Program notes, Far Beyond Things Finite

Far Beyond Things Finite is the epilogue to The River of Light, a large-scale, full-evening cycle made up of seven works. Throughout the cycle, writers from different backgrounds (Jewish, Chinese Philosophy, Indigenous Canadian, Secular, Christian, Islamic and Hindu) describe journeys towards an exalted state based on their respective traditions. The impulse for the work comes from Dante’s vision in the Paradiso, where he enters the very centre of heaven and describes “a light in the form of river, radiant as gold”. The cycle attempts to demonstrate that no matter where we come from, or to whom we pray to, we all have a fascination with transfiguration into light, and that this unites us.

In the final movement based on the Hindu tradition, writer Sandeep Bhagwati quotes from the Rig Veda, the oldest surviving translatable document on the planet. It speaks of the Soma, a ritual drink referred to as the “creator of gods” or the “god of gods”, where with just the right combination of ingredients, the drink would give its user godlike powers: “For We Have Drunk the Soma, We Have Gone Far Beyond Things Finite”.

The River of Light and its epilogue, Far Beyond Things Finite, represents a culmination of works that attempt to musically depict a kind of heaven that is infinitely bright and infinitely dense, so listeners may occasionally notice dense pianistic textures with very high and bright overtones.

My deepest gratitude to the Eckardt-Gramatté National Music Competition 2019 for commissioning the piece through the Canada Council for the Arts, and for the outstanding competitors for their dedication and professionalism while learning the work.