Haladyna, Jeremy – “Mayan Cycle, The” – [Innova/American Composers]

lombard   6/22/2010   A Library, CD

On this 2009 release, The Mayan Cycle, composer Jeremy Haladyna puts forth his system of sound crafted based on the Mayan calendar. The mathematics behind his musical interpretation of the planetary movements are beyond my comprehension; but the effort is impressive. According to his liner notes, he created a Luubscale, “an Earth/Venus system of 39 notes exactly interpreting the great luub cycle of 104 years. For it is only that often that Earth years, Venus years and the Mayan sacred almanac all fall into momentary alignment.”

In his compositions, Haladyna uses scratching as a way to express both the non-linear nature of time and as a “metaphor for the difficulty in getting these megacycles to align” and to portray different systems of time battling it out.

Heavy stuff.

In addition to Haladyna’s live scratching and use of 2-channel CD, he also enlists other artists on flute, celesta, oboe, organ, strings, and voice to help interpret these deep contemplations on time and the universe. Some pieces feel more earthly and classical (Borgia), others are dramatic and tense, and another is more celestial. Luubchords reminded me of an outerspace/horror movie/monster flick with its staticky tension punctuated by lasers or sabers. I also loved the creepy Snake Mountain, with its deliciously dramatic oboe/organ dance.