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The Nothingness That is The Source of Everything

from Vipassana by Numinous/Joseph C. Phillips Jr.

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about

Of the four compositions of Vipassana, by Joseph C. Phillips Jr., The Nothingness that is the Source of Everything, took the longest to develop and was the last I wrote. Originally titled Ich bin der Neuen Welt abhanden gekommen (“I am lost in the new world”), it was partly inspired by both Gustav Mahler’s beautiful orchestral song from Rückertlieder Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen and Björk’s haunting New World from Lars von Trier’s movie musical Dancer in the Dark. Although all of the melodies are original (except for one ‘sort of’ quote from Mahler), hints and refractions of the Mahler and Björk pieces are sprinkled throughout all four compositions.

I did not plan on using text for Vipassana until stumbling across the book Breathing the Water by Denise Levertov. The evocative title and minimalist cover design were instantly attractive but it was the description on the back cover that piqued my sensibilities: “Breathing the Water draws the reader deep into spiritual domains—not in order to leave the world behind, but to reanimate our sometimes dormant love for it.” Reading various poems in the book, I decided Variation and Reflection on a Theme of Rilke, with its’ self-reflective tone, would be a compelling and beautiful end to Vipassana.

lyrics

“Variation and Reflection on a Theme by Rilke” by Denise Levertov, from
BREATHING THE WATER, copyright © 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
By Denise Levertov. Used by permission of New Directions Publishing Corporation

credits

from Vipassana, released April 14, 2009
Numinous

Ben Kono,
Piccolo, Flute, Alto Flute, Oboe, English Horn,
Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone
Dan Willis,
Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, English Horn,
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
Ed Xiques,
Flute, Alto Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone

Dave Smith, Flügelhorn, Trumpet
Deborah Weisz, Trombone

Tom Beckham, Vibraphone
Mike Pinto, Vibraphone

Amanda Monaco, Electric Guitar
Sebastian Noelle, Electric Guitar

Deanna Witkowski, Piano
Brenda Earle, Piano

Peter Wise, Percussion
Luke Notary, Percussion

Charenee Wade, Voice
Amy Cervini, Voice
Sofia Koutsovitis, Voice
Julie Hardy, Voice
Monika Heidemann, Voice

Ana Milosavljevic, Violin
Skye Steele, Violin

Orlando Wells, Viola
Joshua Davidowitz, Viola

Jody Redhage, Violoncello
Lauren Riley-Rigby, Violoncello

Thomson Kneeland, Bass

Joseph C. Phillips Jr., Conductor, Composer

Recorded March and August 2007 at Systems Two, Brooklyn
Mixed and Mastered at Systems Two
Engineered by Michael Marciano
Produced by Joseph C. Phillips Jr.
Cover & Tray Photos Malaysian Forest #1 & 2 by Joseph C. Phillips Jr.
Photo of Joe by Marcy Begian

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Numinous Brooklyn, New York

Numinous is a flexible and unique ensemble of up to 50 musicians that was founded in 2000 by composer Joseph C. Phillips Jr. to perform his music.

Part chamber orchestra, part contemporary alternative group, Numinous reflects Phillips’s musical philosophy of "mixed music," a fusion of artistic and cultural influences into one distinctive and singular vision. ... more

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