Whose Sacrifice?

46 Replies

stars-flame-the-sky-s

See the fabulous image at the top of the page?  This painting was created by “Idiot Writer”. She painted it on a computer using a drawing tablet. Great, isn’t it? Just a quick aside – some people shut down when they read “art create on a computer”. There is no cheating, she created the picture by hand using a stylus.  It’s as legitimate as using a brush on canvas.

When “Idiot Writer” posted the light-painting she set up a challenge. There are many ways this painting can be interpreted. She asked for people to use a media they are comfortable with to create their own interpretation of the painting.  Suggestions include music, poems, photos, sketches, etc.   etc.  Being something of a composer and a musician I wrote a song. My song is more of an “influenced by” than an interpretation of the painting.  Take a listen and I’ll discuss it below.

Whose Sacrifice?

I look into your eyes into the gallows of your soul
I look at our love and there’s one thing I want to know

Whose sacrifice is ours?
Who wins when love sours?
Whose sacrifice is ours?
Who gains the final powers?

The hated vine that chokes us between us daily grows
The snake up in the branches, I wonder if it knows

Whose sacrifice is ours?
Who wins when love sours?
Whose sacrifice is ours?
Who gains the final powers?

There was a time we thought forever was today
We thought our love would surely stay
We thought what we had was true
I wish that we really knew

We still pretend our love comes from heaven on high
I often think to end it one of us will need to die

Whose sacrifice is ours?
Who wins when love sours?
Whose sacrifice is ours?
Who gains the final powers?
–

I can see many ways to interpret this painting. As I was hearing music in my mind, the music that eventually became the introduction, suddenly a question arose, “Whose sacrifice?”

This simple question hides a multitude of different questions. Who is the sacrifice for? Who benefits from it? Who is hurt by it? Who is being sacrificed? Who is doing the sacrificing?

And if you think about the “who” in these questions there are a multitude of possible answers. There is the man, the woman, the snake, God/god/goddess, perhaps different sides of one person or perhaps even abstract ideas like love, hate, commitment or independence. I can look at that painting and answer those questions with each of these possible answers and find a way for it to make sense.

Almost as soon as the sentence, “Whose sacrifice?” came to mind I sang the first verse and chorus out loud exactly as it is on the recording. I then ran to a computer and wrote it out before I forgot.

As you can see from the words I put in a lot of ideas from the painting. The beginning sequence was intended to show the garden (or “The Garden”) setting. But I didn’t really interpret it, I only asked a different question that was influenced by the painting.

As I said earlier, the music is like a first draft. In musical terms I would call it a quick demo to put an idea to sound. There are a few problems with it. One thing, my main synth, my Moog, is in the shop. All of the synth lines and the bass line were performed using my microbrute (see review). The drums, piano and organ were all played with a keyboard but using sounds stored on my computer (i.e., a “soft synth”). Someday I may take my time and rerecord this song. I’ll put down a much, much better drum track. The bass line will fit a little better and not get out of synch during the bridge. I’ll make some adjustments to the structure. I’ll spend time on a final vocal track instead of using my quick reference track. I’ll put in vocal harmonies. OK, you get the idea.

Hope you enjoyed the wonderful painting and my music inspired by it.

(Note – the music player doesn’t show up when using the WP app.)

46 thoughts on “Whose Sacrifice?”

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  3. pranita patra

    I think I read it a quite a few times and kept going back to the painting.. the first thing that came to my mind was he loved her even in death.. but the hand holding seemed more like a companionship that was broken but held together..And the lyrics..very powerful.

    I was wondering why he died, and who would gain, he died to save what was left and the snake would gain from the love that was turning into poison, the snake a depiction of the poison, of pain, so there is power of love and power of rising agony or angst and the later would be gaining the powers? I don’t know, but really, no one gains.

    Love the lyrics, the music and the painting of course.
    Don’t know much about making music, but I can hear the snake and the love, its loss and the questions in the music and the voice.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      “idiot Writer” did a great job with the painting. She hasn’t told me the story so I’m with you, more questions than answers, just guessing at an interpretation.

      Thanks about lyrics and music. Sometimes I just need something as striking as the painting to inspire me when I writing music.

      Liked by 1 person

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  9. charlypriest

    Didn´t know idiotwriter painted and using a tablet? Never heard about that, new news for me and have to give it to her, very but very cool drawing, talented woman she is, and the song that you put along with it priceless. Very cool song, wrote the name down and I´ll check it out later in youtube see what other music this group has.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Hi Charly. Yes, idiotwriter is very talented. You can find some of her art on her blog page. I think she has a gallery.

      The song is me. I wrote and recorded it over the weekend. I’m transitioning from writing classical music to rock and pop. I obviously listen to a lot of Prog Rock and I think this shows a bit of a Pink Floyd influence. So thanks. And thanks for the tweet.

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          Thanks! I’m trying to get some of my classical music out of the door onto CD. The first one I did was “The Hamlet Symphony”. I want to get my Preludes and 2 Piano Sonatas out and then I’ll start seriously writing and recording rock songs. Maybe in about a year I’ll be able to have enough good recordings to put together a CD.

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      1. charlypriest

        Yes, you are a very talented lady. And the leg, well there it is, at least they didn´t have to cut it off, the ankle is healing slowly but healing. So you play the guitar….what else Bethoveen?

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                  1. trentpmcd Post author

                    I’m at work (I’m sure you can tell : ) ) and so can’t watch the video. I’ll have to check it out when I get home. And I’m sure your playing is EXACTLY like it ; )

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  10. idiotwriter

    Thanks so much for getting involved and sharing your inspiration you had! COOL man!
    Interesting ‘interpretation’ or as you say influence. But somehow it kinda IS an interpretation really. ;)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Yes, it is in many ways. Of course when I explained where the song came from, I guess that was an interpretation. Though I don’t think you were think the words “sacrifice”, it may have come across in a similar way. I’m just thinking his look and their body language…

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          Yep, sounds familiar ; ) To tell you the truth, the more I studied the expression and body language the more questions and fewer answers i had. What’s being sacrificed and by whom and for whom? And Why? Anyway, so that series of questions.

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