Scattershot Symphony #29
The River – Part Three
Welcome to:
Scattershot Symphony
The Music of Peter Link
(That’s me.)
This week being the twenty-ninth episode of this podcast,
I prefer to let the music do the talkin’. However, if you need to know more about me, please visit Wikipedia.com – Peter Link.
This episode is entitled
The River – Part Three of a Three part Series
Welcome to The River — A Musical Revelation, concept by Peter Link and William Spencer Reilly, Music and Lyrics by Yours Truly. If you have not experienced The River, Part One and Two, I suggest you go back first to Part One and start there.
Part Three is essentially the second and final act of The River concert. As you may recall, Part Two takes us Over The Edge of Human confusion into the darkness of the times. As I write this I realize that we humans still suffer the same fates three decades later.
Act Two opens with our cast Wallowing In The Mire in a similar condition that seems so prevalent today. Perhaps it is a good time to put forth this concert into these times as well. It is my hope that the spirit of this experience can brighten even the darkest of days.
Critic, Don Thomas, of The Big Red News says it best: [Quote]
“To try and pick a star in this production just wouldn’t be fair because this entire cast is the star. From the very beginning of this musical journey, which builds from an innocent whisper to a thunderous roar (musically speaking) The River has something for everyone and more importantly it’s all delivered without a bunch of heavy dialogue. You, the audience, must find the message of the play through its music and it’s actually quite a nice way to discover oneself. While the first act of The River is moving, it’s the second act that will leave you breathless, because it deals with the “real deal” which is you, life and getting it together, once you have gone through all the changes in life, which is what the first act is about.” Our critic goes on to say, “The River moves with inspiration to motivate the mind, body and soul. If this description fits you, check out the production, and if you are still searching for yourself, check out The River and it might help you find yourself, without a lot of preaching too, just the comfort of some good old fashioned musical arrangements that state that the message is in the music and can be found in The River.” [End Quote]
Before we dive in, I should mention 4 things: First, that the exemplary work of Scenic Designer, William Barkley, Lighting Designer, Phil Monat, and Costume Designer, David Dill provided constant drama and continuous delight to the eye throughout the experience. Obviously, in this podcast rendition, those attributes get left out, but in this would of Theater of the Imagination, we’ll let each of your imaginations go to work for you. Here, you get to create the set, the lights and the costumes right there in your consciousness. Have fun. The music and lyrics will provide you with a whole palette of color, light and darkness.
It will, however, help you to know that the song, Burnin’ Up, takes place on a hot August night in the streets of Harlem in the 1990s as we watch a rather large wad of hundred dollar bills get passed from pusher to pimp to prostitute to passerby, in a joyous glimpse of Saturday night, hundred an’ tenth street frolic.
Also the song, Carnival, conversely, takes place at a posh upper East side New York elegant High Society Soiree.
And lastly, that the lyrics of our first closer, Revelation (that’s right, we have two closing numbers) come straight out of the Book of Revelation in the Bible.
And so now we take you to Act Two and our stalwart leader, Danny Madden, who helps us move through The Mire. So, let’s get ready to wallow …
“There shall be false teachers …”
Danny Madden
The whole Company now takes us to the streets of Harlem, Saturday night – and it’s …
Burnin’ Up
Lawrence Hamilton
This Is All I Ask
The Entire Company
Carnival
Jenny Burton
Love Runs Deeper Than Pride
The Whole Company
Love Runs Deeper Than Pride – Reprise
And finally, our one drop of rain reaches at last …
The Sea
Danny Madden
Into the Sea
The Entire Company
Revelation
The Ascension
Jenny Burton and Company
Take Me Up
Bows
Don’t It Feel Good — Reprise
So there ya’ have it. The River. The final Reprise of Don’t it Feel Good was supposed to be a short version that encompassed the bows, but the song went on into the night as the audience refused to leave the theater, knowing that this was its last performance. Tears of joy / Tears of sorrow.
Thank yous to Acolytes, Understudies and Standbys Jerry Dixon, Val Scott, and Jeffrey Hairston Smith, And Jenny Dawn Douglas who actually performed the role of Jenny Burton in all matinees. Also Anita Ross, Production Stage Manager and Ron Metcalf, Musical Director. All vital parts of THE RIVER.
Again, great gratitude goes to Jeremy Harris, our most loved mixing and sound engineer, for capturing digitally this historic moment in time. Had he not had the inspiration to do this, The River would just be a fading moment in time for only a few. And you and I would not be having this moment together.
Stay Tuned! Next? Remnants – Peter Link’s most recent album – The songs of a lifetime.
Also, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts … etc.
A very special thanks also to Stuart Barefoot, our Associate Producer for all your invaluable knowledge and good vibes.
And a posthumous thanks to Ludwig Van Beethoven for your opening 4 bars.
Julia
(over playout music)
This podcast is presented with loving care by the staff at Watchfire Music. If you liked what you heard, we got lots more where that came from. In the meantime, you can find the songs you just heard on watchfiremusic.com. There you can purchase the singles or albums and have access to all the lyrics. Also, there you will find all previous podcasts and future scheduling.
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