He built his life as though in defiance of all that was taking place around him: in the midst of the revolutionary struggle flaring in Russia in 1917 he would defiantly set off, braving stray bullets, to a swanky store for cigarettes and gourmet food items, and in the no less horrific 40-ies he would attend a lambasting ideological congregation pf the highest pecking order wearing ... a track suit, with an array of top awards from that tyrant of all tyrants Stalin himself pinned on in a blatant display....
"A Man beyond and outside the limits of Time and Space"... This phrase has yet another meaning. Prokofiev, the "Sun genius"», as he is often dubbed, alluding to his quintessentially positive and luminous take on life, was in fact one of the greatest prophets, who predicted the tragic cataclysms that Mankind was destined to take on in the 20th century. We would like to tell you today about one of the most mysterious compositions by Prokofiev -- the Chaldean incantation «They are seven», written in 1917.
A Chaldean incantation and Prokofiev -- what could this possibly mean? An intent interest in the fore-cultures -- something that was "typical" for Prokofiev's time, especially in Russian art of the early 20th century. At that period, when Russia had embarked upon a momentous stage in its existence, WWI broke out, and on its crest came that tragic cataclysm that turned back the very tide of history in Russia -- the communist coup of 1917 -- Prokofiev encountered a very special individual, and that encounter was a landmark one for him. He met poet Konstantin Balmont, a person who was proficient in something that was a mystery for most: he translated from a great many diverse languages, including ancient, 'dead' languages. Once the poet's translation of an ancient Chaldean incantation fell into Prokofiev's hands. This was a literary monument dating back to one of mankind's most ancient primal civilizations. Mesopotamia, the tower of Babel... It was precisely from that epoch. Perusing those ancient lines, Prokofiev discovered how remarkably similar the tableau they painted was to the contemporary world he lived in. The dark forces, seeking to undermine the very foundations of society... Evil spirits, that had surfaced for the sole purpose of destroying the world. In these lines, that dated 5 millennia, a certain cycle of consistent, repeated pattern in history!
The years 1916-1917. Prokofiev wrote in his diary: "The revolutionary events that have stirred up all of Russia, on a subconscious level had infiltrated me, as well, and demanded expression. I had no knowledge of how best to achieve this, so in some mysterious manner I sought refuge in subjects of antiquity. The fact that the thoughts and sentiments of that Time had survived thousands of years fired my imagination. Such was the Chaldean incantation, carved in cuneiform on the walls of the Acadian temple, deciphered by Winkler and converted to poetry by Balmont..."
Prokofiev did not compose this music in the traditional sense of the word. It was as though he were... converting into music something that was imparted to him from above. "Prior to that I had never written a single work of music this way. I was writing down not music, but rather general contours, writing not in music notes, but graphically. I was fascinated by the entire process and at times, reaching a pinnacle of creative outburst, felt compelled to cut shirt my efforts and go for a walk, to grant my constricted heart a much-needed respite. I actually worked no more than half an hour a day, and the rest of the time I would be plunged in study and reflection."
Prokofiev prepared the actual text of the incantation himself: Balmont had granted him this privilege. The result had so impressed the poet that in the next re-edition of his work he included the second version, the one by Prokofiev. But then, it was natural that the vision of one genius impacted and influenced the work of the other. Prokofiev recalled: "At my request, Balmont read this text aloud. He read it, attempting to underline the ultimate terror conveyed. I did my utmost to memorize certain peculiarities of his reading. Especially the very beginning -- in a terrifying whisper, as well as the rhythm and intonations in the words "seven of them", "seven", "????? ???!" I believe this is one of the most terrifying things ever written. No wonder after millenia it resurfaced from the earth's bowels in the form of mysterious writings on the walls, to be heard once again, perhaps, with even more menace than ever before!"
Prokofiev and Balmont dared broach something that no one had before them. They were in fact striving, through this joint effort of theirs, to change the world. To cast off the dark evil forces, man's failings and shortcomings via an ancient incantation. A naïve attempt? Possibly! But then, can anyone boast a recipe of how to ward off madness from Mankind? These two geniuses were selflessly pursuing such a solution. While ahead lay the entire 20th century with its horrors and cataclysms...
Telal, telal, telal!
They are Seven! Seven!
In the depths of the ocean -- seven of them!
High up in the heavens -- seven of them! Seven!
In the mountains of Sunset seven are born, seven.
In the mountains of the East seven grow up, seven!
They sit astride thrones in the depths of the earth, the earth they sit.
Forcing their voice to thunder at the very summit peaks of the earth, the earth they do!
As one they engulf the limitless space
Of heaven and earth, they do!
Seven they are!
Seven, seven, seven, seven they are seven, seven they are!
Seven they are! Seven!
Telal, Telal! Telal! Telal!
They are Seven,
They are neither men nor women;
They have no wives; they do not give birth to sons.
Like the vagrant wind they are.
Like a net, they spread out, spreading, spreading, sweeping, sweeping.
Evil they are! Evil they are!
Goodness and welldoing are alien to them. They know no shame.
Prayers they hear not:
They are deaf to prayer.
They cause the Heavens and earth to shrink in size.
They shut the door on and lock away whole countries.
They grind whole peoples, like these peoples grind grain.
Seven there are! Seven there are! Seven there are! Seven there are!
Twice seven there are!
Spirit of the Heavens, spirit of the heavens, spirit of the heavens, exorcise them!
Exorcise them! Exorcise! Exorcise!
Spirit of the earth! Spirit of the earth! Spirit of the earth, exorcise them!
Exorcise, exorcise, exorcise!
Evil winds! Wicked tempests!
Parching vortex! Flaming whirlwind!
They are the day of sorrow! They are the day of revenge!
They are the heralds of horrific plague!
Seven gods of the immeasurable Heaven!
Seven gods of the immeasurable earth!
Seven omnipotent gods!
Seven wicked gods!
Seven devils screaming with laughter!
Seven geniuses of horror!
Seven are they, seven are they,
Seven of them!
Evil Telal! Evil Telal Alal!
Evil Gigim! Evil Maskim!
Evil God! Evil spirit! Evil demon!
Seven they are! Seven they are! Seven, seven!
Exorcise them, Spirit of the Heavens!
Seven, Seven of them!
Exorcise them, spirit of the earth!
Seven they are, seven they are!
Telal! Exorcise them, exorcise them! Exorcise!
You, spirit of the Heavens, exorcise them, exorcise them, exorcise them, exorcise them!
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