Search - Popol Vuh :: Seligpreisung

Musical version of Sermon on the Mount

W. T. Hoffman | Pennsylvania, United States | 08/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's difficult not to listen to any Popol Vuh music, and, after being seduced by the depth and spirituality of the piece, not feel the need to rate the music with a "5", or at least a "4". Even tho this piece is obviously strongly linked to "The Hohelied Solomons"(The Song of Solomon), it definately has a different sound overall from that LP. There is more electric guitar, and drums, more of a rock vibe going on, at least in some songs. Also, Florian is singing on this LP, unlike "Song of Solomon" which has the lovely voice of Djong Yun. The mood of the music, voices the "sermon" more than the actual words, which are barely sung once, (except for a Hallalujah chant at one point.) When the topics are hunger, or poverty, there seems to be a bit more of a righteous anger in the sounds--and the drums seem to pound that idea across fittingly. But, when the topic is "the Meek" or "those that suffer sadness", the songs become deep, dark, with those harmonic minor melodies so reminiscent of the middle east. Maybe because the topic is more "western", or christian, the sitar is missing from this album. Perhaps Florian saw different instruments as representitive of different cultures, and religions. For instance, this LP has an Oboe on it, an instrument that has a strong connection with the middle eastern Duduk, and Shanai. Even tho I'm attempting to analyse this peice, I have to say, that the intrumental tibres, the melodies and harmonic invention, and of course the piano that ties this work together, vibrate with an ineffable quality that precludes analysis. If you were inclined to find something to fault this LP with, you could mention the length. Even with a bonus track, the LP is less than 35 minutes long. However, this is definately one of those instances, where quality supercedes quanity. After all, the Sermon on the Mount wasn't the longest passage in the Bible, but it probibly summed up more about the true Christian spirit, than a thousand pages of Aristolean theology. Incidentally, the bonus track, sung by Djong, seems to reiterate melodic themes off the main album. So, it joins perfectly with the rest of the album. I enjoy this album as much as "Hossianna Mantra", "Das Hohelied Solomons", or "In the Gardens of Pharoah". I would guess, if you are into Popol Vuh's "new age" music of substance and grace, you would as well."

Their Most Conventional 70s Album

Steve Zubal | Pine Island FL | 02/12/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Seligpresung" the 4th album released by Popol Vuh is a group effort, more so than any other set in the 70s. I've read nearly all the reviews for this band, since their new to me, and nowhere (even in the cd booklets themselves) does anyone state if they were a performing act or a studio group. Oviously this is not a conventional 'Rock-band'...in the 70s however many unusual acts were touring,..."Amazing Blondel" for example. So it leaves one to wonder!...The only live recording is the last, 1998s "Messa Di Orfeo" I have all of the 70s albums (except the 1st)...On this one Conny Veit is in the mix (guitarist of "Gila" 70-73) his whimsical blues style can also be heard on "Hosianna Mantra" 1972 and in the summer '73 he recorded Gilas' final album accompanied by Florian Fricke and Daniel Fichelscher who joined Popol Vuh in '73 after 2 albums with Amon Duul 2 and became the only main-stay (alongside Fricke) adding drums, guitars and vocals to records through '95s "City Raga"...Veit left Vuh to tour with Amon Duul 2 in the winter '73/'74. Klaus Wiese tamboura and Robert Eliscu oboe complete the line-up for this album. On this record Fricke sings (in German) on 6 of the 8 tracks, making this strikingly different than all the other releases. The 2 guitars and kit drumming bring this close to the ROCK idiom, especially compared to the previous album which has no percussion instruments what-so-ever. I heard this for the first time Dec. 2nd...I paddled my conoe to a secluded beach early in the morning to watch the full moon set, I listened to "In The Gardens Of Pharo" at dawn (perfect setting for a first time listen)...Then as the sun rose I heard 'Seligpresung', it had become windy after moonset and the sea-birds decided to put on a show for me, astonishing, nearly impossible flights back and forth in the 30-40 m.p.h. gusts,...looking like a swarm of bees or bats,...only these were black skimmers with 44 inch wing spans flying centimeters apart, along with gulls and they flew in unison with the music, as unbelieveable as that may seem. This passionate flow of unbridled, wild energy fit the music so well I was awe-struck...and as the music subsided the air-dance followed suit. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the spirit that lies within this music makes one feel like their in the company of angels. Now for the record I'm not a religious person, I don't go to church, I feel it's been comercialized and I don't believe in a god-man or goddess-woman! I do feel a spiritual link to all things in nature and I am its humble servant seeking truth and enlightenment. My expirence's with this wonderful music has been like 'manna' to my soul. I hope others can find this same peace as 'peace on Earth can be real. I recomend this for those who look deep within and Amon Duul fans (a good mellow companion to Wolf City). Get out and watch birds they'll show you stuff!"