The Turning World (1999)

This is a spiritual piece for voice & ensemble with a positive message written after a period of mourning. It is in one continuous movement lasting 12 minutes. There are 5 sections – a slow introduction; a faster section at ‘house or trance’ tempo; a slow middle section; a flowing section in 5/4; & a return to the opening idea.

The unifying image of the piece is that of the world turning in relation to the sun (the passing of one day), and the associated moods of daytime, sunset, night, sunrise. Unusual sounds from the Novation Nova conjure up images of space.

For those of you who are interested in how the music is structured, the harmony, tempo and metre of each section is suggested by the frequency of each of the 3 notes of an A major chord (the piece is in A major).

Hence whilst the opening is free (space), the 2nd section (daytime) has a repeated a, and is in 4/4 at 135 bpm. Section 3 (sunset) has a repeated e, and is predominantly in 3/2 at 102 bpm. Section 4 (night) [which is featured in this extract] repeats c# and is in 5/4 at 168 bpm. The final section (sun-rise dissolving into space) returns to a, 4/4 and 135 bpm.

This recording is taken from a recent performance - I'd like to thank the vocalists Richard Green, Claire Stallwood and Karen Smithson.

The turning world

You know these words are true
The sun shines down on you
The light will guide you through
You know
These words
Are true

The sun may set…

At night your heart will guide you
Let light and love surround you
The prayer you speak will heal you
Again the sun will warm you

And if you hold this true
The sun will shine on you
The light will guide you through

And the world will then seem new

You know
These words
Are true

© Jonathan Parry 1999