>?> The
Merlin Mystery <?<
CD of Music by ALKÆMY
Anyone
who's studied the official Merlin Mystery web site will have found the
pages about a CD of music to accompany the book. The CD is called appropriately
"The Merlin Mystery", performed by the group "ALKÆMY".
The group is pianist/composer Julia Taylor-Stanley with assistance from
others. The CD is released by Earthtone Records UMD80526, and if I was
pushed to compare the music to someone else, I'd say Celtic like Clannad/Enya-ish.
Here in the UK no-one from the record company seems to have told the distributers
to normal Music retailers, as I asked at Virgin and MVC, but they had no
catalog entry for the CD so could not order it. Thanks to smeagle on the
official MM Bulletin Board, I was pointed to Dillons (the bookshops) who
appear to have had a small stock of the CDs. (In the USA it can be ordered
from Amazon on the internet).
Now, apart from the nice music, there are two further reasons why a Merlin
Mystery questor may be interested in the CD. Firstly, Jonathan Gunson provided
lyrics to one track and "Merlin's Narration" (commonly known
as Merlin's Whisperings) which are spoken (by Joss Ackland as Merlin) during
and between tracks. It has been suggested that these Whisperings are in
fact clues to help solve the mystery. Secondly, Jonathan Gunson and Martin
Combe provided all the illustrations for theCD booklet, which follow similar
designs to the book itself.
Whisperings:
They are not printed in the booklet, and the listener has to work
them out... for those who can't get the CD, this is how I interpret them:
From the track "Wizardry":
Run, run far from the forest's whisper to the
enchanted place. Here ye shall find the secret chronicles of your desire,
beside the riven door. Betwixt these enchanting masts of light you might
find the way to alchemy. (NB - there are different
interpretations of this, such as "enchanting masks of light")
From the track "Faerie Entertainers":
Look ye sweet princess, to where the horns of
Pendragon cast a fanfare on the golden prince of your dreams. Seek within
a box of jewelery a necklace, to where the fairest kiss may be unveiled.
(NB - there are different interpretations
of this, such as "Seek within a box of jewelled enigmas" suggested
by Cosmic Stardust)
From the track "Dream Sweet King":
Dream sweet king, for your memory lives, and long
shall live. "HIC IACET UTHER REX". Yon wizard of stone, and your
son who mourns, and there, too, the Lady of the Lake, do take your part
forevermore in their silvered silence. Here, too, it shall be that Arthur
and his ancient magical master do hold the keys, but yet, shall turn the
page to the fabled spell of Alchemy, whence all shall return to walk this
way once more, in the wonder of the Magic Realm, together.
From the end of the CD (after the last track):
Alchemy, the most ancient secret science, some
might even call it magic. The transformation of base metals into gold,
negative into positive. The ultimate power over the natural world, and
the quest for that secret has begun. Twas writ with golden quill that Merlin's
astrolabe will betray the sign you seek. Illuminations from the ancient
parchments will inscribe the shadows of your revelation. Omega's sign conspires
with the astral flame to lead you ever toward the magic realm. Behold the
view through the lucid looking glass, and step through the magic portals
to where the answer lies. The near horizon's royal prism shall open a window
to Merlin's crystalline power. Collect ye the stones of fire with the leaves
of life, for together they shall yield the power to see all things. Linger
not by the gates of the netherworld, for the Queen of time shall shed the
light of stardust on the pathway home. Far away in the Pendragon ramparts,
the key to the castle gate may be found. See the pages of enchantment,
for this will give you the lovers' secrets. Follow the spellfire's deadly
light and find your truth where the stone is riven. The never-never boy
will take you beyond the castle battlements and ramparts, and there ye
shall trace your Alchemist's fortune. Why do the marigolds seek to tumble
from their magic frame? Could it be these blooms seek a golden reward?
Alchemy, some might even call it magic. The ultimate power. The quest for
that secret has begun.
(followed by a young child laughing, and saying "bye-bye")
Illustrations:
They follow similar themes to those in the MM book. The front
and back of the CD booklet (and the back of the CD case) are bordered
with a single line, with the same 4 corner symbols as on the front cover
of the MM book:
Front
of CD booklet
Back
of CD booklet
Back
of CD case
Inside the booklet are pages with track listing,
lyrics and credits. Like the MM book, the CD booklet is better described
in 2-page spreads. There are five 2-page spreads. The first two, and last
two, are bordered in a very similar way to the front cover of the MM book,
but in varying colours. The middle spread, however, is far more interesting,
as it has a squared border, similar to those inside the MM book. Due to
the different shape of the CD booklet to the MM book, there are 60 border
squares (rather than 48 in the MM book). Also interesting are the objects
around this border. Most are familiar from the MM book itself, but several
are unique to this illustration!
First
spread
Second
spread
Third
spread (click image on for large scan)
Fourth
spread
Fifth
spread
Please note, the above is provided for research
purposes only, and should not be re-published without the copyright owner's
permission.
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