1st Movement - soundtrack plus voices. Version 3.

Title: Overture to Transcendence

Note by Richard: 4-2-2007. After several weeks of pondering the task of overlaying David's wonderful instrumentation with voice, I have finally taken a stab at it. I am using the lyrics I wrote earlier. New words may be written as this progresses, but for now I am content to try out a half-spoken, half sung approach.

Note by Richard: 8-14-2008. Decided to go with all singing. Less recitative. Added primitive grunts in intro to suggest evolution of man.

Note by Richard: 6-21-2009. Backed off from primitive sounding grunts (my own voices). Used Boldt Church Choir (from Boldt 24-pack Vol. 1) to get full choral sound.

Note by Richard to David Gómez and André van Haren: 9-13-2009. I think I have finally achieved the proper "contour" of sound for Hungry For Heaven. All my previous bounces were too muddy. Here is Movement 1 remastered in Logic Express 7.2. You will notice a little bit more work with choral sounds in the beginning. But the main difference is that the instrumental soundtrack is more "alive" and the lead voice is not so heavy.

How did I come to this? I am now mixing with studio monitors: Altec Lansing ACS621 (subwoofer plus two satellite speakers). This is supposed to be better than mixing with headphones, they say. I would like your opinion.

I still think the orchestra could use some higher sympathetic (doubled) strings. And I think some additional percussive accents could help, too, starting at about 1:33. Things like triangle, cymbal, snare and castanet. Or at least try to make more distinct some of the instruments that are already in there. Unfortunately, we only have David's composite MP3 bounce. I believe David did movement 1 on his Yamaha Multitrack 16 and the original project files are gone. It would be nice to re-create Movement 1 instrumentation in Sibelius 5 or Logic 8.

2nd Movement - soundtrack plus voices.

Title: Pour Heaven on Me

Note by Richard: 4-26-2007. The lyrics that were originally written in a more formal style were slightly modified to plainspeak. The choral parts still need more work. The idea is to use St. Matthew's Church choir for a fuller range of voices, especially soprano and alto voices.

3rd Movement - soundtrack plus voices. Version 1.

Working title:
Knock Upon Your Door

Note by Richard: 5-8-200. 7Lyrics written and recorded in one day.

4th Movement - soundtrack plus voices. Version 1.

Working title:
Up From Death

Note by Richard: 10-18-2007. Lyrics written and recorded over a period of six months.

5th Movement - soundtrack plus voices. Version 3.

Title:
The Joy of Grace

Note by Richard: 11-7-2007. I decided to abandon the track David originally scored for movement 5. I will move parts of the original 5th movement into the 6th movement (which will be a litany of thanks).

So where did the new music for the 5th movement come from? David sent a track to me a few months ago. He came up with it on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 2007. He called it "The Joy of The Grace" and suggesed it might be added to the HFH song cycle. I wrote some of the words while watching my daughter play soccer in Rochester, MN. The rest of the words were noodled as I recorded my voices on my porch this week (using an Audiotechnica 3035 mic, Mbox interface, Macintosh G4/500, Logic Express 7.2).

6th Movement – partial demo

Working title:
The Gateway

4-21-2008. This movement is a litany of praise. It will have additional voices besides those of Richard.

7th Movement - soundtrack plus voices. Version 1.

Working title:
Lifting

10-22-2007. This movement rocks. He imagines himself running to the edge of the escarpment, then being caught in the love of the Spirit which lifts him to the mountain top.

8th Movement - soundtrack plus voices. Version 2.

Working title: The Hard Road

10-26-2007: He remembers a book he read, in his youth, with an especially poignant passage: "In time, you will realize that you have denied yourself nothing."

7-6-2009: David's instrumental soundbed, newly mastered by Richard Schletty (using David's Logic Studio 8 project, sent from Spain to Minnesota via FTP).

David changed the last few minutes of the movement so that the leitmotif could be revisited. This will necessitate some changes to my lyrics and singing.

David's orchestration by itself is a work of art.

9th Movement - soundtrack plus voices (rough mix)

Working title:
I Am the Way

4-7-2008. The Way, the Truth and the Life.

10th Movement - soundtrack plus voices (rough mix)

Working title:
Realization

4-17-2007. The search is at a climax. Just listen to David's bagpipes! That is powerful good stuff.

11th Movement - soundtrack plus voices (rough mix)

Title:
New Eyes, New Light

6-12-2009. It's as if the narrator cannot contain his wonder and awe -- he speaks, but then feels the inspiration and urgency to sing!!! Just as the instrumentalists are inspired to play with all their power and beauty.

This is the conclusion of the search. It began and ended with the miracle of new life: the "blessing of tissue."

Proposal from David, 1-6-2007. Hi again Richard: I have a proposal for you. I'm working now with my old forgotten skills of arrangement. The result is a few classic pieces with classic synth instruments. My target would be to create a Opus called "Hungry for Heaven", a kind of conceptual music work about the relationship betwen God and human beings (the silence of God, man facing death, the meaning of life... a lot of transcendental things) which would combine classic orchestral arrangements, progressive and symphonic rock, and some folk or acoustic. Of course I'll need beautiful lyrics (in English) and a powerful voice like yours. I know you're very busy (like me) but I'm interesting in making (step by step, "poco a poco" as we say in Spanish) a huge project that would combine diferent styles and a real professional production (at home, obviously). As well, I wish to express my beliefs and restlessness about God, Jesus Christ, and how religion determines our life. I know it's an abstract theme to make into music but I'd love to work together on a project like this. Are you interested? Here is example [1st Movement] which I've been working in. Tell me if you like it. Thanks a lot and have a nice weekend. Un saludo from Spain. David

Richard to David. From Richard, 1-6-2007. David: First Movement is absolutely divine yet rooted in terra firma. A dialog between man and heaven. I am very excited to be working on this with you. You have created an amazing soundscape. Incredible. As you send me these beginning pieces, let me know where you would like to have my singing. Will you be sending me specific ideas about the lyrics, or am I free to write whatever inspires? I will listen to the Third Movement now. Smiling, Richard Schletty

David to Richard, 1-7-2007. Hi again Richard and THANKS so much for your help. I send to you a new arrangement [3rd Movement] which I worked on this afternoon. I'd love if you'd take a few minutes to listen to it. It's just to give you a general idea about how it could sound. I hope you don't think I'm going too fast but I have to go back to work tomorrow and I don't know if I will have any time to work on music. Thanks again and have a nice week. Best greetings from Spain, David Gómez Sanz

Richard to David, 1-6-2007: I keep listening to movements 1 and 3. I really like what you have created. The soundscape is incredible. Very cinematic. I will start writing words now. Words about the human condition. Words about the man-god.

David to Richard, 1-8-2007. Thanks for your gentle words. My idea is there would be a "leit motif", a kind of melody or riff which would repeat in a few parts of the opus to give the idea that we are in front of a conceptual work, drawing on a similar theme. Anyway I give you the freedom to write the words you like. I have a general ideas about the lyrics:

– First of all, we are human beings and if we think about our existence on our planet, we have just arrived in comparison to others species, and God speaks to us in the person of His son Jesus. So what it it that makes us so different and special from the rest of creation of God? Is because our souls are enternal? What would be on the "other side" (I mean after death)? Those question could resume in a simple phrase such as, "What do you want of me, God"?
– Another interesting thing could be the eternal question which nonbelievers ask always about the silence of God... "If there be a God, how does He let evil things act in our world? How does He let good people suffer bad events?"

As you can see these are deep questions and it's difficult to express an answer in lyrics but I think your poem [Silent One] is a example of how to start to work. I'm thinking of the idea of a man who searches for God everywhere – he climbs mountains, walks the desert, sails the seas... yet he can't find God... but all the while God was close to him, in the people who surround him. You know what I mean? Well... this is quite serious!! As I said, I love your lyrics and I think you can create a good ambience to fit the music and lyrics. Once again GRACIAS!!! See you soon.

Richard to David, 1-8-2007: Yes, I understand what you mean by leitmotiv or leitmotif. "A guiding theme; In Wagnerian opera, a marked melodic phrase or short musical passage which always accompanies the reappearance of a certain person, situation, abstract idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a sort of musical label." Two examples that comes to mind are Mussorgsky's Promenade theme in "Pictures at an Exhibition" and the recurring theme in the "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy. It is very coincidental that Archbishop Harry Flynn had a similar message about the search for God in a sermon he gave yesterday at the Church of St. Francis de Sales, sister parish to St. James Church (just across the Mississippi River from where I live). Archbishop Harry said that people have looked for God in the great cathedrals of Europe, in the religious music and art of great masters, and in the great wonders of nature (like Mt. Everest and the Grand Canyon). But we forget that God can be found in the simple loving relationship of a mother and father caring for their child. The act of caring can be thought of as a sacrament. Yesterday was the Feast of the Epiphany so the family theme came through very strongly. They had wonderful, festive music. The reason I did not attend my own church was that I had lost my voice due to a chest cold and therefore could not sing with the St. Matthew's choir. My wife, Pat, and I wanted to go to another church for a change of scenery. We are glad we randomly picked St. Francis Church. The Archbishop was at that church for the installation of the new pastor, Fr. Juan Miguel Betancourt. The two parishes are united as one and a large number of Latino families have joined in recent years. If interested, see http://www.sf-sj.net. My own home parish is St. Matthew's. I am the webmaster for our parish and school web site -- http://www.st-matts.org. Richard Schletty
  

8th Movement – soundtrack only, remastered

8th Movement – remastered soundtrack plus voices

Working title:
The Dark Road

8th Movement – soundtrack only, remastered

7-6-2009: David's instrumental soundbed, newly mastered by Richard Schletty (using David's Logic Studio 8 project, sent from Spain to Minnesota via FTP).

David changed the last few minutes of the movement so that the leitmotif could be revisited. This will necessitate some changes to my lyrics and singing.

David's orchestration by itself is a work of art.

David to Richard on 4-29-2007: Here is the 9th Mov. I've been working in it all yesterday afternoon. It's a mixture of Broadway music hall, Grateful Dead idea, acoustic guitars, epic soundtracks, hammering pianos, U2 and Daniel Lanois inspiration... I like the result but as usual my mix is awful. In special, at 3:20 minute where all orchresta comes and it sounds too flat, too mechanical or artificial (I'd rather prefer more organic). I'll send the folder asap by Timbuktu. I don't know if all folder is complete 'cause I had to reorganizate my Apple folders (what a mess!). I hope you'll make such as good work as in 8th Movement. Good luck and infinite thanks once again. See you soon.

Richard to David: I like the 9th Movement, David. You have taken your creativity, lyricism, eclecticism and expression to a new height! I will enjoy working with this. The ostinato bass does get too repetitive in parts. My singing may help to reduce the repetitive feeling. I will try to bring out the higher parts more.

10th Movement – soundtrack only, mastered

Working title:
Who Is at the Center?

David to Richard on 5-13-2007: Hi Richard: Here is an example of what could be the last movement. I've fixed my Fender Stratocaster and I found interesting sounds. Some parts sound like it were out of tempo or meter but I think it has a few good ideas... what do you think about? I'll send all files as soon as possible and I hope you'd make a good work as usual. Thanks and see you soon.

Richard replied on 5-16-2007: ¡David! I think I have a nice mix of your soundtrack for 10th Movimiento. If there is something wrong with it, I will fix it. I look forward to adding words, although the soundtrack is beautiful all by itself!

The Joy of Grace – a soundtrack for possible inclusion in Hungry For Heaven

Letter from Ruth Ann to Richard on 4-18-2008:

Dear Richard,

I’ve waited to write because I wanted to listen more than once to your great music.  First, let me say, I believe you’re being inspired by God; the whole musical speaks of your relationship to Him.

Your seeking is gifted. God answers your sincerity in seeking Him by revealing his majesty, beauty and presence. Your work, then, in the musical, is to allow us watch as the exchange between you and the Holy Spirit (Whom Jesus said He was leaving behind to teach us all things) takes place.

Music with voice and instrument then becomes Revelation. Just as words reveal the meaning and action in a story, play, novel, poem . . . Your words, sung and spoken, together with David’s music, composed and played, together are lent, shared, given, to become God’s instrument or moving force, to do as He, alone, knows best.

Why? Certainly not to give the two of you something more to do! Rather: your work must become God’s conveyance–as if God is composing; God is singing; God is playing each instrument. And then, the song sung will sing to our hearts, minds and spirits.

Let me encourage you! Let me thank you! I know the tremendous work that has gone into your production. No one could ever calculate the hours–the very late and very early hours–that it has taken to create the lovely gift you’ve given to all of us. Again, thank you.

If I were not physically disabled right now, I would beg to let me produce your show.

While I finish my novel and get our Christian Healing books making the rounds of agents,  I want to be part of this, an encouraging sojourner, so to speak.

God bless, dear heart. We thank God for you and David; and for your openness and obedience to our magnificent and holy God.

Love and prayers,

Ruth Ann

Letter from Ruth Ann to Richard on 3-1-2009:

Thanks, Richard, for getting back to me.

I’d like to clarify as we go.  For example, in David to Richard, 1-8-2007, David says “but all the while God was close to him, in the people who surround him”. Scripture – John 15:4 - says God wants to be intimate with each of us, directly. Jesus says, ”Live on in me, as I do in you. No more than a branch can bear fruit of itself apart from the vine, can you bear fruit apart from me.....He who lives in me and I in him will produce abundantly for apart from me you can do nothing.”  In John 17:23 Jesus is talking to the Father: “I living in them, you living in me.”  Jesus says He goes (leaves Earth) that the Holy Spirit may come and dwell in us.

So then, there are three Persons living within each of us. I always say in talks: “They’re having a party in there.”

When we are baptized, we receive these three Persons. At confirmation, we give our adult recognition of the Holy Spirit’s presence – we confirm – and we give the Spirit permission to act in our lives. The Charismatic Renewal goes one further and has us ask for a fuller, deeper release of the same Holy Spirit already present, into our individual lives, with a promise to act on the spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit decides to manifest through us, individually.

I can’t be God to you. I can reflect attributes of a human being responding to God’s love by being good, holy, loving and more. But God does not intend us to seek Him in one another; He wants us to seek Him directly.

This, then, is the culmination of the man’s search; to find that all the while he’s seeking outside of himself, in nature and in others,  God is within him - waiting, yearning for the man to discover Him there.  (Sometime, I’ll tell you how I discovered this.)

Secondly, David asks “what makes us so different and special from the rest of creation?”

Let me be simplistic: Jesus Christ did not take on the nature of a rock, nor tree, nor elephant or dinosaur. Jesus Christ took on the nature of man.

Jesus Christ did not die to rescue nature, nor species of animals. Jesus died that man be restored to relationship with God.

Nature was created so that man had a place to dwell!  All nature leads to sustaining man. Nature was made to serve man. See Genesis. “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion......” But then, man gave into the temptation to be gods; and God banned man and cursed the ground . . . .

Why did God create man? Because He is Love, and the nature of love is to share itself, give itself away. God couldn’t help Himself; He had to give away the very essence of Who and What He is. And He does throughout Earth’s history, which will one day end. But Man will go on, his life now gathered into the forever life, the eternal life.

So, one must be careful in not adulating nature; nature is God’s tool and never to take attention from, but only augment, what we know of God, Himself.

David asks in this phrase, “What do you want of me, God?” Scripture says God asks that we believe.

The answer to why God allows evil? God gives free will. Irrevocable free will. He gave free will to the angels; they rebelled. Evil tempted man and man fell. If God constantly stepped in, the effect of man’s will would never be realized, therefore cheating him of the consequences of his acts of free will, and making free will a joke. God does step in at times, called miracles. And He does bless. But mostly, He allows man to experience the results of his choices, the fruit of his decisions and actions.

Thanks for giving me this opportunity to help in some small way. I still plan to ask you and Steve to meet with me to find a new rhythm for my Tobit musical.  By the way, that meeting will be a good time for Steve to get acquainted with your work; Steve asked if he could bring a friend to the meeting who is on production staff at Chanhassen. I need the meeting to be where there are instruments; we have none here.

Love and prayers for your wisdom and inspiration,

Ruth Ann