Towards SilenceA Meditation on the Four States of Atma
Inspired by René Guénon’s Man and his becoming according to Vedanta, Towards Silence was co-commissioned by the Mind Music Spirit Trust following Sir John’s express wish to compose a work involving The Medici String Quartet evoking the different levels of consciousness between life and death. The four movements explore the Waking State, the Dream State, the state of Deep Sleep and ‘That Which Lies Beyond’. Using four string quartets and a Tibetan temple bowl, the piece weaves together the instrumental voices to create an almost mystical appreciation of Silence and Stillness. With the Medici Quartet mentoring the Attaca, Corigliano and Jasper Quartets the work was premièred at the Rubin Museum of Tibetan Art, New York in April 2009. Performances followed in Winchester Cathedral and at the Petworth Festival July where the Medicis were joined by the Harpham, Finzi and Court Lane Quartets. The project will be revived at Guildford Cathedral in October 2009 with further performances to follow.
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