I Have Seen

Lyrics: © by Neville Potter
Music: © by Michael Strand

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What is I Have Seen?

I Have Seen is an audio-visual epic—an ode to the folly and hope of mankind.
It is a word- and sound-painting, a musical-like creation, with both gripping and intense tales and such dramatic music that you / an audience will not be left untouched.

I Have Seen can be performed in a small setting with just a band of about 7 musicians.
In its greatest extent it could be a full-fledged multi-media stage performance with orchestra, band, singers, dancers, lightshow, videos, animations, etc.
Besides, it is a work of art that invites to be recorded, filmed, and presented in any of the above forms to a broad public.

This piece of art is a collaboration of the English poet/lyricist Neville Potter (famous for his work with Chick Corea and Return to Forever) and Michael Strand, a Norwegian composer, singer, and guitarist.

Neville’s 23-verse poem inspired Michael to create a compelling composition. His dramatic sound-painting supports and elaborates upon the pictorial scenes in these poetic, powerful lyrics, and so text and music meet in a perfect marriage.

Before you listen to the music, you should read the lyrics, which I "sound-painted".
The indented verses are new lyrics, which are not in the two demos below. If you want to read the lyrics while listening to the music, you have to skip these verses.

The first two recordings on this page are old demos which you might look upon as a draft, which shall show the potential but also complexity of the work. There the composition is like a slide-show, where the pictures change too fast. The idea is to extend the transitions between verses with instrumental parts.

I added two instrumental passages, and as of October 2020 "I Have Seen" is more than 50 minutes long.

I Have Seen, version 2

This version is the base for the composition and arrangement which I current work on.
In connection with a Norwegian competion I asked Neville to write new verses, and I rearranged the piece to some extent. This recording was made on a 4-track cassette deck, and therefore lacks "space" in the soundscape. The lead-singer, Stig Olav Gjendem, had the ungratifying and admirable task to sing the whole piece in just one day, without much practice, and I think he did a great job.
Compared to the first version many parts are rearranged, e.g. the last two verses, and I added more guitar.

Musicians:

Michael Strand - Sequencer programming of all instruments and voices, guitars and vocals
Stig Olav Gjendem - lead vocals
Percussion/drums in verse 2, and drum groove in verse 7&8 (time signature 5/8 and 6/8): Paolo Vinaccia

Right-click the link to download the file in WAV-format. (507MB!)

I Have Seen, version 1

This is the original, first version with the original 17 verses. It has a longer ouverture than the second version. Some of the instruments' voices drowned or disappeared in the mix because of time problems. (A big thank you to Øistein Boassen who back then worked at Rainbow Studio, Oslo, and helped me with his time and know-how for free.)
During the intro there is a drum-part, where the bass drum got lost in the mix, and therefore this drumming might sound kind of awkward, and during the verse starting with «I saw a mighty river flood» the cello-voice got drowned in the mix. Both of these problems are fixed in the second version, but the piano is still not loud enough.

My wife Ingvil Strand was my muse and councelor during the composing process which took nine months. We discussed the lyrics, I dressed the melodies in musical garment and placed them in a musical "sound-scape" which inspiration brought to me.  Ingvil also sang several verses, and I love her rendition.
By the way, would you believe me, when I said I can't play the piano?

Musicians:

Michael Strand - Sequencer programming of all instruments and voices, guitars and lead vocals
Other vocals: My wife Ingvil Strand, Richard Ogilvy, "Lella".
Percussion/drums in verse 2, and drum groove in verse 7&8 (time signature 5/8 and 6/8): Paolo Vinaccia

Right-click the link to download the file in WAV-format. (523MB!)

What now?

October 6th, I finished the arrangement of the "Battlefield Elegy", and made a rough mix.
While digging through my notes and files and old MIDI-stuff, I came across this piece of music which had fallen through the cracks of time. This part will come after verse 9 "I've seen a thousand armies bold a marching off to war...", and therefore the name "Battlefield Elegy".
The music was inspired by a painting of Carl W. Röhrig, called "Seeking Happiness". My wife thinks it is so beautiful that it almost hurts. Let me know what you think.

Tuesday the 29th of September the mixing of I Have Seen starts, and it hopefully will be finished by the end of the month.

I have also finalized the arrangement of the new verses 3, 6, 11, and 15, and have recorded a first mix of the transition between verse 5&6.

18th of August: Today I made a rough mix of verse 6, which is one of the new verses and has a new arrangement. If you first listen to the instrumental transition between verse 5&6, and then to this new verse, you will get an idea of the context. Compared to the second demo, I had to make a new transition to what is now verse 7. Verses 7–9 have basically the same arrangement as before.
Here are two versions of verse 6 without vocal melody and verse 6 with vocal melody (not sung, just sketched with a synth, which kind of muddies the arrangement).

14th of August: Today I made a rough mix of verses 2-4 as a backing track to practice vocals.

I also made a proliminary arrangement and static mix of verses 15&16.

On August the 3rd I finished the draft of the overture's second half, from about just after the spoken first verse. This version is shorter than the first version's overture, but longer than the second one. I hope you like it.

On July 21st, I made a rough mix of verse 5, just the instruments, no vocals. The music at the end of this verse is supposed to illustrate what I call "a landparty". I thought it was a good idea to throw a party, since "the knight and the princess live to share an honoured life in which themselves they'd find". I made this section a bit longer than in the earlier demos. Right after you listened to verse 5 you should play the transition between verse 5&6 to get the context.

Today, July 28th, I made a rough mix of verses 10 to 13 (without vocals), where verse 11 has new lyrics and a new arrangement. I also added more guitar.

Next I will record the guitar solos in verses 10–12, and post a basic mix here.
Then comes the arrangement of verse two and the new verse three with the short transition between them, and afterwards I will finish the arrangement of verses 6–9, record the lead guitars and upload the mix here.

Later this year it is time to wrap up the recording of this project.
Anders Gjønnes will be the lead singer, and the vocals will be recorded at Norsk Lydstudio, Mjøndalen, Norway, on the 1st of September. Later we will mix this creation.

 

  1. I have seen the dawn of the universe,
    standing, bold and proud.
    The game to end all games, they laughed,
    then wrapped it in a bitter shroud.
    While the horsemen of the Apocalypse
    rode swiftly o'er the crowd,
    and you'll likely feel I'm a foolish man
    to tell this tale out loud.
    The new overture's second half
  2. Rough mix of verses 2-4
    (new, no vocals)
    I've seen the eyes of a soul in pain,
    distraught by the wrath of fools;
    entrapped by aesthetic promises;
    laced with the stings of the cruel,
    wondering why he left his home
    to taste their bitter gruel.
    Hoping that someday, somehow,
    he'd overcome the tyrants' deadly rule.  
    [ New transition ]
  3. [ Same music as in verse 2 ]
     
    I've seen the glow of a bright new star
    reflect in a stagnant pool;
    dimmed by the mindless bigotry
    dressed in the words of a fool.
    So adament in her view on life
    that no one stemmed her fuel.
    Hoping that through trust and love
    could come to shine a better world renewed.
  4. I've seen the building of the pyramids,
    to hide the treasure rare.
    Entombment of the living flesh
    to serve the pharaoh's lair.
    Visitations in the night,
    creating a great despair.
    A million violations of a caring being
    and no one seemed to care,
    and no one seemed to care.
  5. [New rough mix]
    I've seen a knight scale battlements
    no mortal man could climb,
    to rescue from that cruel black prince,
    a princess pure and kind;
    and seen him smote an evil spell,
    that through their hearts had been entwined.
    To live to share an honoured life
    in which themselves they'd find.
     
    Instrumental transition (WAV-file; right click to download)
     
    [ New arr. for verse 6. ]
  6. I've seen conquistadors embark
    to conquer unknown lands.
    I've seen them sell their souls for gold
    abandoning all pious stands
    defenseless in their faithless faith.
    So, retribution now demands
    that all be made to pay a price
    for wasted hope and bloodstained hands.
  7. I've seen the hurricane awake
    on a golden balmy day;
    to punish all but stoutest barks
    who deep within its jaws did stray,
    with black-green walls of sea and spume
    like devil's armies on display.
    But there were always fearless men
    who'd never yield to dark dismay.
  8. I've seen the tempest's anger pound,
    upon a hull of oak.
    I've heard its timbers creek and moan,
    as the violent sea inflicts its stroke.
    And many ships have failed to see
    the welcome dawn unfold its cloak.
    They only live as legends now,
    but of them a thousand tales are spoke.
  1. I've seen a thousand armies bold
    a marching off to war:
    Byzantine, Persian, Mongol hordes.
    And each one felt he knew the score,
    but all who won and all who lost,
    are marching bold no more.
    And silence stalks the battlefields,
    wondering what it all was for.
    [ "The Battlefield Elegy" ]
  2. Rough mix of verses 10-13
    (new, no vocals)
    I saw a young boy lose his dog
    and fight to hide his tears.
    I saw him search and search the land,
    till darkness swamped his fears.
    With blooded feet he walked the land,
    his purpose strong and clear:
    to find a friend, who for him
    was something more than dear,
    was more than dear.
  3. I've watched a young girl shed the bonds
    of a repressive company.
    And overcoming fierce reproach
    to her unquestioned right to be.
    But there still lurks the wrath of those
    who sight a pious blasphemy
    when faced with loss of specious powers,
    and fear of spirits being free.
  4. I saw a gentle man shot down,
    that made me feel unreal.
    I cried for those whose pain is such
    that they no more can feel.
    In times of hate I searched for love,
    in famine searched for meal.
    And even though he died with naught,
    I saw a man refuse to steal.
  5. I saw a mighty river flood;
    I watched it taunt the morning dew.
    Upon a golden throne I sat,
    holding orb and scepter too.
    I've given knighthoods, taken heads,
    and watched as discontentment grew.
    I faced the pain at Agincourt,
    when stronger men they all but flew.
  6. I've seen an empire built and lost,
    while most men sat and wondered why.
    Not one man stood to boldly ask,
    why empires strongly built must die.
    But it was clear when screams of terror,
    filled the crimson sky,
    that having more but serving less
    brings mighty kings to cry.
     
    [ New arr. for verse 15&16. ]
  7. I've seen false prophets take their toll
    on men who seemed so strong.
    Misled by leaders' frantic cries,
    and so fanatically being wrong.
    But there are those who won't accept
    that fatalistic throng;
    who won't succumb to fixed ideas,
    as puppets fed a battle song.
  8. I've seen the books of wisdom burned
    by men who claimed to know
    what minds should see,
    what minds should read,
    what seeds a man should sow.
    I've yearned for knowledge as for love.
    'T was always such a blow
    to feel suppression's mindless bonds,
    while wanting so to fully grow.
  1. I've seen once more the mushroom clouds
    that sent a shiver through my spine,
    and breathed for those who breathed the dust
    that permeated such a crime;
    and screamed for those who could not scream,
    through throats that burned like lime;
    and wept for those who could not weep.
    They never had the time.
  2. I've seen a man who dreamed a dream
    that all mankind could share,
    who taught that truth and love could win,
    where lies and hate had built a snare.
    Then seen him left by those he helped
    who somehow seemed to dare,
    to throw his dreams back in his face,
    and leave him hanging bare,
    and leave him hanging there.
  3. I've seen the hope of a wistful child,
    exuberant with joy,
    and felt the warmth of a love so pure,
    that no man could alloy.
    I saw him drink the morning sun,
    that quadrillion-year-old boy,
    and gazed upon the Milky Way,
    as if it were his favourite toy.
  4. I watched a galaxy unfold
    felt wonder as it grew.
    I've seen the universal hope
    in a newborn's smiling eyes of blue.
    But there are some who'd cloud those eyes
    and visions of the few,
    who dare to look beyond this world
    for other worlds to view.
  5. I've seen this solar system's mass
    from every point of view,
    from Venus, Pluto, Saturn, Mars
    and even asteroids I knew.
    But Earth impacts and Earth detracts,
    the visions of the few,
    who dare to look beyond this world,
    for other worlds to view.
  6. I've seen a wild rose bring to life,
    a wretched desert stark and burned,
    for eons fraught with dust and drought,
    a host of rainbows now returned.
    A place where songs of hope are sung,
    where once survival's voice was spurned.
    The dawning of a brand new world
    where life's true lessons can be learned.
  7. And now I've seen the key to life
    unfold before my eager eyes.
    The mysteries of the universe, revealed,
    emblazoned across our skies.
    And all we have to do is want to see
    and wish to shed the lies.
    To find a better way to live,
    to set the goals, reach for the skies.
    Let's find a better way to live
    let's set the goals and reach the prize.
    Let's find a better way to live
    and set the goals to reach the prize.

16) Without knowing about book burning in Argentina, when I read the lyrics to verse 16 (verse 15 was written later), I was inspired to put music to this verse, which resembles Argentinian tango.
Later I got confirmation of the validity of the musical framework to this topic.
In the first version of "I Have Seen" you can hear the original arrangement of the music to the lyrics "I've seen the books of wisdom burned ...", which I since have used for the new verse 15, while verse 16 got more of a tango mood to it.

Book burning, and art destruction has happened many time throughout history, both because it might have similar cultural, religious, or political connotations, and because in various historical cases, books and artworks were destroyed at the same time.

I found out that in 1979, a people's library in Buenos Aires was attacked by masked men who burnt 8 000 books. No official information was given about this event. The most notorious book burning occurred at the Centro Editor's.
Another interesting fact about "forbidden books" is that the Argentinian artist Marta Minujín has used 100,000 prohibited books to construct a replica of the Parthenon in Athens on a Nazi book-burning site in Kassel, Germany.

Her kan du lese om noen av mine tanker rundt bakgrunnen og forklaring til teksten.