Susan Alcorn’s album, introduced with the opening piece based on The Heart Sutra, presents a profound exploration of musical landscapes, deeply rooted in the unique voice of the Pedal Steel Guitar. This collection of compositions transcends typical genre boundaries, inviting listeners into a world of introspection and sonic innovation.
The Heart Sutra: A Monotone Meditation
The album commences with a meditative recitation of the Heart Sutra. This track, primarily a monotone exploration, draws directly from the ancient Buddhist text, “Sutra of the Heart of Transcendent Wisdom.” Delivered by the Buddha on Vulture Peak Mountain millennia ago, the sutra’s core message – “Form is Emptiness” and “Emptiness also is Form” – resonates through the music. Alcorn marks the Buddha’s name with a minor third and emphasizes key phrases using octaves, all performed on the pedal steel guitar. She focuses on the instrument’s overtones and the subtle interactions of notes and vibrations, creating a piece that is both minimalist and deeply resonant.
And I Await the Resurrection of the Pedal Steel Guitar: An Homage and a Hope
“And I Await the Resurrection of the Pedal Steel Guitar” is a powerful piece born from a deeply personal experience and a profound artistic admiration. Alcorn recounts the overwhelming impact of Olivier Messiaen’s “Et Exspecto Ressurectionem Mortuorum” during a drive in Houston. This monumental orchestral work, with its contrasting low octaves and gripping intensity, became a touchstone for this composition. As an homage to Messiaen (sharing the first three notes of his piece), Alcorn’s work also expresses her personal sentiments about the current state and future potential of her instrument, the pedal steel guitar. She aims to let the entire instrument – from its legs and pedals to the wood, strings, and pickups – tell its story. This track is a testament to her belief in the pedal steel guitar‘s capacity for majesty, ecstasy, and beauty, hoping for its resurgence in contemporary music.
The Glass is Already Broken: Poetry in Sound
“The Glass is Already Broken” is a collaborative piece, created to accompany a recitation of “Broken Glass,” a poignant poem by Amarillo, Texas poet Richard Todd. While the original text is not provided here, the title suggests themes of fragility and shattered realities, likely reflected in the musical textures and emotional landscape crafted by Alcorn on her pedal steel guitar.
The First Turning of the Wheel & The Second Turning of the Wheel: A Musical Dialogue
“The First Turning of the Wheel” is conceived as an open letter to Bob Graettinger, the innovative composer and arranger known for his work with Stan Kenton, particularly “This Modern World/City of Glass.” Graettinger’s music evokes a stark, urban landscape filled with alienation and loneliness, yet imbued with a haunting beauty. Alcorn’s piece seeks to create a similar soundscape, envisioning a silent conversation with Graettinger – a fellow artistic spirit. It’s described as a musical touch, “Soft hand on the shoulder,” aiming to convey the inexpressible through the pedal steel guitar‘s voice.
“The Second Turning of the Wheel” continues this silent dialogue, evolving the themes and sonic explorations initiated in the first part. It offers a subtly different touch, sound, and emphasis, suggesting a deepening of the musical conversation and a further exploration of the pedal steel guitar‘s expressive range.
Three Minute Warning: Hope Amidst Immanent Danger
“Three Minute Warning” reflects a contemporary sense of unease and uncertainty about the future of the planet and its inhabitants. Despite the looming “warning,” Alcorn finds a glimmer of hope within the immanence of danger. She posits music as that hope – the notes, sounds, and the infinite universe contained within them. This track encourages listeners to awaken to this inherent melody, a “primordial song of the heart” that, according to Alcorn, has been present throughout life. The pedal steel guitar becomes a vehicle for this message of hope and a reminder of the enduring power of music in challenging times.
Through this album, Susan Alcorn masterfully showcases the versatility and emotional depth of the pedal steel guitar. From meditative soundscapes to powerful homages and reflections on contemporary anxieties, her compositions invite listeners to explore new sonic territories and appreciate the unique voice of this often-underestimated instrument.
