Ahimsa, in its simplest sense, means not to inflict harm on others through thought, word or action. An ancient concept, yet one which has not caught on sufficiently in our troubled world. Humankind is not only in endless violent conflict within itself, but by and large we fail to recognize that we are part of all of life on this earth and all that life is a part of us. Thus, we inflict the same violence, if not worse, on the innocent lives of all Earth’s creatures, as we do upon ourselves.
The music reflects this basic principle for living, in sections honoring those who, for me, were guiding lights for how to live your life in this way. The simple lessons for life taught to me by my grandfather, and then the great guiding lights – Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and John Lennon – all of whom died while in the pursuit of holding up the candle of ahimsa for all to see. It is hard to think of any who are their match today, but those with their intensity are sorely needed.
CREDITS
COMPOSER: Stanley Grill
CONDUCTOR: Marek Štilec
ENSEMBLE: Komorní filharmonie Pardubice
PRODUCER: Jiří Štilec
RECORDING ENGINEER: Václav Roubal
RECORDING DATES: May 23-24, 2022
RECORDING LOCATION: Dům hudby, Sukova třída 1260, 530 21 Pardubice
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GLOBAL MUSIC AWARDS SILVER MEDAL WINNER
CLOUZINE Best Classical Composition & Recording, Spring 2023
“Listening to AHIMSA, I was struck by the powerful simplicity and serenity of the piece. How, perhaps, we’ve entered a time where modern music is moving toward a contemplative state – where overblown heroics and cinematic tirades are falling out of vogue and being replaced by works of a deeper philosophical and spiritual nature. It would be nice.”
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