ABOUT THE MUSIC - In Love and Longing

ABOUT THE MUSIC
On the album In Love and Longing, Silvia Nakkach and David Darling
take us on a tender and soulful voyage born of the romance between cello
and voice. Like the play of Shiva and Shakti—the fundamental forces
from whose indestructible union all creation flows—the cello and voice
weave a cinematic tapestry of emotion. Together, cello and voice create a
rich acoustic landscape filled with gentle movements that evoke sensuality,
prayer, joy, and longing—the whole range of feeling.
The compositions draw from many places, many languages, and the voice
is a musical instrument that crosses many cultural frontiers. Touching on
genres as diverse as jazz, bossa nova, and Afro-Brazilian chant, as well as folk
and classical traditions from around the world, the music unfolds beyond
any category to create an open and spacious tone poem.
This music invites us, as listeners, to become alchemists who play with all
the elements that create the music, as sound becomes image and image turns
seamlessly to poetry. The sounds of the words of poetry in the compositions
are emphasized more than their meaning. The intention is to invoke the
intangible world of the spirit.
This is true art music, vivid and orchestral in scope, but full of subtle,
microtonal movements—simultaneously an ode to love and intimate
communion with all things. Love becomes the inquiry, the answer, and the
life within the music. May listening open your heart to your own story, your
own longing.
The reawakening of unknown textures of love has been a continuous
presence throughout the four years it took to make this album. During this
time, unpredictable life changes have occurred that deepen the meaning of
longing for me and David. Likely, making this music helped us realize what
we truly know: that music is in this world to quiet the mind and make it
sensitive to divine intervention. As Rumi says, “Out beyond ideas of wrong
doing and right doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.”
—Silvia Nakkach
It was a great privilege to work with Silvia Nakkach, her wisdom, and her
beautiful heart to make this music of the world. The journey that we created
together will give the listener many kinds of experiences. Our collaboration
merged Indian raga, jazz, contemporary, modern classical, and beautiful
songs from many cultures. Sound Blessings All That Sounds.
—David Darling
TRACK TITLES
This longing you express
is the return message
—Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks
1. Luar (Moonlighting)
2. Alma Divina (Divine Soul)
3. Missing You
4.Melting
5. Beyond Words
6. Adoro Voar (Loving to Fly)
7. Icaro Blue
8.Awakening
9.Indiago
10.Slowly
Music composed, performed, and arranged by David Darling and
Silvia Nakkach
Executive Producer: Silvia Nakkach
Producer: Christopher Eickmann
Additional Musicians:
Kit Walker, piano and sound design (tracks 1, 2 & 3)
Christopher Willits, guitar (tracks 3, 6, 7 & 10)
Steve Gorn, bansuri flutes (track 10)
Christopher Eickmann, percussion and sound design (tracks 6 & 7)
Recording Engineers:
Kit Walker @ Free House Music studios, Olema, CA
David Darling, assisted by Julius Holcott @ Camp David Studios, CT
Christopher Eickmann @ Creative Scores & Magico Studios, Emeryville, CA
Mastering and other miracles: Ryan Kleeman @ Overlap Studios, Oakland, CA
Art Direction and design: Jennifer Miles
DEDICATION
in the memory of Michael Knapp, who is now playing music for God
In gratitude and unfolding grace to: Mayumi Oda, who first dreamed of this
music collaboration, and Al Evers for his realistic support; Ryan Kleeman
and Christopher Eickmann, who made this album their vision and launched
into a mission of love and “editing” for more than two years; Coleman
Barks for his infinite inspiration. Much appreciation goes to all the friends
and musicians who give life and housed this music: Patricia Yenawine;
Janis Phelps, Laura Duke; Cathy Coleman; Alba Lirio and Joseh Garcia;
and the poets, teachers, and voices around the world who teach us how to
listen. Special thanks goes to those who listened first and who continuously
supported our creative journey: Tami Simon, Mitchell Clute, and Jennifer
Brown from the divine Sounds True team.
LYRICS
2. Alma Divina (Divine Soul)
1. Luar (Moonlighting)
Portuguese Lyrics
Portuguese Lyrics
English Translation
Lua Nova
Lua Cheia
Vida Passageira
Amante Espera
Lua Cheia
Amante Espera
Enamorada
A Lua Cheia
Cura Cura . . . Curará
Lua Cheia
Lua Nova
Lua Cheia
Vida Passageira
Clareia
New Moon
Full Moon
Life . . . Impermanent
A lover . . . Waiting
Full Moon
A lover . . . Waiting
In Love
Full Moon
Heals, Heals . . . Will Heal
New Moon
Full Moon
Life . . . Impermanent
Full Moon
Clear
Alma Divina
Humildemente
Humil–de-mente
Sem mente-de-amar
In mente-de-amar-se
Por amor, por amar
Sem mente
Humildemente
Humil–de-mente
Ca-den-te
Ca-den-te . . . mais
Cantar por só cantar
Amar por só amar
Dia a dia
Prevê-treve.
Breve-treve
Sem começo
Amar sem fim
Amar por amar
Vida Divina
Alma Divina
Traditional Yoruba chant-salutation
to Yoruba’s Orixá Oxum, messenger
of spiritual elegance and sweetness
Ye Ye Ye, Ye Ye Ye Xorodô
E o Mà Solo Mà Fè-Fè
Xorodô Xorodô Xorodô
Oxum elola, Oxum elola
Alma Divina
Ye Ye Ye Yemanja
Segredos do mar
A cor do céu
A linha espera
A filha do Mar
A Rainha do Mar
Mãe mãe mãe mãe do mar
Ela é, Ela é, a Rainha, Rainha
Alma Divina
Gente Fina
Alma Divina
Alma Divina
Gente Fina
Mãe mãe mãe da água
Deusas do Mar
Imenso
Começo sem fim
Sem mente
Alma Divina
English Translation
Divine Soul
Humbly
Humble-of-mind
Without mind. Mind-less-ly.
Minded of love
Dementia of loving
For love
To love
Without mind
Humbly
Humble-of-mind
Lacking of more
Singing just to sing
Love just to love
Day by Day
Life Divine
Start anywhere
Start anywhere
Loving endlessly
Loving just for loving Divine Soul
Ye Ye Ye, Ye Ye Ye Xorodô
E o Mà Solo Mà Fè-Fè
Xorodô Xorodô Xorodô
Oxum elola, Oxum elola,
Divine Soul
Ye Ye Ye Yemanja
Secrets of the sea
Colors of heaven
Ancestors waiting
Daughter of the Sea
Queen of the Sea
Mother, Mother, Mother of the Sea
She is the Queen
Divine Soul
Nice People
Divine Soul
Gente Fina
Mother, Mother, Mother
of the Water
Goddess of the Sea
Immensity
Beginning without end
Mind-less-ly
Divine Soul
Se eleva
No incerto
Deixe livre soltar meu canto
Alguém que escuta
E ainda assim, eu canto
3. Missing You
Let my chant soar free
Let my voice fly
Through the wind, in the sky
Among serene
Clouds
Made of divine breath
Let my cry fly free
Let my voice free to express
what I feel
The voice that cries
The voice that awaits
The voice that the air embraces
And carries away
Far, far away
Far, far away
Far, far away
Portuguese Lyrics
Deixe livre soltar meu canto
Deixe a voz voar no ar
No vento, no céu,
nas nuvens
serenas
Do sopro . . . divino
Deixe livre soar meu pranto
Deixe livre sair da voz o que eu sinto
A voz que grita
a voz que espera
A voz que o ar . . . abraça e leva
Longe
Longe
Longe
English Translation
High
In the mystery of the uncertainty
Someone is listening
And even so…I am singing
Traditional salutation to Yoruba’s
Orixá Yemanja, messenger of the
power of the ocean and nurturing
mother of all creation, Yemanja
4. Melting
Yemanja, Odo, Yemanja Odoiá
Odoiá
Yemanja Odoiá
Portuguese Lyrics
Yemanja
Odoiá
Sereia do Mar
No Fundo do Azul
Azul
No Azul do Ar
Yemanja Odo,
Yemanja Odoiá Odoiá
English Translation
Yemanja Odoiá
Siren of the ocean
In the depth of the blue
Blue
Within the blue of the air
5. Beyond Words
Portuguese Lyrics
Se Chamar
Te Prendo
Se Chamar
Te Solto
Se Chamar
Ainda’Eu Volto
Saudade não no é tristeza
Saudade é amor
Toca essa musica ---- de seda Eu
sou de Nana
Ewe Ewe’a
Eu sou de Nana
English Translation
6. Adoro Voar (Loving to Fly)
If you call me
I hold you
If you call me
I let you go
If you call me
I still come back
Longing is not sadness
Longing is love
Play that music made of . . . silk
I miss the way you loved me
I miss the way we . . .
were . . . together
I miss the way you smiled
I miss the way
we played . . . together
I miss the way you cared . . . for me
I miss the way you made me feel . . .
like a child bird
Traditional salute to Yoruba and
Afro-Brazilian Orixá Nana, the
grandmother of all creation, messenger of calm and benevolence. Ewa is
a divinity of song, of happy and alive
things. Possessing a rare enchantment
and beauty, she is the queen of metamorphosis and transformation.
I miss the way you loved me
I miss the way . . . to me
Eu sou de Nana
Ewe Ewa
Eu sou de Nana
Faz de mim, um instrumento
pra voar
Faz de mim, um instrumento
Living inside memories
I miss my way
Memories returning
IT’S A VOYAGE
IT’S A VOYAGE
pra voar para te ver . . .
Faz de mim, um instrumento
para mudar o tempo
Faz de mim, um instrumento
pra voar e te ver
Desperto
Eu adoro voar!
Eu adoro voar!
IT’S A VOYAGE
I miss the way you love me
I miss my way . . . to me
Answer my call!
Set me free
Set me free
Of you . . . and me
Make me an instrument to fly
Make an instrument to fly
and to see you
Make me an instrument
to change time
Make me an instrument to fly
and to see you awake
I adore flying!
I adore flying!
7. Icaro Blue
Icaros are healing chants and
incantations dictated by the plants
to the shaman, traditionally sung
by the Shipibo people of the
Peruvian Amazon.
It’s Love that lures me . . .
to this place
It’s Love that drags me . . .
to this heart cage
It’s Love that makes
this Voice . . . Sing
Seeking you. Seeking you.
It’s Love that enters this Mind state
It’s Love that carries me away
Seeking you
Between heaven and oceans
It’s Love that takes me to other hearts
Desire
Scared
Silence
Sky
Gazing
Dancing clouds
Blessing
I traded my sorrow
For seeds
And with my tears I planted a tree
A tree of love
And memory
Out of this place and time
I only can be . . .
What you made of me
Marirí . . . Marirí . . . Marirí . . .
Aye . . . Aye
Esencia cura cura Esencia curara
English Translation
Marirí: healing essence that heals
and . . . will heal
8. Awakening
The lyrics and melody are from
a traditional Yoruba chant. In
the Yoruba and Afro-Brazilian
Candomble tradition, the Orixás are
intermediaries between the Creator
and all beings. This is a salute to the
Orixá Obàtálá, messenger of spiritual
purity and pure light, creator of
human bodies.
Ojó Ibió Reó
Eie Xanfo Oroxa Xire
Ojó Ibió Reó
Eie Xanfo Oroxa Xire
David’s Cello with clothes
pins on Alma Divina
Ryan Kleeman and
Christopher Eickmann
at Overlap Studios,
Oakland, CA
Kit Walker, David Darling
& Julius Holcott at Camp
David Studios, CT
Producer Christopher
Eickmann on board
David Darling is a Grammy® Award-winning
cellist who has released numerous solo
albums, appeared on many acclaimed
recordings, and performed with the Paul
Winter Consort since 1970. He studied jazz
performance at Berklee College of Music. For
more information, visit daviddarling.com.
© DAVID DARLING
Ryan Kleeman
and Silvia Nakkach,
late night mastering
© MARY GAETJENS
Silvia Nakkach is an author and awardwinning composer who has released numerous
albums. She is the founding director of
the international Vox Mundi School of the
Voice. She studied under the direction of the
late Ali Akbar Khan for 29 years. For more
information, visit voxmundiproject.com.
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