The book of Urizen - Jacob de Haan

The Book of Urizen is a work for concert band, solo soprano, and a male narrator in which sound collages of religious expressions are used. The piece is inspired by the compelling visionary poem of the same name (which the poet illustrated himself) by the Englishman William Blake (1757-1827), who occupies a unique position in western literature and the visual arts. He was not just a poet and a writer, but he was also a graphic artist, a painter, an illustrator, a spiritualist, a religious visionary, and a mystic philosopher.

For the performance of this work, a professional sound system, including two microphones and a CD player, is needed. The three sound collages are three separate tracks on the enclosed CD and can be played easily at the right moment.

The Book of Urizen bears resemblance to Genesis and Exodus, of which the contents form the basis of the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic faith. Blake adhered to the principle that all religions are in fact one, and that deities reside in human beings. In The Book of Urizen this is represented in "The Net of Religion," which is spanned over the earth by Urizen. The sound collages, compiled by Jacob de Haan in the studio, find their origin in Jerusalem, the Holy City, where the afore-mentioned faiths "come together."

In the first movement of this composition, The Vision, Urizen prepares his vision of the world, and he presents this to the "Eternals." His vision is rejected, and Urizen locks himself up in his own abstract world. When he does emerge again, he is confronted with rage by the gathered Eternals. Urizen flees the wrath of the Eternals, "the flames of eternal fury," and enwombs himself in his own world. When the Eternals see Urizen in his "stony sleep," they wonder if this is death. The blacksmith Los is torn by grief because of the isolation of Urizen. It brings him to rouse his fires, prepare his forge, and to give Urizen's world concrete form.

In the second movement, The Creation, Urizen's world, but also man, woman, and child are created. Los is horrified with the appearance of Urizen's body. He mourns and pities Urizen, and from his blood a female form comes into being, with the name Enitharmon. The Eternals, fearful of the female form, decide to erect a tent to obstruct their view to eternity.

Enitharmon and Los beget a son, called Orc. Los baptizes him as a child of the "fallen world." Orc is fed at Enitharmon's breast, which makes a girdle of jealousy restrict Los' chest. He takes the child to the top of the mountain and chains him down. The cries of Orc awaken Urizen, who explores his world creating instruments of scientific measurement to do so. Los encircles the face of Enitharmon from the sight of Urizen and Orc. She then populates the earth by giving birth to an enormous race.

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