Hayden Wayne & The State Philharmonic Of Brno (Czech Republic) - Symphony #2: Reggae (CD)

Release Date: 05/06/22

As idiomatically specific as the Minuet, Waltz, or Two-step, Reggae's double-time/single time identity, where the downbeat supplants the back beat.

As idiomatically specific as the Minuet, Waltz and Two-step, Reggae's double-time/single-time identity, where the downbeat supplants the backbeat, has taken its place in music.

Percussionist extraordinaire Stewart Copeland's micro-time led me to the heart of Reggae. I was resistant at first, being a 'dyed-in-the-wool' Rhythm and Blues devotee. I initially thought of Reggae as middle-of-the-road R & B, a non-committal approach rather than the in-your-face darkness of R & B's soul. But as I got deeper into its processes, I not only felt its lightness of being, but its limitless ability to transform anything that sat on its rhythmic astonato.

The first movement of SYMPHONY #2-REGGAE, which along with SYMPHONY #3-HEAVY METAL and SYMPHONY #4-FUNK comprises a trilogy, was begun on May 8, 1984. I continued working over the next three years and completed the symphony on May 20 1987.

Jamaican in origin, this rock music, with its blues style, often with a political or religious message, was derived from Rastafarian beliefs, a sect devoted to Halle Selassie, former Emperor of Ethiopia, who believed himself to be a descendant of Sheba. Espousing love, peace and ganja (marijuana) Rastas wear their hair in dreadlocks, rope-like boya strands.

The four movements:

I. Moderato
to: Jim & Nancy Gregory
Dear friend and fellow musician, Jim was like an older brother to me.
I witnessed his and Nancy's courtship. They ultimately married and had a son and daughter.

II. Presto
to: Kathi Long
Dear friend and sensual lover, who was a remarkable 'Santa Fe/Mex' chef.

III. Lento Moderato
to: Heather Marty
Remarkable painter and lover.

IV. Allegro Vivace
to: Gigi Van Deckter & Strule Steele
upon their marriage and subsequent
divorce
A highly intelligent and handsome woman, she met, married and immediately divorced the very affable Strule during the composing of this movement, soon enough proving herself so perfidious, she lost my friendship as well.