Help Me Pick My New Albums' Theme
David Marriott
4 Comments
I'm using the power of the Internet to select the theme for my next recording with my band, Septology. I started this band with the idea of using a septet to perform seven part suites, and started with the seven days of creation, which was released on the album, In the Beginning. I've also written and performed suites based on Jonathan Lethem's seven short story collection The Wall of the Sky, The Wall of the Eye and H.P. Blavatsky's seven principles of man.
I'm getting ready to start working on a new recording with the group, and am trying to pick the next theme, but am having a tough time -- I need your help! I've narrowed the list down to seven that I'd really like to do, but can't pick one, and I'd like to hear from you. I'll also take any suggestions you might have that aren't on the list, but I'll mention only that I'd like to stay away from a biblical theme, Jonathan Lethem, or a philosophical concept -- things I've already done. So here is the list of seven sevens:
- Seven Lucky Gods exist in Japanese mythology
- The number of basic principles of the bushido
- In Guaraní mythology, the number of prominent legendary monsters
- Seven Articles of the Constitution
- Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
- Harlan Ellison's short story collection I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream
- Seven Archangels - more from occult/magic information than Judeo-Christian background
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Reader Comments (4)
Well, there are 7 notes in the Western diatonic scale and 7 modes based off of those, so there's an obvious modal angle there as well... Seven wonders of the ancient world, seven cities of gold... The seven seas... seven chakras (ain't Wikipedia great?) For an eschatological (or Bergman-esque) bent, there are the seven seals that are opened in the book of revelations... Seven trumpets announcing aspects of the end times... Seven deadly sins (or virtues, sacraments)... The number of gates to heaven or hell... Seven sages in Hindu or Sumerian myth, although these strike me as interesting:
"In Irish Mythology, the epic hero Cúchulainn is associated with the number 7. He has 7 fingers on each hand, 7 toes on each foot, and 7 pupils in each eye. In the Irish epic Táin_Bó_Cúailnge, Cúchulainn is 7 years old when he receives his first weapons and defeats the armies of the Ulaidh. and his son [[Connla] is 7 years old when he is slain by Cúchulainn in "The Death of Aife's Only Son"."
...and...
"The number of times Cain will be avenged by God if he is murdered (Gen 4:15)."
Although the later, in particular, sounds like some kind of prog-doom-metal concept album.
(Also according to Wikipedia) there are seven objects in the solar system visible to the naked eye (although didn't Holst already tackle that one, sort of?)... ROY G. BIV... Seven hills of Rome... Seven commandments in Orwell's 'Animal Farm'...
I like the idea of the numerological parallels that could be constructed.
Seven Chinese Brothers
Dude - I also just read that seven is the number of children that crazy, creepy Austrian dude fathered with the daughter he kept in his dungeon...
I love the idea of the Seven Archangels and the seven articles of the consitution - could do a lot of fun stuff with both of those. Those are my two favorites for sure. Reading all of those made me think of Seven Brides for Seven brothers . Too bad thats a musical already heeheehee.