L OREENA M C K ENNITT

AN

A NCIENT M USE
I NTRODUCTION

The first stepping stone on this journey of discovery was my exploration of the Celts and their history, and the many roads leading off from theirs, both historically and geographically. It is with an eye on this history that this musical document evolved, with ruminations on the universal human themes of life and love, conquest and death; of home, identity, the migrations of people and the resulting evolution of cultures. Our paths may differ but our quests are shared: our desire to love and to be loved, our thirst for liberty and our need to be appreciated as unique individuals within the collectivity of our society. Travels in preparation for this creative endeavour have encompassed the hospitalities and acquaintances of people in many places: a nomadic family in the inner reaches of Mongolia and the Uighur people in North-west China where the predecessors of Celts are believed to have been found; on the great plains of inner Anatolia and Ephesus in Turkey; amongst the intoxicating orange blossoms on the Greek island of Chios; and, in Jordan, amongst the echoes of Circassian voices and the stones of the ancient city of Petra. Ever-mindful of the weight of history behind us that allows us to draw lessons from its ancient voice, I have not wavered in my conviction that we are a culmination of our collective histories and that there should be more to bind us together than tear us apart. Nor have I ceased to hope that in striving toward harmonious, integrated diversity, we will be guided by collective beliefs that will be life affirming at their core. - LM Ce grand voyage de dcouverte a tout dabord commenc par un premier pas sur la trace des Celtes et de leur histoire, et en cours de route, un grand choix de chemins historiques et gographiques se sont ouverts moi. Ainsi, ce document musical sest articul autour dune incursion dans lhistoire des peuples celtes et des diffrentes rflexions qui ont merg lors de cette longue et fabuleuse exploration, rflexions sur les grandes questions universelles que reprsentent lamour et la vie; la conqute et la mort; les notions didentit, de racines et de foyer familial; de mme que la migration des peuples et la mutation des cultures qui en a rsult. Et mme sil est vrai que nous empruntons des parcours diffrents, en ralit nous cherchons tous essentiellement les mmes choses: aimer et tre aims, assouvir notre soif de libert, satisfaire notre besoin dtre apprcis en tant quindividus uniques part entire appartenant cette grande communaut quest la socit. Les voyages que jai entrepris dans le cadre de la ralisation de cet album ont t autant doccasions de faire de belles rencontres et dtre chaleureusement accueillie dans toutes sortes de lieux la fois trangers et tonnant: chez une famille nomade vivant au fin fond de la Mongolie; parmi le peuple ougours du nord-ouest de la Chine, l o on croit avoir trouv ceux qui sont considrs comme les prdcesseurs des Celtes; sur les hautes et vastes plaines de lAnatolie intrieure et phse en Turquie; au beau milieu du parfum enivrant des fleurs doranger sur lle grecque de Chio; ou alors prs des pierres de la ville antique de Ptra dans lcho de ses voix circassiennes en Jordanie. Toujours aussi consciente que nous devons assumer le poids du pass et tre lcoute des leons que nous enseignent ses voix disparues, je maintiens encore lintime conviction que nous sommes le point culminant de toute lhistoire qui nous prcde et que ce qui nous unit les uns aux autres doit ncessairement tre plus important que ce qui nous spare. Aussi, jentretiens encore lespoir quen aspirant crer un climat qui encourage lharmonie et la diversit intgre, lensemble de nos croyances sauront nous guider vers un avenir garant de notre prennit en respect de la force de vie qui nous anime. - LM

INCANTATION
Music: Loreena McKennitt Delphi, Greece, April 2003 It is hard to imagine a more atmospheric place today, as a mist hangs over the valley below this ancient site. In 279 BC, the Celts attempted to sack the shrine, in a campaign that saw them suffer terrible losses. Were they seeking out the oracle for its divinatory powers? Given their faith in the supernatural world they might well have been hoping that powers beyond the human eye could assist them Cappadocia, Turkey, October 2003 We visit exquisite early Christian chapels carved in the volcanic rock of this astonishing landscape. In their changing fortunes over the centuries, these communities will have sought refuge here. Real World Studios, Wiltshire, August 16 2006 I wonder where our Muslim and Jewish friends are deriving their strength these days, and I think back on the Oracle in Delphi. At this time of global unrest and strife, one seeks such an oracle to summon more empathy and harmony I am reminded of a Rumi poem (Mathnawi I, 3255-3258), translated by Kabir and Camille Helminski: O brother, Wisdom is pouring into you From the beloved saint of God. Youve only borrowed it. Although the house of your heart Is lit from the inside That light is lent by a luminous neighbour Give thanks; dont be arrogant or vain Pay attention without self-importance. Its sad that this borrowed state Has put religious communities Far from religious communion.

THE GATES

OF

ISTANBUL

Music and Lyric: Loreena McKennitt Jibacoa, Cuba, March 2005 Reading a wonderful magazine from Turkey called Cornucopia, I find an article on the reign of Mehmed II (14321481) in the Ottoman Empire. It was a time of creative renaissance as well as religious tolerance when people were invited to repopulate the city now known as Istanbul, bringing with them their hopes and aspirations. I am reminded of Spain prior to 1492. Stratford, Ontario, February 2006 In Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, Jack Weatherford writes: As he smashed the feudal system of aristocratic privilege and birth, [Genghis] built a new and unique system based on individual merit, loyalty and achievement took the disjointed and languorous trading towns along the Silk Route and organized them into historys largest free-trade zone [and] granted religious freedom within his realms. Spring 2006 Heightened tensions over the Iraq war; the cartoon of Mohammed versus freedom of speech debate. I have long mused over our need to be spiritually engaged. How do we embark on our individual paths toward spirituality, while respecting the fact that others may take a different road? Wiltshire, England, April 2006 An article in The Independent suggests that the Emperor Constantine (272337 AD) may be an inspiration to those hoping for religious tolerance. His edict granted freedom of religion, marking the end of centuries of persecution for Christians and permitting Christians, Jews, pagans and those who followed traditional Roman gods to co-exist.
See there, past that far-off hill ~ A tower held in the sky Hear there, in that dark blue night ~ The music calling us home See there, in that far-off field ~ Flowers turned to the sky Feel there, in that dark blue night ~ The music calling us home Stars may always guide our way ~ From desert sands where the winds blow harsh and long Heres where, where our hearts will pray ~ And all our loves will slumber with a song So now, if our hearts be true ~ And like a pool of truth reflect the sun We will find right honour there ~ And keep us safe and lead us from all harm So come love, let us dance all night ~ Until birds they waken at the dawn Then come love, let us sing all night ~ And all our loves will slumber with a song

Delphes, Grce, avril 2003 La valle sous ce site antique baigne dans un voile de brume et il est difficile dimaginer aujourdhui un paysage aussi vocateur. Lors dune campagne qui leur infligea de terribles pertes, les Celtes avaient essay de piller ce sanctuaire en 279 av. J.-C.. Venaient-ils consulter loracle en vertu de ses pouvoirs divinatoires? En sachant combien ils croyaient au surnaturel, ils espraient peut-tre que des forces invisibles interviendraient ainsi en leur faveur Cappadoce, Turquie, octobre 2003 Nous avons visit dexquises glises chrtiennes tailles mme les rocs volcaniques dans ce paysage poustouflant. Ces communauts auraient cherch se rfugier ici au cours des sicles. Studios Real World, Wiltshire, 16 aot 2006 Je me demande o nos amis musulmans et juifs puisent leur force ces jours-ci, et je repense loracle de Delphes. Dans notre monde turbulent o rgnent tensions et conflits, nous souhaiterions tous lexistence dun tel oracle pour susciter davantage dempathie, de bon vouloir et dharmonie Ainsi, un pome de Rm (Mathnaw I, 3255-3258), traduit en anglais par Kabir et Camille Helminski, me vient lesprit

Jibacoa, Cuba, mars 2005 Jai trouv, en lisant la merveilleuse revue Cornucopia publie en Turquie, un article qui parle du rgne de Mehmed II (14321481) lpoque de lEmpire ottoman. Durant cette priode de renaissance artistique et de tolrance religieuse, les gens taient invits venir sinstaller dans la ville quon connat aujourdhui sous le nom dIstanbul pour la repeupler, et tous arrivaient avec leurs espoirs et aspirations. Jtablis un parallle avec lEspagne davant 1492. Stratford, Ontario, fvrier 2006 Dans son livre Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, Jack Weatherford crit: Il a dabord cras le systme fodal supprimant ainsi les droits et privilges de la noblesse perptus par lhrdit, puis [Genghis] a tabli un nouveau systme unique bas sur la loyaut, la russite et le mrite individuel [...] a organis les villages marchands un peu fatigus qui taient parpills au hasard le long de la Route de la soie de faon en faire la plus vaste zone de libre-change de lhistoire [et] a instaur la libert religieuse dans son empire. Printemps 2006 La guerre en Irak provoque des tensions accrues: le dbat soulev sur la libert dexpression par le scandale des caricatures du prophte Mahomet. Jai entam une longue rflexion sur notre besoin dengagement sur le plan spirituel. Comment sengager dans un cheminement spirituel personnel tout en respectant le fait que chacun emprunte son propre parcours? Wiltshire, Angleterre, avril 2006 Un article dans The Independent suggre que lempereur Constantin (272337 aprs J.-C.) puisse servir dinspiration tous ceux qui plaident en faveur de la tolrance religieuse. En promulguant ldit de Milan, il accorda la libert de culte toutes les religions, mettant fin des sicles de perscutions chrtiennes et permettant par le fait mme aux chrtiens, juifs, paens et tous ceux qui vnraient les dieux romains traditionnels de vivre cte cte.

CARAVANSERAI
Music and Lyric: Loreena McKennitt Gordion, Anatolia, Turkey, June 2003 Some 10,000 Celts are thought to have lived here in the 3rd century BC. I look out past the archeological site to the burial mounds rising in the distance and imagine all the people who had traversed these plains the routine of setting up camp and then leaving; the sounds, the smells, the trepidations; preparing the animals, living next to the elements Mongolia, September 2003 I have spent a fascinating time with a Mongolian nomadic family contemplating their connection to the Celts, moving livestock from summer to winter pastures. Cappadocia to Konya, Turkey, October 2003 On the road to Konya, we visit a caravanserai; a stunning building. Susan Whitfield, in her book Life Along The Silk Road, describes these structures as stopping places for itinerant merchants, their servants and animals The bazaar was held here. Ten or more languages might be heard at any one time, as people haggled over the silks, spices and other luxuries This causes me to reflect on the concept of home, the nomadic impulse and our relationship to nature, the land our collective histories merging into something new. Is it happening too quickly in our contemporary times? Gordion, Anatolie, Turquie, juin 2003 On estime que quelques 10,000 Celtes vivaient ici au IIIime sicle av. J.-C.. Mon regard se pose sur le grand tumulus qui slve lhorizon au-del du site archologique et jimagine tous ceux qui ont travers ces plaines le temps dinstaller leur campement, puis de repartir; les bruits, les odeurs, linquitude; soccuper des animaux; vivre en communion avec la nature Mongolie, septembre 2003 Jai fait un sjour fascinant dans une famille nomade mongolienne je remarque qu linstar des Celtes, ils conduisent leur btail des pturages dt aux pturages dhiver. De la Cappadoce Konya, Turquie, octobre 2003 En route vers Konya, nous avons visit un caravansrail, un btiment tonnant. Susan Whitfield, dans son livre Life Along The Silk Road, dcrit ces structures comme tant des haltes caravanires pour les commerants voyageurs, leurs serviteurs et leurs animaux [...] cest l que se tenaient les bazars [...] on pouvait entendre parler tout moment au moins dix langues diffrentes alors que les gens dbattaient du prix des soieries, des pices et dautres marchandises de luxe. Tout cela me porte rflchir sur ces notions que sont le foyer, linstinct nomade et le rapport que nous entretenons avec la nature, la terre lhistoire des civilisations qui se fusionne et se renouvelle. Les transformations soprent-elles trop vite dans notre monde contemporain?
This glancing life is like a morning star ~ A setting sun, or rolling waves at sea A gentle breeze or lightning in a storm ~ A dancing dream of all eternity The sand was shimmering in the morning light ~ And dancing off the dunes so far away The night held music so sweet, so long ~ And there we lay until the break of day We woke that morning at the onward call ~ Our camels bridled up, our howdahs full The sun was rising in the eastern sky ~ Just as we set out to the deserts cry Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you The tents grew smaller as we rode away ~ On earth that tells of many passing days The months of peace and all the years of war ~ The lives of love and all the lives of fears Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you We crossed the river beds all etched in stone ~ And up the mighty mountains ever known Beyond the valleys in the searing heat ~ Until we reached the caravanserai Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you What is this life that pulls me far away ~ What is that home where we cannot reside What is that quest that pulls me onward ~ My heart is full when you are by my side Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you

THE ENGLISH LADYE AND THE KNIGHT

Music: Loreena McKennitt Lyric: Sir Walter Scott (17711832) Real World Studios, Wiltshire, July 14 2006 There is something intriguing about this tale of love, war, who we love and why, set in Carlisle, an old Celtic site that became a Roman settlement, known as Luguvalium. Carlisle Castle, which sits on the border of Scotland and England, has a history of protecting political and tribal boundaries. And yet there are the matters of the heart that know no boundaries. This story touches on the power of lost love to go on to fight battles in the name of ones beloved; in this case, what some call the Crusaders war in Palestine. I muse on how the history of places and human stories become fully intertwined and their past days come full circle with our own.

Studios Real World, Wiltshire, 14 juillet 2006 Ce rcit sur lamour, la guerre, ceux que nous aimons et pourquoi, comporte quelque chose de fascinant. Lhistoire se droule Carlisle, un ancien site celte qui fut par la suite colonis par les Romains sous le nom de Luguvalium. Le chteau de Carlisle, situ la frontire de lcosse et de lAngleterre, a jadis contribu protger les limites tribales et politiques. Et pourtant, le cur ne connat pas de limites. Ce rcit voque lide que nous puissions pouser une cause au nom dun tre cher perdu la suite dun chagrin amoureux; dans ce cas, la chanson fait rfrence aux Croisades du Moyen ge en Palestine. Je pense comment les gens et les lieux sont inextricablement lis par lhistoire qui les unit et comment le pass et le prsent se rejoignent.

It was an English ladye bright, (The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall,) And she would marry a Scottish knight, For Love will still be lord of all. Blithely they saw the rising sun When he shone fair on Carlisle wall; But they were sad ere day was done, Though Love was still the lord of all. Her sire gave brooch and jewel fine, Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall; Her brother gave but a flask of wine, For ire that Love was lord of all. For she had lands both meadow and lea, Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall, For he swore her death, ere he would see A Scottish knight the lord of all.

That wine she had not tasted well (The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall) When dead, in her true loves arms, she fell, For Love was still the lord of all! He pierced her brother to the heart, Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall So perish all would true love part That Love may still be lord of all! And then he took the cross divine, Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall, And died for her sake in Palestine; So Love was still the lord of all. Now all ye lovers, that faithful prove, (The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall) Pray for their souls who died for love, For Love shall still be lord of all!

KECHARITOMENE
Music: Loreena McKennitt Urumchi, China, October 2003 I have just seen some of the red-haired Tarim Basin mummies, which date back to 1000 BC and who, some argue, could be from the peoples who were the precursors of the Celts. Did they follow the Silk Road this far north? Stratford, Ontario, June 2005 Reading Susan Whitfields Life Along the Silk Road, which profiles the many people, religions and cultures that populated the countless threads of what we call the Silk Road nuns, soldiers, merchants in a slow fusion of cultures from 500 BC to about 1400 AD. In the core of this period the Celts roamed, sacked Delphi and inspired St. Paul to write his Letters to the Galatians; the events known as the Crusades came and went, along with those who fought in them, from Richard the Lionheart to Saladin. Clearly there is much more history to be understood, but from whose vantage point? Real World Studios, Wiltshire, May 2006 My attention has been brought to Anna Comnena, a Byzantine princess and possibly the first female historian of the West, who observed society, politics, war and peace from her position at the intersection of Byzantine, Western and Muslim cultures She was a major chronicler of the First Crusade and ended her days in a convent called Kecharitomene (Greek for full of Grace).

P E N E L O P E S S O N G
Music and Lyric: Loreena McKennitt Perleas Mansion, Chios, Greece, April 23 2005 It is the memory of orange blossoms that brings me back; all those centuries of springs that give fresh meaning to new life awakening. And all the while, the birds, the roosters, the children playing and the dogs barking in the distance give presence to the continuation of the story. Sitting in this orange orchard on the island of Chios, I reach back to a memory only known to me through story and song. Not having studied classical literature before, one of the objectives I have set for myself on this trip is to compensate for this fact. It is a quest of understanding identity and a concept of home, in a world now so large and yet so small, which has fractured our sense of these words and have caused us to redefine them. And so, I immerse myself as close to the beginning as I possibly can. As I listen to an audiobook of Homers Odyssey, I think of the journeys undertaken by many people in ancient times: arduous, often lengthy, and with the prospect of never returning always a possibility. Indeed, these are not just ancient experiences but also contemporary ones. And when we think of journeys, we hear not only the voices of those doing the leaving to fight wars, to flee persecution, or simply in search of a better life but also the voices of those who are left behind. Hence, the perspective of Odysseuss faithful wife Penelope comes to mind.

Urumqi, Chine, octobre 2003 Je viens tout juste de voir quelques-unes des momies cheveux roux du bassin du Tarim qui datent de lan 1000 av. J.-C.. Certains prtendent quelles auraient ventuellement appartenu aux peuples ayant prcd les Celtes. Ont-ils parcouru la Route de la soie jusqu ce degr de latitude septentrionale? Stratford, Ontario, juin 2005 Je lis Life Along the Silk Road de Susan Whitfield. Cet ouvrage dcrit les nombreux peuples, religions et cultures qui constituent lhistoire et le tissu mme de ce que nous appelons la Route de la soie les nonnes, les soldats, les marchands dans un long bouillon de cultures qui a mijot de 500 av. J.-C. jusquaux alentours de 1400 aprs J.-C.. Au plus fort de cette priode, les Celtes menrent une vie derrance, pillrent Delphes et furent linspiration des lettres aux Galates qucrit saint Paul; il y eut aussi les batailles des Croisades et ceux qui y ont combattu, comme Richard Cur de Lion et Saladin. Il est vident que lhistoire a encore beaucoup nous apprendre, mais quel point de vue doit-on privilgier? Studios Real World, Wiltshire, mai 2006 Mon attention porte maintenant sur Anne Comnne, une princesse byzantine et ventuellement la premire femme historienne de lOccident, laquelle considra la socit, la politique, la guerre et la paix dun point de vue se situant au carrefour des cultures byzantine, occidentale et musulmane Une des grandes chroniqueuses de la premire Croisade, elle termina sa vie dans un monastre appel Kecharitomene (qui signifie pleine de grce en grec).

Manoir Perleas, Chio, Grce, 23 avril 2005 Cest le souvenir des fleurs doranger qui ma donn envie de revenir: lternel retour du printemps appelle le renouvellement de la vie et la naissance dun nouveau cycle. Et entre-temps, les oiseaux, les coqs, les enfants qui jouent et le bruit des chiens qui jappent au loin apparaissent comme autant de manifestations de la perptuation de lhistoire. Assise au beau milieu de ce verger dorangers sur lle de Chio, je repense un souvenir que seules voquent une histoire et une chanson. Comme je navais jamais tudi les classiques de la littrature, un des objectifs que je me suis fixe dans le cadre de ce voyage fut de combler cette lacune. Je cherche mieux comprendre ce que sont lidentit et la notion de foyer. Or, nous vivons dans un monde la fois si vaste et si petit que ces concepts ont perdu leur sens structurant et sont, par consquent, en pleine mutation et en constante redfinition. Do, jai choisi de commencer mes recherches le plus prs possible du dbut. En coutant une version audio du livre LOdysse de Homre, je pense aux longs voyages que tant de gens entreprenaient autrefois; dans des conditions ardues, les voyageurs pouvaient tre partis trs longtemps et on se savait jamais trop sils reviendraient ou non. Par ailleurs, ceci peut aussi se produire de nos jours. Et quand on pense ces longs voyages, il ne suffit pas seulement dcouter le tmoignage de ceux qui quittent pour se battre la guerre, pour chapper aux perscutions, ou tout simplement pour partir en qute dune vie meilleure, mais aussi dentendre ce quont dire ceux qui restent les attendre. Voil pourquoi je mintresse autant au point de vue de Pnlope, la fidle pouse dUlysse.
Now that the time has come Soon gone is the day There upon some distant shore Youll hear me say Long as the day in the summer time Deep as the wine-dark sea Ill keep your heart with mine Till you come to me. There like a bird Id fly High through the air Reaching for the suns full rays Only to find you there And in the night when our dreams are still Or when the wind calls free Ill keep your heart with mine Till you come to me Now that the time has come Soon gone is the day There upon some distant shore Youll hear me say Long as the day in the summer time Deep as the wine-dark sea Ill keep your heart with mine Till you come to me

SACRED SHABBAT
Music: Loreena McKennitt Istanbul, Turkey, October 2003 I visited a wonderful bookstore across from the Roman cistern at Yerebatan Sarayi. The gentleman there thrust a book into my hand as I left Irfan Orgas Portrait Of A Turkish Family. He did not want me to pay for it, but gave it to me as a gift, promising that I would dearly love it. Athens, Greece, October 2003 I have finished a wonderful music session with some extraordinary musicians. In the course of the session, three of them, Haig, Socrates and Panos, played a melody whose sentiment I love. I want to remember this as I prepare the music for the new recording. Chios, Greece, May 2005 At long last, I have finished Portrait Of A Turkish Family. It is a powerful book portraying an Istanbul family at the turn of the century as they fall on hard times. The melody I heard in Athens comes to mind as I read of a family enjoying the abundance of their lives before the First World War. I could imagine many families over the years sitting in parks, sipping tea, conversing with each other, sometimes listening to music over the sound of water fountains. I am also reminded of the wonderful poetry of the Jewish poet Solomon ibn Gabrirol, from 11th century Andalusia. Stratford, Ontario, May 2006 I discover that the melody I have loved and recorded is also one that appears on a CD I picked up at the Alhambra in Spain. Morada Del Corazon is a collection of Sephardic music from the 11th and 12th centuries performed by Eduardo Paniagua and Musica Antigua. The CD liner notes say that the melody comes from a song of the Shabbat, Yodujah raayonay, of the Jews of the Ottoman region.

BENEATH A PHRYGIAN SKY

Music and Lyric: Loreena McKennitt Gordion, Turkey, June 2002 Today I have visited a most amazing archeological site just outside of Gordian, in Anatolia Turkey. By legend the home of King Midas and the place where Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot, it conceals layers of civilizations: the Hittites, Phrygians, Cimmerians and Celts, amongst others Ephesus, Turkey, October 2005 This is our last stop on a too-short journey around Turkey We wander around this amazing monument, and once again I am swept away by reflections on the civilization that once lived here: the commerce, worship and daily life. What stories these stones could tell Real World Studios, Wiltshire, May 2006 I have struggled with what this song should convey; a vast rumination in itself Perhaps it is a call to arms, for the love of ourselves as a species and the natural world with which we are interwoven. What can we learn from history, given all the opportunities we have to do so? Can we? Will we? I think of Edmund Burkes words: All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Gordion, Turquie, juin 2002 Aujourdhui, jai visit un site archologique assez incroyable juste en dehors de Gordion, en Anatolie, en Turquie. Selon la lgende, cest la patrie du roi Midas et lemplacement du fameux nud gordien que trancha Alexandre le Grand. Ce site cache les vestiges de plusieurs civilisations: les Hittites, les Phrygiens, les Cimmriens et les Celtes, entre autres phse, Turquie, octobre 2005 Dernire escale dun voyage malheureusement trop court durant lequel jai fait le tour de la Turquie Pendant que nous nous baladons autour dun monument impressionnant, je mvade une fois de plus dans mes penses et jimagine les civilisations qui jadis vcurent ici: le commerce, les rites religieux et la vie quotidienne. Si ces pierres pouvaient nous raconter Studios Real World, Wiltshire, mai 2006 Je narrive pas me faire une ide sur ce que cette chanson devrait voquer; toute une rflexion en soi Cest peut-tre un appel la solidarit pour lamour de lespce humaine et du monde naturel avec lequel nous ne faisons quun. Considrant lincroyable richesse que reprsente lhistoire, quelles leons pouvons-nous en tirer? Sommes-nous capables den profiter? Saurons-nous en profiter? Ainsi, je pense aux paroles dEdmund Burke: "Tout ce quil faut pour que le mal triomphe, cest que les braves gens ne fassent rien."

Istanbul, Turquie, octobre 2003 Jai visit un petit bijou de librairie devant la citerne romaine Yerebatan sarayi. Alors que je mapprtais partir, le galant libraire ma mis un livre entre les mains en me promettant que ce serait un coup de cur: Portrait Of A Turkish Family dIrfan Orga. En insistant que ctait un cadeau, il a refus que je lui paie. Athnes, Grce, octobre 2003 Je viens de terminer une sance musicale sensationnelle avec des musiciens extraordinaires. Pendant la sance, trois dentre eux, Haig, Socrates et Panos, ont jou un air qui dgage un feeling qui me plat beaucoup. Il faut que je me souvienne de cette mlodie au cas o je dciderais de linclure dans la musique de mon prochain album. Chio, Grce, mai 2005 Jai enfin termin de lire Portrait Of A Turkish Family. Cest un livre passionnant qui brosse le portrait dune famille dIstanbul frappe par la misre au dbut du sicle. En lisant les passages dcrivant le plaisir avec lequel cette famille jouit de labondance avant la premire guerre mondiale, lair que les musiciens ont jou pour moi Athnes me vient lesprit. Jimagine facilement de nombreuses familles au fil des ans, assises dans les parcs, buvant le th, discutant ensemble, coutant par moments le son de la musique quon peut entendre entre les bruits deau des fontaines publiques. Cela me rappelle galement la superbe posie du pote juif Salomon Ibn Gabirol, dans lAndalousie du XIime sicle. Stratford, Ontario, mai 2006 Je viens de dcouvrir que lair que jaime beaucoup et que jai enregistr est une des mlodies sur le CD que je me suis procure lAlhambra en Espagne. Intitul Morada Del Corazon, cet album est une compilation de musiques juives sfarades datant des XIime et XIIime sicles lesquelles sont interprtes par Eduardo Paniagua et Musica Antigua. Les notes explicatives du livret de cet album CD prcisent que cet air tire son origine dun chant du sabbat, Yodujah raayonay, des juifs de la rgion ottomane.

The moonlight it was dancing On the waves, out on the sea The stars of heaven hovered In a shimmering galaxy A voice from down the ages So haunting in its song These ancient stones will tell us Our love must make us strong The breeze it wrapped around me As I stood there on the shore And listened to this voice Like I never heard before Our battles they may find us No choice may ours to be But hold the banner proudly The truth will set us free My mind was called across the years Of rages and of strife And all the human misery And all the waste of life

We wondered where our God was In the face of so much pain And I looked up to the stars above To find you once again We travelled the wide oceans Heard many call your name With sword and gun and hatred It all seemed much the same Some used your name for glory Some used it for their gain Yet when liberty lay wanting No lives were lost in vain Is it not our place to wonder As the sky does weep with tears And all the living creatures Look on with mortal fear It is ours to hold the banner Is ours to hold it long It is ours to carry forward Our love must make us strong

And as the warm wind carried Its song into the night I closed my eyes and tarried Until the morning light As the last star it shimmered And the new suns day gave birth It was in this magic moment Came this prayer for mother earth The moonlight it was dancing On the waves, out on the sea The stars of heaven hovered In a shimmering galaxy And a voice from down the ages So haunting in its song The ancient stones will tell us Our love must make us strong