SOUL EMANATIONS OF A GREAT ONE

1983

STAR PEACE

1986

“Soul Emanations of a Great ONE” was the original title for this audio-visual piece utilising the beautiful paintings of Nicholas Roerich (see below) alongside of my own music. It was first performed at St. James Church, Piccadilly, London, on Thursday 3^rd of March 1983. "Monastery of Caves" was also performed that evening featuring the artwork of Roy Bowden. Soul Emanations of a Great ONE was subsequently recorded in January of 1986 during The White Temple recording sessions in two versions, the first of which was a ‘library’ album, where each one of the twelve parts was recorded separately - with two extra ‘alternative’ tracks being pre-‘over-dub’ versions of Mohammed on Mount Hira (Virgo) and From Beyond (Libra) – and released by EMI as ‘Temple of the Stars’. This version, minus the two extra tracks, was then released commercially as ZODIAC on the American label Celestial Harmonies. However, the piece was originally conceived of as running continuously with each section flowing uninterruptedly straight into the next and was recorded in this form directly after the ‘library’ version and eventually released as STAR PEACE.

The project consisted of approaching the Signs of the Zodiac conceived of as a total Whole – each sign blending with those signs on either side of it and making a complete Circle / Cycle of evolutionary experience – not as 12 separate isolated signs as is so often the case. This also stems from my work as a Spiritual Astrologer (for more on this subject click HERE). Furthermore, I wished to link a painting by the Russian artist Nicholas Roerich (1874 – 1947) to each of the 12 Signs of the Zodiac. It was hoped that slides of these paintings could be sold with the cassette but this was not to be. However, through the medium of modern technology, it is now possible for those interested to view these paintings – perhaps ideally whilst listening to the music. Those wishing to view more of Roerich’s paintings may choose to visit the online collection section of the website for The Nicholas Roerich Museum, New York. The significance of each painting (derived from its title, etc) was also considered whilst the music sought to reflect the various qualities of the paintings (colours, dynamics, etc) whilst keeping an eye on the total Whole of the piece and the astrological context.

(Portrait of Nicholas Roerich above by Svetoslav Roerich).

Soul Emanations of a Great ONE.

Aries. Agni Yoga, the Yoga of Fire.

The entire Zodiac cycle begins with this sign of Fire - Aries. To the ancients fire symbolised Divine Love. So it is then, that Love creates all things. If our love is perfect, then that which we create may reach perfection. Everything that we experience comes as a result of the quality of our love. So let us work upon this creative Fire in order to raise the vibrations of All.

Tinkling miniature bells, the striking of sound-plates made by the composer, and Burmese meditation gongs, or Kyeezees, introduce the tolling of a large Japanese resting bell, or kei, and a Ming Dynasty Chinese temple bell over 400 years old. The Kyeezees continue later in the piece.

For more on Agni Yoga click HERE.

Taurus. It is said that the Buddha was born, achieved enlightenment, and also died at the time of the Full Moon in Taurus.

In the Hierarchy this Full Moon ceremony takes place at what is known as the time of the Wesak festival.

The full title of this painting is:

“Buddha the Conqueror before the spring of life.” From the ‘Banners of the East’ Series. 1924.

The gentle striking of a symphonic tuned gong (Paiste* - tuned to the sign Taurus according to Frank) is followed by the rich chordal sound of kei resting bells accentuated by high Tibetan cymbals, Ting-shag. Finally, singing bowls which have not been made for 200 years – are struck and their harmonic tones are accentuated by ululating – an ancient Tibetan technique in which the mouth cavity is used to vary the sound. The sound is blended with that of high Petalumines, or petal-discs, created by the composer.

*Frank Perry plays Paiste symphonic gongs tuned & un-tuned and sound-discs (which he has adapted as Planicerv).

Gemini. This is the very last painting that Nicholas Roerich was working upon at the time of his passing into the world of spirit in 1947. Mercury the ‘winged messenger’ rules Gemini and here we see such a ‘winged messenger’ approaching a figure seated in meditation.

This is also dedicated to White Eagle’s medium Grace Cooke who was herself a Sun Gemini.

An impressive rising chord is created by the striking of the Petalumines, petal-discs, completed by ululating singing bowls. Above the slowly fading chord of Petalumines emerges the stroking of a rare and ancient Tibetan whistling bowl with hoomi harmonic chanting in the expansive temple acoustics.

For more on The White Eagle Lodge click HERE.

Cancer is the sign of the Great Mother and so seems most appropriate to place this painting here.

With the great Mother energy we associate unconditional love; that eternal ‘home’ of the spirit. Cancer is said to rule the home.

In the background of the painting are the two constellations of Orion and the Great Bear with the planet Venus placed directly above the head of the Great Mother.

It will further be noticed that each star is constituted of a seated figure in meditation – truly we are all children within the One Family of the Cosmic Mother within her Indigo Robe of the midnight sky within the ‘Womb of Space’.

Bamboo, stone, and shell chimes with small bells introduce the gentle striking of resting bells and gongs, beginning high and progressively lowering in pitch, accentuated by small Tibetan cymbals, Ting-shag. Two notes on a deep tuned gong (Cancer - Paiste) signify the end of the piece.

The sign of Leo is ruled by the Sun, whilst this source of light for our solar system may serve as metaphor for that greater Light of the Spiritual Sun/Son – the Cosmic Christ – the Great White Light.

Interestingly, the building in which this piece was recorded (the ‘White Temple’ of The White Eagle Lodge) very closely resembles that depicted in this painting which, curiously enough, was painted 50 years before the building of the temple and 50 years after Roerich’s birth. *

Signs of Christ comes from the ‘Banners of the East’ Series. 1924, whilst it also depicts a passage from the book Agni Yoga.

A deep gong note introduces the rubbing of a medium-pitched Tibetan hand bell, or Drilbu, accentuated by the striking of rising Petalumine. The music fades and is followed by bowed Planicerv – small sound-discs (Paiste) producing very high harmonics which slowly fade in and out as each disc is played.

* However, the White Eagle Lodge knew nothing of this painting but was directed from the world of spirit as to the design of its White Temple.

To listen to a short extract of this track click HERE

Within Holistic Astrology Virgo comes at the critical half-way transition point between the lower and upper hemispheres - the realm of self and that of Other. Whilst, according to the esoteric astrology of DK (through Alice Bailey), the esoteric ruler of Virgo is the Moon. The Moon is also related to the Archangel Gabriel who is said to have visited the Prophet Mohammed – as depicted in this painting. The music reflects this communion with a higher realm of spirit. The full title is: -

Mohammed upon Mount Hira (the message of the Archangel Gabriel).

‘Banners of the Easter’ Series. 1924.

An ocean of gong harmonics and rolling cymbals rises and falls and is eventually joined by the stroking of an extremely powerful high-pitched Tibetan singing bowl – called a panic bowl and used for Tibetan exorcisms – which gradually fades back under the gongs which are joined at the end by a chord of Petalumines.

Libra is the sign of Balance, as also of harmony and the cosmic law of equilibrium. We may consider that our life here upon the physical plane of matter is ‘balanced’ or otherwise harmonised by the world of Spirit.

Roerich himself was born under this sign of Libra – the glyph of which resembles a bridge. Roerich dedicated himself to building a ‘bridge’ of Beauty through which humanity may approach the subtle realms.

As the chord of Petalumines and gongs fades we hear the tolling of a medium-pitched tuned gong (Libra - Paiste) joined by a long, breathy flute in harmonic series, rising and falling in pitch, from an end-blown four foot bamboo flute made by the composer.

In some astrological schools, Scorpio is a sign with three symbols - representative of three phases – the snake, the scorpion, and the eagle. In Tibet the water spirits are represented by the Nagas. Here we see Nagarjuna before such a ‘king of the serpents’.

The painting's full title is: -

Nagarjuna, Conqueror of the Serpent, beholding upon the lake the vision of the Ruler of the Nagi. Part of the ‘Banners of the East’ Series 1924.

“The bold Nagarjuna reaped wisdom on Lake Yum Tso from his discourses with Nagi, “King of Serpents.”” Roerich - Altai Himalaya.

With the kind permission of Roerich Museum New York.

A majestic, 5 beat rhythmic pattern of very deep symphonic gongs, both tuned and un-tuned (Paiste), which rises slowly to a climax and then dies away again into the silence.

Sagittarius is traditionally half man and half horse symbolising the two aspects of Man’s nature: the lower, animal self, and the Higher Man (from the Sanskrit ‘manas’ – thinking-consciousness) – the higher mind.

For me, this painting symbolises a communication from the higher Self, or perhaps from one of the brotherhood, received as in a vision.

From the series: ‘Banners of the East’, this painting depicts a legend from the Altai that Roerich encountered upon his travels in the East as found in his book Altai Himalaya.

A passage of bowed Planicerv and adapted Tibetan bells in an eerie, rising and falling high-pitched sequence of notes and chords, which gently fade in and out. Each tuned sound disc (Paiste) of the Planicerv is attuned to one of the seven planets and the twice-repeated melody that begins this piece is based upon the planetary exaltation cycle beginning with the disc attuned to the Sun.

Capricorn coming, as it does, at the time of the Winter Solstice, celebrates the re-birth of the Great White Light.

In this painting (titled Burning of Darkness) we see a casket radiating Light carried in a procession of white-robed figures at the head of which are a small group of mahatmas. This is taking place high up in the mountains – the goat is a symbol of Capricorn and likewise lives in the mountains.

A slow, stately, rhythmic procession of gongs, featuring the deep, evocative tolling of an ancient horizontal Chinese gong.

Aquarius is a part of the three Air signs and these can be related to the three arts. When this is the case, Aquarius links with Music. Here we see Lord Krishna, the Hindu Lord of Love, playing his flute and we meditate upon the seven notes of his flute being the seven great Rays upon the One breath of the Creator. In other words symbolic of the ideal of The Brotherhood of Man, which naturally arises from communion within the Cosmic Fire of the Divine Heart.

This section begins with a rising and falling sequence upon a selection of Chinese struck bells (Buddha gongs). Transforming into faster seven-note ‘melodies’ of medium-pitched Chinese and Japanese bell trees, which increase in speed with varying rhythmic patterns. Deeper bells are introduced towards the end allowing the music to slow down preparing the way for the final track.

The planet Venus exalts in the sign of Pisces where it is said to represent this perfect love of Compassion for all living beings.

To the ancients, this great Love was represented as a Fire – the Fire of Spirit – and so we reach the end of the Cycle that is yet a new beginning as that great Fire of Divine Love finds its manifestation through Agni Yoga – the yoga of fire.

Nicholas Roerich’s wife, Helena Roerich, wrote many volumes of books on the Agni Yoga teachings. For more details regarding Agni Yoga, check out The Nicholas Roerich Museum Agni Yoga section.

After the strong rhythmical activity of the previous piece, we have a slow, gentle sequence of bells, featuring 400 year old Japanese Densho temple bells. Gradually, there is a transition to small strings of bells with underlying sound plates and Kyeezees which die away under the tinkling bells and we find that we have arrived back at those sounds with which the entire piece began. The cycle of this circle has been completed.

Special thanks to the Roerich Museum, New York, and particularly to the Director Daniel Entin for kind permission to reproduce these 12 paintings on this website. They have their own website (click on the word website on left) where you may view hundreds more Roerich paintings. On their website simply click on Online Collection and work your way through an Alphabetical list of Roerich's paintings.

I have also created other audio-visuals featuring these wonderful paintings by Nicholas Roerich. However, these contain far more slides than can be accommodated here.

Public events are arranged by The New Forest Nicholas Roerich Group and other groups to which I am invited where these audio-visual programmes can be viewed.

For those interested these slide shows are: -

· THE LEGEND OF SHAMBHALA.

· ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS.

· REALM OF LIGHT.

· LAND OF THE SHINING ONES.

· RIVER OF LIGHT.

Featuring the music of contemporary American composer Alan Hovhaness (1911 - )

And those Featuring my own music: -

· TREASURE OF THE MOUNTAINS.

· SHAMBHALA DAIK.

· ZODIAC. (Soul Emanations of a Great One)

· HIMALAYAS - ABODE OF LIGHT.

· LOST TREASURE OF THE CATHARS.

© Frank Perry, 1983. All of these articles are copyright. They may individually be copied and shared with others in a spirit of knowledge-sharing and fair play, but they may not be sold, printed or reproduced in quantity or changed in form without the permission of the copyright holder. None of this material may be reproduced in workshops or lectures of any kind unless quotes are credited or properly attributed.

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