Source (The Dam part 1)

[Christopher Stewart]

("La source de Maafa dans les Aurès en Algérie" by Unknown Photographer)

« The Dam » is a 22-minute long suite in 8 movements that uses the metaphor of water flowing from source to ocean to illustrate the process that we affectionately refer to as life.

As the title suggest, the focus is directed on one major obstacle/life-changing experience, symbolized by a dam on the river, which the protagonist/narrator has to conquer in order to reach their intended destination.

The storyline is inspired by my own life and struggle to reach the goal of earning a living through my artistic output, as opposed to working a day job to support myself and invest what’s left of my energies in artistic pursuits on a part-time basis, as I’ve done for the most part of the last twelve years or so.

The opening section of « The Dam » is entitled « Source. » I remember feeling uplifted and very satisfied with myself after writing the first draft back in September 1997, even though I only had a vague idea of the whole piece at the time. Given how the suite turned out and what it stands for, it is now easier for me to understand why.

The composition is an orchestral piece arranged for the « Modern Poligrafic Ensemble, » as I like to call our band when the parts I have written for Christian (our drummer) involve orchestral percussions. It slowly builds up and progressively hints at the main riff of the upcoming second section.

As I often do, I have written poetry to accompany this instrumental. Here's a first draft :

I'm a source and as such I'm possibility
Eager to be fluent in creativity
And though for the moment I am barely a stream
Of the temerity of the keen brook I dream

I'm new born and so I'm vulnerability
Flowing out insecure and with anxiety
And though for the moment I am a shaky stream
Of the continuity of the river I dream

I am free and I have pristine ebulliency
Gushing forth explosive yet with fluidity
And though for the moment I am a bubbly stream
Of the authority of the torrent I dream

I'm giving I'm fueling I am activity
Springing forward willing yet with timidity
And though for the moment I am a measly stream
Of the vitality of the rapids I dream

I'm unique in this world I'm singularity
Yearning to contribute all my capacity
And though for the moment I am a clumsy stream
Of the proficiency of waterfalls I dream

I'm water and so I'm susceptibility
Turbulent volatile and lacking clarity
And though for the moment I am a muddy stream
Of the limpidity of the great lake I dream

I'm living evolving I'm mutability
Far from immaculate yet I have purity
And though for the moment I am a lowly stream
Of the nobility of the wide firth I dream

I'm growing and so I'm eventuality
Purposeful and patient I have tenacity
And though for the moment I am a petty stream
Of the immensity of the deep sea I dream

I'm carrying the seed of future victory
Faithfully I transport invincibility
And though for the moment I'm secondary stream
Of the infinity of the ocean I dream