Culture Corner Premiere of a New Conceptual Work of Music: "Sacred and Profane Love" - Natural Selections
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Issue 183
October 2021
A NEWSLETTER OF THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
Culture Corner
Premiere of a New Conceptual Work of Music: “Sacred and Profane Love”
B ernie L angs
In the last two years or so, I composed speare, Ovid, James Joyce, and many others. The Players:
and recorded a thematic work of music, “Sa- The music and lyrics gently allude to a mul-
cred and Profane Love.” The piece is eighteen titude of rock and pop songs from the 1960s
minutes long with shifting musical structures and 1970s as well. There is only one very close
centered on rock and pop stylizations. Sev- borrowing of chords and texture that I per-
eral extraordinary vocalists perform on the form from a song composed by David Bowie,
recording, each of whom has improved the “Heroes.” Bill sang that song with our band in
melodies of the original score. Without these 1980, so naturally he takes on the Bowie hom-
artists, the finished product could not have ex- age in the new piece.
pressed my intention as a composer. Gretchen I was very fortunate that Gretchen Far-
Farrar magnificently handles the largest role, rar, a beautiful and versatile opera singer, read-
and my cousin, Matt Murphy, sings the other ily agreed to the time commitment required to
lead with his typical brilliance. The quality of learn and record the lead vocal. It is simply an
the work was dynamically enhanced by their honor that she appears on this recording and
complex emotional idealizations and interpre- she “kills” it—and completes it. Some of the
tations of contrasting musings on “sacred” and varying emotional qualities of the character “Sacred Love”: Gretchen Farrar, Oregon;
“profane” love. of “profane love” are abstractions of my own opera singer, vocalist, and composer
Bill Millard’s vocals as “Greek Chorus” ideas and struggles as well as at times an ex-
and “Omniscient” provide one of the invalu- treme representation of my cousin Matthew
able revelatory keys towards unlocking the Murphy’s suave “gentleman adventurer” per-
PHOTO COURTESY OF BERNIE LANGS
philosophical intentions of the song. I’m awed sonality, in the best sense of the notion (aunt
by each of his performances. Peter Weidman Claudia, I did not say “sophisticated rogue”!).
wonderfully took on that exact same role Matt is without doubt the greatest and most
(Chorus and Omniscient) and sang the only talented rock and roll vocalist I’ve ever had the
section of the score that directly addressed pleasure of working with since I started strum-
the listener while simultaneously singing to ming a guitar at age fourteen in the mid-1970s.
“specters” of both principals. He later returns The composition is dedicated to Merle
to present a mysterious pause in the central Langs, my aunt, an extraordinary musician
mythic tale, a dreamy, brief retelling of the sto- and composer who taught piano to countless
ry of Jacob’s Ladder from the Torah. Bill, Peter, young students for over half a century, and
and I performed in a rock band decades ago, continues to do so to this day. Sincere, heartfelt
and we enjoyed this magical reunion, even gratitude goes out to the following individuals
with Pete singing virtually from Pennsylvania. for their encouragement and continued artis-
The lyrics proved to be difficult to craft tic inspiration: Brett Gingold, musician, sculp-
with many early attempts discarded. As they tor, and painter; Izzi Ramkissoon, musician, “profane love”: Matthew Murphy, Floral
stand now, the listener hears a mix of my own educator, and composer; and the late Roland
Park, New York; composer, vocalist, mu-
lyrical phrases bundled with targeted quotes or Kohloff, timpanist extraordinaire of the New
sician, and performing artist
allusions and nods to works by Dante, Shake- York Philharmonic orchestra. CONTINUED TO P. 2 -
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CONTINUED FROM P. 1 -
Editorial Board
Megan Elizabeth Kelley
Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor,
Communication
Anna Amelianchik
Associate Editor
“Greek Chorus” and “Omniscient”: Bill
Millard, Ph.D., New York, New York; Evan Davis
Copy Editor, Photographer-in-Residence
composer, vocalist, and bassist with the
band, Shanghai Love Motel Melissa Jarmel
“Greek Chorus” and “Omniscient”: Peter
Copy Editor, Website Traffic
Weidman, Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania;
composer, pianist, guitarist, and vocalist Audrey Goldfarb
Copy Editor, Webmaster, Website Design
Jennifer Einstein, Emma Garst
Copy Editors
Jim Keller
Editor-at-Large
Nan Pang
Rob Fragnito, Millington, New Jersey; Designer
studio mixing engineer who greatly im- “Greek Chorus” and “Omniscient”: Ber-
proved the sound and textures of the re- nie Langs, Gillette, New Jersey; com-
selections.rockefeller.edu
cording and skillfully balanced the 260- poser, musician, videographer, and nseditors@rockefeller.edu
plus tracks of “Sacred and Profane Love” novelist
“Sacred and Profane Love” Lyrics: There’s no word tender enough, to be your
name. A Note from the
Gretchen (Sacred Love):
You give me life Drunken Joyce Beckett sits in a pub.
Editorial Board
Mais tu es ma mort As I obliterate all memory of your love Dear Readers and
Love has been our wine To be your name.
Flowing like the river of heaven
Contributors,
Down to the river goes I,
Remember me as you walk by, Drowning in Guinness, O’Hara’s, and rye Natural Selections will be
As you are now so was I, Beamish, Egans, Teeling—aye. going on hiatus until 2022.
As I am now, If you’re interested in
Prepare yourself to follow me down. River Jordan, Sea of Galilee joining our Editorial Board
Easier to walk across or contributing content to
Render to me what in love’s my due Than to swim to thee,
Lover, do unto me as I do unto you You can raise the Dead Sea
Natural Selections upon
Dark is your soul tonight But you can’t raise me. our return, please fill out
Should I be a Beatrice would you see the this form or contact us at
light? I’m drunken Dylan Thomas on a White nseditors@rockefeller.edu.
Horse. We are already looking
I was once as you are Thinks he’s so clever forward to our return and
Will you be as I am now? Exactly what’s the cost?
would like to encourage
Was I blind and can you not see?
What becomes of one, if not two, three— Gretchen:
our contributors to keep
how much ‘til you let it be? Ah my man, ah, you men—ah, men—amen writing!
Matt (profane love): The Editorial Board
Your name’s a summons to my foolish blood CONTINUED TO P. 3 - Natural Selections
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CONTINUED FROM P. 2 - You’ve got no excuse—you’ve nothing to I grasp you
lose! I feel you
Apollo’s first love was Daphne of old Feeling me
Cupid’s arrow striking hard and bold. Peter with Bernie (both Greek Chorus and
Tavern drunk Apollo that is you Omniscient): Matt:
Opium smoke hazing cloudy and blue. I was once as you are I grasp you—I grasp you
Will you be as I am now?
Matt: Peasants and Lords create the fruit of the Gretchen:
Halfway through the journey of my life vine. O comfortable friar! where is my lord?
I found myself in a gloomy wood. But there’s no prayer for the thoughts The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head.
Running through my mind!
Chanced upon a stranger Bill:
He sang to me, Remember me as you walk by, He’s Drunken Joyce Beckett in a pub
“Abandon hope all ye who enter here.” As you are now so was I— Tryin’ to obliterate memory of her love
As I am now, To be her name.
Gretchen: Prepare yourself to be
And, as one handling skillfully the harp, Follow me down, follow me down Down to the river there he goes
Attendant on skillful songstress’ voice Drowning in Guinness, ‘pill his lows
Like the accordant twinkling of two eyes, Gretchen: To be her name
Beamy circlets, dancing to the sounds. Turn thee, and list’
These eyes are thy only Paradise Bill:
Gretchen (con’t): The River Jordan, Sea of Galilee
Hear me, my love, Matt: Easier to walk across
My eyes they speak A memory that became you Than to swim to thee,
Clearer than thought or word Drunk I remember my blues Doesn’t believe that she can raise the Dead
What is that rain knows or dew feels in the Where are your gibes now you merciless No Lazarus he
morning calm jester? Won’t be easily led.
But of what I say
I watched the angel fall from the sky Gretchen:
Matt: As birds oe’r Dottie’s rainbow high I was once as you are
Resistance!—is life! Clever boy never know when yer sinking And you will be as I am now
Revolution!—am I! I was once as you are
Never a man betray a true cause Gretchen: And you will be as I am now
I’ll kill the king Come walk with me a while
I’ll nail him to the cross Row a boat Sunday-park style Gretchen (con’t):
Ah, you men—amen Como el manzano entre los árboles del bosque,
You!!! Así es mi amado entre los hijos.
Bernie: Me senté bajo su sombra con gran alegría,
Notes from the underground Robin Hood choked on his cigarette Su fruto era dulce a mi paladar.
Invisible man. The hookah opium resin left
The Molotov cocktail blows up in your hand. Translation (from the Biblical “Song of
Peter: Songs”):
Bill (Greek Chorus and Omniscient): From that I dreamed and behold a ladder As the apple tree among the trees of the for-
And I—I must step back Set up on the earth its top reached to heaven est,
And–and you—you came in a harsh dream— And there—there—you angels were ascend- So is my beloved among children.
ing and descending on it… I sat under its shadow with great joy,
The undiscovered dream, Its fruit was sweet to my palate.
Aye—that’s the rub Bernie:
Perchance a-towered sharpshooter’s nest Opium heaven Bill with Matt:
As my arms grasp and grope You will never be lovelier than you are now
Towards your love! Gretchen: We will never be here again…
I look at you all there
And I—will I step back? Darling mystery of mine Gretchen:
To allow my Queen My heart breaks it beats Ah, my man,
To pass me by blind Your world is spinning Ah, men”
Round, round, round Amen
Throw off the misty cloak, courtier I look at you all there—here, everywhere
You have nothing to lose save muddy boots. Sacred and Profane Love can be heard online
Sheath your dagger Gretchen: at https://soundcloud.com/bernie-langs/
The king’s lost his head At long last sacred-and-profane-love
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Natural Expressions
Art
Susan Stair, art teacher at the Child
and Family Center at The Rockefeller
University, would like to announce
two events. One event, Tree Power,
will take place on Sunday, October
3 from 2-4 p.m. in Marcus Garvey
Park in Harlem in the Southeast cor-
ner by the basketball courts. Stair is
the artist in charge of this free event,
which is open to both individuals
and families. In the event of rain, Tree
Power will take place on Sunday, Oc-
tober 10 from 2-4 p.m. The second
event is a year-long art installation,
Ascending the Mountain, that will be
up in Marcus Garvey Park until July Ascending the Mountain part 1, Roots in Rock, 2021; photo by Salem Krieger
of 2022. Ascending the Mountain ad-
dresses trees using clay and mosaics
and is funded by the Lower Manhat-
tan Cultural Council as well as the
Upper Manhattan Empowerment
Zone. More about Susan Stair and
her art can be found on her website.
Email Megan E. Kelley at mkelley@
rockefeller.edu to submit your art/
music/performance/sporting/other
event for next month’s “Natural Ex-
pressions” and follow @NatSelec-
tions on Twitter for more events.
Digital and online events/releases Ascending the Mountain part 2, Growing Powerhouse, 2021; photo by Salem
are welcome! Krieger
Ascending the Mountain part 3, Canopy Celebration, 2021; photo by Salem Krieger
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New York Rhymes: TONES
K onstantina Theofanopoulou
Poetry: Dr. Konstantina Theofanopoulou (instagram: @newyork_rhymes)
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COLOSSEO (OUTSIDE) TERME DI CAR ACALLA
Life on a Roll
Rome—the Eternal City
N a n Pa n g
Rome is often referred to as the
"Eternal City"—the term was supposedly
coined in the first century B.C. by the Roman
poet Tibullus. This is because ancient Romans
believed that no matter what happened to the
world, or how many empires rose or fell, that
Rome would go on forever. While walking
through the Roman Forum and the Thermae,
I felt an indescribable awe thinking that peo-
ple really built these structures two thousand
years ago. If they successfully impress people
today after nearly two millennia, I can only
imagine how visitors reacted back then.
In the evening, hanging out around
the Trevi Fountain is a fun activity where you
often see people toss coins. The legend says,
tossing one coin into the fountain means you'll
return to Rome, tossing two coins means you'll
return and fall in love, and tossing three coins
means you'll return, find love, and marry. How
many did I toss?
FONTANA DI TREVI COLOSSEO (INSIDE)
Natural Selections is not an official publication of The Rockefeller University. University administration does not produce this newsletter.
The views expressed by the contributors to this publication may not necessarily reflect views or policies of the University.
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