"The End of the Beginning"
The Phoenix Bird when living, had no voice,
(Yet) when death approached, it's melody was heard;
And because the Bird, was left without a choice,
To live again, my eyes and ears could not abide the Bird's farewell
The end, in fire and flame
and wait, wait 'til it lives again;
Now see and hear that it returns,
the Phoenix Bird is here with us...at last.
Revised Portions Copyright March 2003
Full Version Copyright 1977-2003. All Rights Reserved.
The Phoenix Bird
An Experimental Sensory Symphony in 4 Parts
The 4 Inclusions (or Movements) of the Multi-Sensory Symphony depict the story of the Phoenix Bird, using richly expanded communication techniques – including word descriptions, musical themes, and aspects of Special Kinetic, Sound, Light and other Sensory Effects. This will allow an unusually broad range of audience participants to receive the performance on many levels simultaneously. The dramatic implications are that these special applications of Creative Expressionism --which emphasize an increased focus on accessibility-- can go beyond all previous considerations of natural limitations for appreciation of Story Telling and the Arts. In addition, it will demonstrate that it is possible to dramatically enlarge the scope of audience interactivity with the meaningful physical events of the story, in such a way that the experience transcends normal interpretations of perception.
Each Inclusion has its own main theme of music, color, element, scent, and improvised performance art, which will parallel the sections of the story as it unfolds. Special Effects link the descriptive symbolizations with the musical dramatizations, and allow the fusion of narrative, ambient atmosphere and sensory stimuli to describe the progression of the events. Using the rich background of mythological references --as a way to focus the mental images brought about by the story-- clearly brings about larger-than-life scenarios that can be instrumental as a motivating and inspirational influence to comprehension of the subject matter.
Innovative technology will be used as a “springboard” to enhance the traditional techniques and methods for dramatization and communication of the story, allowing for the “Inclusion” of sensory impaired, or otherwise developmentally delayed children who can be afforded an opportunity to be part of the performance or to participate as members of the audience. Because this concept does not exclude anyone, the attendees of the performance (including sensory impaired individuals), will enjoy unique examples of assistive adaptations for accessing and augmenting the content of the performance presentation.
Different forms of assistive “boosts” for the members of the audience will integrate communication channels such as video subtitles on a background screen, with live interpreters using ASL to convey the word descriptions for hearing impaired participants. Those same audience members will also enjoy the Kinetic Effects, which will be realized by high intensity soundscapes utilizing powerful Bass and Sub-sonic vibrations to fulfill the 3 Dimensional virtual environment of the Sensory Symphony. Stimuli will also include motion depicted by movement of props and articles within the story context. Added to those same experientially enhanced techniques will be aroma and other environmental Sensory Effects such as fog, bubbles, wind, and characterized exposure to the story elements, emphasizing the events as they are dramatized by the Musical themes, and Special Sound Effects…communicating the story to those who are listening to --instead of seeing-- the presentation. Included as an assistive method, will be program notes in Braille, describing the story in word images, for the perusal of those audience members who are visually impaired.
And so the story begins
In the beginning there is nothing. Only silence and darkness surround The Phoenix Bird. There is only one Phoenix Bird, who never had a beginning and will never have an end…
INCLUSION: PART 1
ELEMENT: Earth
COLOR: Yellow
SCENT: #1
Theme: “The Language of the Desert”
Description of Scene:
The Phoenix Bird Awakens and is Sacred to the Sun
INCLUSION: PART 2
ELEMENT: Wind
COLOR: Blue
SCENT: #2
Theme: “The Song of the Wind”
Description of Scene:
The Phoenix Bird Takes Flight and Leaves the World Behind
INCLUSION: PART 3
ELEMENT: Fire
COLOR: Red
SCENT: #3
Theme: “The Dance of the Sun”
Description of Scene:
The Phoenix Bird is Consumed by the Cosmic Flame of Fire
INCLUSION: PART 4
ELEMENT: Water
COLOR: Green
SCENT: #4
Theme: “The Story of Life”
Description of Scene:
The Phoenix Bird is Reborn Again and Hope is Renewed
In this unique version of the story, the Phoenix Bird is very beautiful and lives alone in the desert. It is so shy and reclusive, that no one has ever seen it. It is over a thousand years old and so far, has not ever uttered a sound in its entire life. It walks wherever it goes, never flying anywhere. It is multi-colored with a golden body and tail, iridescent green wings and a brilliant red crest on its head. It has clear and shining eyes of blue, and its beak is strong and ends with a sharp point. The claws on its feet are like mirrors, which reflect everything that it stands upon from an upside-down viewpoint. It eats no food and never drinks anything but dew, and it sleeps all night long with its eyes open. It has become very weary from living on and on, and is about to commence the construction of a nest, where it will leave its egg behind, and fly away with a cry that opens up the mountains, makes the earth shake and creates stormy weather. The Voice of the Phoenix Bird will be heard in the music of the wind. This is the day that the great Phoenix Bird, which will save the world from the clutch of darkness, is consumed by the Cosmic Flame of Fire, leaving nothing behind but a pile of ashes. Finally the fiery bird rises from its ashes, renewing its destiny to reclaim what belongs to it, in a symbolic representation of the setting and rising of the sun. As Life begins again, and Hope is reborn, there are many who dismiss this story as a myth, yet there are some who believe in the Legend of the Phoenix Bird, and even now work for the Phoenix’s return.
The traditional story of the Phoenix Bird is based on myths, legends and folklore from many cultures including Greek, Egyptian and Arabian sources and is very similar to other fables including the Siberian Firebird and the Native-American Thunderbird. Wherever it is found, the Phoenix Bird is associated with triumph over adversity, and that which rises out of the ashes. It is symbolic of hope, purity, faith, eternity and light. The Phoenix Bird not only represents immortality but also an individual who stands apart from the rest, a person of rare qualities. The phoenix's flight has been said to represent the capacity to leave the world and its problems behind, flying towards the sun in clear pure skies.
Phenix \Phe"nix\, n.; pl. Phenixes. [L. phoenix, Gr. foi^nix.] [Written also ph[oe]nix.]: 1. (Greek Myth.) A bird fabled to exist single, to be consumed by fire by its own act, and to rise again from its ashes. Hence, an emblem of immortality. 2. (Astron.) A southern constellation. 3. A marvellous person or thing. [R.] --Latimer. Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Here is the list of of media categories that will be included in The Phoenix Bird performance:
- Music (performed with live instruments and performers as well as synthesized/sampled/sequenced)
- Special Sound FX (including Kinetic Vibrations)
- Lighting (including automated and manually operated)
- Special Visual FX (includes Ambient-Atmosphere Generators)
- Special Environmental FX (ie Aroma Generators)
- Printed Programs, with graphic images
printed text / braille text
and tactile interface information
- Visual Presentation Screen (more details later)
............................................................................................
From now on I will typically refer to these as:
Audible Category
Visual Category
Kinetic Category
Ambient/Atmosphere Category
although there will be some cross-overs for all of the above areas.
In the Audible Category, subsets include:
- Symphonic Music (as a scored arrangement)
- Special FX (part of score and also freely added in)
- Ambience Sounds (part of score and also freely added in)
(NOTE: all of the above will be performed both live and by synthesized sequences)
the crossover area here will be the use of Sub-sonically generated tones below the range of human hearing. This will will be done for the purpose of creating Kinetic effects, as the vibrations or sub-acoustic standing waves will be felt rather than heard.
"...Now I will believe...
That in Arabia
There is one tree, the phoenix' throne, one phoenix
At this hour reigning there..."
The Tempest, by William Shakespear
Work is progressing on the word descriptions that are the basis for the story of the Phoenix Bird.
As I think about what this is really all about, I ponder the following questions:
Who are we?
What is our place in the universe?
I am interested in creating multi-media work that connects people to people...people to the earth, and people to their spirituality.
These are the things that I feel are important to convey the messages that Creativity has the ability to express:
- the story needs to be told with clear concepts and ideas
- the story needs to capture the imagination and excite the senses
- the story needs to inspire and motivate
Using ideas that can be easily comprehended is inherent for any story teller. The best stories have always conveyed meanings beyond the simple scope of the character descriptions and the interactivity of story elements. Story telling is one of the more effective means of teaching ever devised by man. Stories can act as a bridge between people and ideas, carrying the listener as quickly as possible to the mental image or situation being described, while calling a minimum amount of attention to itself.
As a music soundtrack composer, it took a while for me to learn this, but eventually I got the message...the music
should not interfere with the story itself.
On the flip side, a story that demands to be acknowledged, retold, often discussed with arguments about the true meanings and requiring support as a belief system with
"is it true or just a myth" questions, will excite the audience into exploring the boundries. In fact, pushing the envelope may be one of the more important purposes of this project. If we can awaken the audience with a jolt of reference that
has significance, that carries deep empathy with the personal idealizations of the audience's own characterization of the elements of the story, then our efforts have been realized and we are truly using the "vehicle" of creative expression as it
should be used.
The conceptualization of precise images and easily understood messages is not always the quickest or most insightful way to a set of ideas however. That is, metaphors and analogies can have strong actions on the audience as well. Being taken on a journey in order to understand the meaning of the story, is certainly a viable method. The audience must be provided with context, background and substance in order to understand the meaning. If that context provides a link between the mind of the creator of the story and the audience, simulating and (if possible) replacing the everyday world, within the words, images, sounds etc. as created or presented by the author, then there is no translation or interpretation needed to understand the intention of the story's messages.
This needs to be done specifically, with extact attention to details. The more complex the ideas are or more meaningful the message being transmitted is, the more necessary it is the that the author allow descriptions to fill in the blanks and allow personal references to surface and populate the story with more details.
A good story works like a musical composition. An idea is presented, elaborated, debated and perhaps defeated, and finally, presented to the audience in a modified, more mature form that embodies the path that was travelled in order to reach that idea. By taking the audience on a journey, we, to a certain extent, can recreate in their experience the thought processes and emotions of the characters in the story. This should be done with compassion, humor and generosity. But again (as with music), we can provide a pattern, a symmetry and closure that the audience seldom encounters in life. That is why experiencing entertaining, thought provoking and inspiring creative expression is pleasurable and fulfilling. That is why listening to good music can produce ecstasy.
Storytelling is a necessary part of the human condition. We must tell stories. It is what makes us who we are. Linguists and neurologists strongly suspect that the act of learning language physically shapes the organization of our brains. Without language, we are incapable of the full range of human interaction and reasoning. By telling stories to our children, we give them language, and so a passport into the condition of human mortality. But also, a window onto the immortal, for stories will outlive all of us.
I have chosen (or have been chosen by) a specific set of ideas on which to concentrate my creativity, and will turn all of my creative efforts towards conveying these ideas in the most accessible and memorable ways possible. I want these ideas to go out and re-form and repeat and recreate themselves in as many ways as possible. Their source might be forgotten, or misremembered. That is alright with me, because I think the ideas are more important than I am as an individual.
I want my creative works to insinuate themselves into the subconscious of the people of the Southwest, and the world in general, so that we might remember who we were and who we will be, since so little time is spent in the present. I feel as strongly about this as any fanatic. This is my vocation, my calling and my obsession.
There is only one Phoenix Bird, who never had a beginning and will never have an end…
