This was written in 2000- the inevitable celebration of the millenium.
The moment offered an invitation to take stock and wax poetical- to look
back in time, and then use that backwards glance as a mirror for the future.
Hence the title..
The piece is around 15 minutes long, scored for choir (SS.AA.TTB) and
small orchestra:
3 Fl, 3 Ob, 2 Cl. B.Cl, 3 Fg, 4 Hn, 3 Tp, 3 Tb, Tba, Timp, 3 Pc, Hp,
Vl, Vla, Vc, Cb.
There aren't many ensembles of this size and line-up around, so I'm still waiting for the definitive performance! Lyrics are included here below.
Information about ordering the music can be found on the "contact" page-
see link above.
Time's Mirror
Here we stand at the crossroads, here we stand in the present Halfway-house between history and the future spread before us Measured steps marked in years gone by, marked in centuries across the years - a Thousand paces have brought us here to the balance. Looking back on our progress, looking back on our lives. Roads, pathways are worn by walking, each footstep choices made. Old ways, new ways, diffírent roads have met, parted, joined the flow. Time has paced us, measured our lives. Each passing day, passing year, paths of our parents have formed us, Formed our reality, our personality, Shaped our thoughts, our visions, our identity, our humanity, forging a link in the chain, Each new link another sentence in the story, fashioning our lives. Time has woven a web of history, time is a weaver. Time is weaving, spinning a thread, weaving a tapestry. Time paints the memories on a canvas, portrait of life, Or the score on which is written the melody of a symphony, Time is a song, time is a rhythm of life, is a song. Time, the milestone by which we measure our steps, we measure our lives, our progress. Passing from parent to child, bridging the ages, Grave to the cradle, mother to infant, gift of inheritance over the years. Time, the mirror of life, time reflects history as a mirror, Mirror of life. Each tiny path, narrow lane, each road weíve walked has enriched us, Given us wings to fly, wisdom to touch the sky. Time has shown us our expanding universe, shown us the global dance, Widened our eyes, opened our ears. Time has taught us that our many paths have broadened, Taught us to be free, brought us unity, solidarity, Time, wonder of life. Step by step, year by year, from the past to a future Born of hope, born of hindsight, walking onwards into light. Now is a celebration of living, here is our chance. Celebrate the possibilities never offered before, not given or taken before. Possibilities for a future guided by wisdom, Guided by time, sum of experience wrought by time. Now is a celebration, millenial light. Visions of unity, dreams of a global dance. The wonder of time, creator of chance. A thousand years have gone by, another thousand to come, the Present balance a point of view, looking back and looking forwards. All the dawnings of bygone years, now a sunrise full of light and wisdom, Born of hindsight, a celebration of hindsight - a Thousand years have gone by, a thousand years still before us. Time, mirror of past and present. Light, casting rays of hope into the future. All the dawnings of bygone years brought to a brand-new sunrise Newborn light of the morning opening our eyes, born of hindsight, light of our years.
Time, mirror of past and present. Time, casting light, reflecting rays into the future. Hundred, thousand, million years of light, Signpost for us all, bright and hopeful, towards tomorrow. A thousand years have gone by, a thousand years still to come.