the litany of gendlin

video game music, JRPG soundtrack, liturgical/choral hymn

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[opening: one low piano note, repeated every measure]
[texture: soft synth choir on a bare fifth]
[bell: three notes, descending, then silence]
[mood: not despair; disciplined fear]

[solo voice: almost spoken]
“if the dark is truly coming
let me see the dark arrive
if the light is only wishing
let the wish in me not thrive”

[low strings: enter beneath the second line]
[pulse: no drums, only piano marking time]

[solo voice]
“if the serpent has awakened
i desire to know its name
if the serpent is a shadow
i desire to drop the frame”

[choir: quiet, syllabic, prayer-like]
“let what is true be seen
let what is false depart”

[piano: adds a second note, forming a slow heartbeat]
[bell: repeats the descending cell, now harmonized]

[chorus: full but restrained]
“if it is so, let me believe it
if it is not, let me be free
not what i fear
not what i need
only the world as it must be”

[brief silence: half measure]
[solo voice: softer]
“if i am wrong, undo me gently
if i am right, then make me brave”

[choir: answer]
“truth is not a master
truth is not a slave”

[verse 2: alto or baritone]
“i have loved my clever mirrors
i have dressed my hopes as law
i have called my terror wisdom
i have blessed the thing i saw”

[low drum: single soft hit every two measures]
[strings: slow rising inner line]
[square lead: faintly doubles the vocal melody at octave]

[baritone]
“take the comfort from my fingers
take the story from my tongue
leave me with the thing itself
unhidden and unsung”

[choir: firmer]
“let what is true be seen
let what is false depart”

[chorus: stronger, still solemn]
“if it is so, let me believe it
if it is not, let me be free
not what i fear
not what i need
only the world as it must be”

[bridge: harmony darkens; bass descends stepwise]
[solo voice: exposed, no choir]
“i do not ask the world for mercy
i do not ask the facts to bend
i only ask for eyes unclouded
and a mind that will not spend
its life defending ruins
its life rehearsing lies
its life mistaking darkness
for the closing of its eyes”

[drums: enter as a slow processional, kick on 1, soft snare on 3]
[organ pad: low, almost imperceptible]
[choir: hum grows into open vowels]

[ensemble: vow-like]
“let the answer wound me cleanly
let the answer make me whole
let the truth pass through the body
let it clarify the soul”

[chorus: full ensemble, luminous but severe]
“if it is so, let me believe it
if it is not, let me be free
not what i fear
not what i need
only the world as it must be”

[key lift: not triumphant; brighter by necessity]
[square lead: states the refrain instrumentally]
[strings: rising line resolves for the first time]
[choir: sustained harmony]

[final refrain: softer, more certain]
“if it is so, let me believe it
if it is not, let me be free
not what i fear
not what i need
only the world as it must be”

[ending: all instruments drop except piano and bell]
[solo voice: whispered]
“only the world as it must be”

[bell: final descending three-note cell]
[chord: open fifth, no third, suspended between grief and resolve]

3050/7500

[opening: one low piano note, repeated every measure] [texture: soft synth choir on a bare fifth] [bell: three notes, descending, then silence] [mood: not despair; disciplined fear] [solo voice: almost spoken] “if the dark is truly coming let me see the dark arrive if the light is only wishing let the wish in me not thrive” [low strings: enter beneath the second line] [pulse: no drums, only piano marking time] [solo voice] “if the serpent has awakened i desire to know its name if the serpent is a shadow i desire to drop the frame” [choir: quiet, syllabic, prayer-like] “let what is true be seen let what is false depart” [piano: adds a second note, forming a slow heartbeat] [bell: repeats the descending cell, now harmonized] [chorus: full but restrained] “if it is so, let me believe it if it is not, let me be free not what i fear not what i need only the world as it must be” [brief silence: half measure] [solo voice: softer] “if i am wrong, undo me gently if i am right, then make me brave” [choir: answer] “truth is not a master truth is not a slave” [verse 2: alto or baritone] “i have loved my clever mirrors i have dressed my hopes as law i have called my terror wisdom i have blessed the thing i saw” [low drum: single soft hit every two measures] [strings: slow rising inner line] [square lead: faintly doubles the vocal melody at octave] [baritone] “take the comfort from my fingers take the story from my tongue leave me with the thing itself unhidden and unsung” [choir: firmer] “let what is true be seen let what is false depart” [chorus: stronger, still solemn] “if it is so, let me believe it if it is not, let me be free not what i fear not what i need only the world as it must be” [bridge: harmony darkens; bass descends stepwise] [solo voice: exposed, no choir] “i do not ask the world for mercy i do not ask the facts to bend i only ask for eyes unclouded and a mind that will not spend its life defending ruins its life rehearsing lies its life mistaking darkness for the closing of its eyes” [drums: enter as a slow processional, kick on 1, soft snare on 3] [organ pad: low, almost imperceptible] [choir: hum grows into open vowels] [ensemble: vow-like] “let the answer wound me cleanly let the answer make me whole let the truth pass through the body let it clarify the soul” [chorus: full ensemble, luminous but severe] “if it is so, let me believe it if it is not, let me be free not what i fear not what i need only the world as it must be” [key lift: not triumphant; brighter by necessity] [square lead: states the refrain instrumentally] [strings: rising line resolves for the first time] [choir: sustained harmony] [final refrain: softer, more certain] “if it is so, let me believe it if it is not, let me be free not what i fear not what i need only the world as it must be” [ending: all instruments drop except piano and bell] [solo voice: whispered] “only the world as it must be” [bell: final descending three-note cell] [chord: open fifth, no third, suspended between grief and resolve]

0/500