about the project
history
Back in 2002, I began to write two grandiose "rock operas" (for lack of a better term). I called these "Truth and Beauty Opus" and "Passion Suite." The former aimed to provide a sweeping overview of all history, from creation to consummation. The latter opened with the temple cleansing and (as the title implies) focused upon Jesus' passion, culminating in the resurrection.
As you can see by the thematic scope of these projects, both were intended to be lengthy compositions, comprised of several movements. I expected each to wind up somewhere in the 25-30 minute neighbourhood.
I allowed my music to "slide" for a while. But over the course of 2005, I became increasingly discontented with that, and ultimately decided to revisit the musical vision that I began with these two works.
But the vision shifted a bit, as I decided to place the "Passion Suite" into its appropriate place in the larger context of the "Truth and Beauty Opus," renaming the whole Metanarrative. Although it has frequently seemed that my reach had far exceeded my grasp, I undertook a task of composition and recording that has already taken me where I had never been before, musically speaking, and slowly the project has taken serious shape.
musical style
After recording most of the first volume of the project, I can speak more knowledgeably about the musical shape of Metanarrative. The "rock opera" terminology is quite suitable, but I have blended in a great deal of genre-defying material. (Regarding my position regarding rock music, see my essay at the Biblical Studies Center, "A Creational Perspective on Modern Music.")
My musical vision, as limited as my abilities are, is very strong on melody and (if I dare use such terminology in the same breath as my own music) artful beauty. I have long been drawn to classically-influenced progressive rock ("prog"), and to date this work reflects that predilection more than anything I have previously done. While classic prog features bizarre time signatures and virtuoso instrumentation, and this project does not, there are nonetheless a few significant nods in the prog direction: complex song structure; tracks of epic proportions (most notably, the CD version of Movement 7 weighs in at just over 16 minutes); genre-bending and unexpected musical turns.
I should stress at this point that the intention of this work is not to produce "ecclesiastical music." While I envision the possibility that some people may find some of the material appropriate for corporate worship, that is not what this is about. I never push for rock music in the worship of the Church. Neither, for that matter, is most classical music suitable for corporate worship. (Most of our psalms and hymns would be better described as high folk music than classical.) There are many things which legitimately bear witness to God's glory that do not belong in the gathered assembly. Sexual activity, for example. Therefore, although I make no apology for the musical style, neither do I push it where (for the most part) it does not belong.
looking forward
Work is well underway, and I hope to have volume 1 available in the summer of 2007. Please follow the news section on the project home page to keep updated with Metanarrative.