenly find yourself at the edge of the precipice...or at the gates of Heaven... It is all fresh, original and full of hope, glory, pain, sorrow, joy - all of the elements of life! You have made me a Stephen Melillo fan for life! I can't wait to hear what's coming next!!! All best wishes," -Laurel Bern - "band mom", dancer and music lover |
