SONG MENU:
1. The Eyes of the Realm
2. Passages of Courage
3. Test Your Metal
4. It's A Mystery To Me
5. Don't Tempt Me Fate
6. Sometimes I See A Star
7. A Plan for the Universal Happiness...
8. Dance With Me Tonight
9. Rescue
10. Mirror of Simple Souls
SONG CREDITS:
Lyrics: Michael Gould
Music: Michael Gould/Li'Anne Drysdale/B.J. DeClue
Michael Gould: guitar
Li’Anne Drysdale: keys
Christy Campbell: lead vocals
Gina Ronat: lead vocals (middle)
Anthony Saitta: drums
B.J. DeClue: bass
Robert J. Noles: acoustic guitar,
backing vocals
Members of the Springfield
Chamber Chorus: .Mandy Shelton,
Amy Francis, Stacey Luehrs,
Cristopher Brammer, Kelly Garrison, Adam Karnaghon, William Chiles,
Brad Groves.
Backing vocals: Gina Ronat, Mandy
Shelton, Christy Campbell, Robert J. Noles.
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Deep in the dungeons of the Cathedral of St. Eulalia in Barcelona, English spy Viana D’Alverez makes contact with a mole within the Spanish Inquisition. Meanwhile, directly above the torture chamber, the Grand Inquisitor leads his flock in prayer.
Whispers in the darkness; tell me, are you friend or foe?“
Do not be afraid,” he said, “You’re far away from home”
Prayers ascend above me, I’m trapped in Hell below
Voices in the darkness say, “You’re far away from home”
But the eyes of the realm ever watch over me
Watch over me, Watch over me
Your eyes are watching over me
Music fills the air
The appointed hour is nearing
Mater Dei, Ave Maria...
Whispers in the darkness; tell me, are you friend or foe?
“Do not be afraid,” he said, “You’re far away from home”
Prayers ascend above me, I’m trapped in Hell below
Voices in the darkness say, “You’re far away from home”
On the ground we speak of stars
We share the secret need to know
I send to you, my illumined friends
a gift of hexagonal snow
Watch over me, Watch over me
Your eyes are watching over me
Watch over me, Watch over me
Your eyes are watching over me
To the Castle of the Stars
I beg of you to hear me
Mater Dei, Ave Maria....
Whispers in the darkness; tell me, are you friend or foe?
“Do not be afraid,” he said, “You’re far away from home”
Prayers ascend above me, I’m trapped in Hell below
Voices in the darkness say, “You’re far away from home”
Whispers in the darkness; tell me, are you friend or foe?
“Do not be afraid,” he said, “You’re far away from home”
Prayers ascend above me, I’m trapped in Hell below
“I will not be afraid,” I said “I know I’m not alone”
But the eyes of the realm ever watch over me
The eyes of the realm ever watch over me
© 2013 Theatrum Mundi
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COMMENTARY
In Barcelona in 1595 the Cathedral of St. Eulalia was the center of both town worship and the Spanish Inquisition. This particular song is based on first-hand accounts of women arrested by the Tribunal (the office of the Inquisition). One woman described the dungeon she was held in as being directly under the altar in the church above, and how, when the upstairs door opened, she could hear the choir singing and sermons being preached, meanwhile the prisoners were being tortured below. A particular fear the captives had was hearing nuns approaching singing "Ave Maria," because the Second Degree of Torture, according to the Grand Inquisitor's Manual, was physical torture for the length of one "Ave Maria."
Musically, this song started off as a classical composition by Michael, a symphony in four movements. Different sections of the song were structured around the main musical theme from each movement.
The original title of this song was "A Gift of Hexagonal Snow." This was the title of a scientific work on the geometry of snowflakes written by astronomer Johannes Kepler. The Agents of the Realm use this book as a code-book to communicate. As almost nobody could understand mathematical symbols at the time, this would have been a pretty good starting point for secret communiques.
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