Origins

Composer(s) / Arranger(s): Kevin Cato

Performance Time: 19:03  |  Grade: 5  |  Style: Contemporary

Origins, A Look to the Stars is a seven-movement suite dealing specifically with the myths and legends from ancient civilizations as to how they came to be and the gods whom they worshipped. Cultures from all over the world tell stories of godly beings who came down from the heavens, passed on their knowledge, and later departed with the promise of one day returning. Orion's Belt and the Sirius star system seem to be of great importance and are consistently referred to as the places where these beings originated, "where the sky gods came from." Is it coincidental that all the ancient megalithic structures are somehow perfectly aligned to these star systems? What were our ancestors trying to tell us? Perhaps, the answers lie in the stars.
Orion's Belt 
Land masses, formations, objects, and constructs that are considered manufactured by man usually are identified as having symmetry. I chose asymmetrical meters with even and odd accents to give the appearance of being formed through natural development. Conversely, the time signatures 7/8 and 9/8 together equal 4/4 time, which reflects the natural and manufactured time feeling in the piece. Also, the beat patterns used throughout create a connection between ancient tribal rhythms and a contemporary orchestra.

Maelstrom
There is a looming calamity stirring throughout your daily activities. The eminent sense of danger is constantly pending but never truly engages its prey directly. You have a false sense of regularity that is coupled with something rather irregular. As such, the piece begins very aggressively with hammer accents and articulation, followed by inner melodic lines which should be played with an indirect intent. The next section clearly reflects a baroque style, and then it returns to the aggressive style at the close of the movement.

Nibiru 
Often referred to as Planet X, Nibiru is said to have an elliptical orbit passing through the inner solar system every 3600 - 3700 years. The movement has a timeless feel moving through an ebb and flow of tempo and dynamics creating a passion needed to birth a new world. Drama and Romanticism drive this piece with a strong focus on Impressionism. The combining of the two creates one with traits and characteristics of both.

Sirius
Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Artifacts of ancient civilizations have revealed that the star was of high importance in astronomy and mythology. In Ancient Egypt, Sirius was regarded as the most important star in the sky and was astronomically the foundation of the Egyptians’ entire religious system. It was associated with Isis, the mother goddess of Egyptian mythology. Thus, the movement illustrates the joy and pride of a mother creating life and nurturing her child through its life. The melodic lines should be played with an effortless sustained quality that is steady and secure, all-encompassing like a mother's love.

Anunnaki
The Ancient Sumerians texts describe the Anunnaki as a creator race of beings who brought advanced knowledge to their civilization. There are also stories of the Anunnaki being the great manipulators of the civilizations because of the superior stature, intellect, and technological advancements.

Work for accuracy of the musical lines and perform them as if they are "normal" melodic ideas with excitement and anticipation.

Aldebaran-Follower of the Pleiades 
Our modern society contemplated all the predictions and folklore to what would happen to the Earth in accordance with the ending of the Mayan astronomical calendar on December 22, 2012. With that said, this driving finale is a culmination of all the movements with interjections of past motives and styles. This reminds the listener to look towards the past to understand the future.