Light of this World

A "Best Of" Compilation Album, showcasing 13 pieces from albums Demby has recorded since 1978. A great way to sample her incredible range of styles, and her earlier recordings, many of which are classic jewels.

Reviews:

"If we were to select one musician who embodies the evolutionary spirit of New Age music, that musician might well be Constance Demby. As Demby evolves, so evolves New Age music. Many of these compositions from her new "best of" album take us deeply inward, to the still point of sacred silence....Demby has led the way developing spacious contexts, meditative innerspace moods and heartfelt uplifting emotions. Now, she adds another feather to her cap. New Age music is multi-dimensional and so is Constance Demby. Today she's got it all." - Lee Underwood, Body Mind Spirit

"Light of this World: offers a sampler of the music from Demby's 1978 Skies above Skies through the 1986 masterpiece Novus Magnificat; two bonus tracks were written for this compilation album. The title track opens the album, an inspiring and brash pop vocal piece (Demby sounds remarkably like Bette Midler) with female backup vocals, hot drums, electric guitar emulator,and bass.

The title track from Demby's 1980 Sunborne also showcases Demby's voice, but in her more cosmic and chantlike mode. The instrumentation is vast -- organ sounds, trap set, piano -- a sound fit for the birth of galaxies. The exhilarating "Flying Bach" from Novus Magnificat features some fancy organ work with sampled chorus and orchestra. "Radiance" from Sacred Space Music offers an organ drone with the sparkling tones of the hammered dulcimer. Overhead, Demby vocalizes like an angel. "

The Dawning" from Sunborne showcases Demby's enormous Sonic Steel Instruments, the Space Bass and the Whale Sail. Demby's 1994 live album, Constance Demby at Alaron, is represented by two pieces, "The Chakoor Bird" (on which Demby plays the resonant Chinese cheng) and "Gurudev Aja," an exotic synthesizer piece with drone. Demby's first album, Skies Above Skies, is represented by two devotional prayers, "OmManiPadmeHum" (radiant piano and organ drone) and "God Is" (a mystical work for organ).

"Sanctus" ends the album, a radiant new piece brimming with chimes and gongs. None of the pieces here tops seven minutes (the pieces may last to a half hour in the original versions), but I could not sense any had been cut. A lot of albums claim "best of"; this one delivers. Demby is a visionary musician, and this album should whet your appetite for more." -- AMG

Listener Response:

"We were on the last leg of a road trip, headed west in our old gas-guzzling car. We were headed for the mountains around mid-afternoon, climbing rapidly into the higher elevations when the winds picked up and snow started falling. After a while, all we saw were big rigs and snow plows.. The gas tank was getting low. Every time we took a turn-off, following signs to gas stations, we would drive for several miles to find the business was closed. We had no choice but to keep going. This went on for miles. The gas tank was on empty. We kept driving.

Gradually, I became gripped by an almost uncontrollable fear as I realized the actuality of our situation. I started playing "Light of This World" over and over on my cassette player, blasting it into my head phones. As the passenger, I felt totally helpless. I noticed it was about 2am. We kept driving, I kept listening and praying that the batteries wouldn't run out. Listening to, and singing along with, the song was the only thing that kept me from going into a state of total, uncontrollable terror.

We drove ON EMPTY for 3 hours, until 5 am. When we started to come down out of the mountains, there was no more snow. In the distance, we could see a light. As we got closer, we could see that we were approaching a truck stop. I thought it was a mirage. It was open. We got gas, food, and were even allowed to use the showers (only truckers were normally allowed to use them). We felt that we had been given a miracle.

I believe that the music opened the channel for this to take place. This was my most profound experience with music therapy!!! Thank you, Constance!!! " - Gaile Gamble

p.s. - It is such a deeply moving piece of music. It's the most perfect song I have ever heard. I love the tempo, the voices, the harmonies - and I LOVE the words. I have been in tears at times while listening. " - Gaile

"I've listened over and over to that first song, it never fails to lift my spirit. It's such a joy to be able to hear the finest moments, the incredible variety of Constance's music all in one album."- Gary M.

"What a journey deep into Constance, all of her aspects. She is multi-varied, multi-talentted, a treasure!"
- Guy Tunner

lyrics

"Light of this World"

I.
I am.
I am one.
One with all.
All that is,
All that lives.
One am I,
With all that is.

We are the Light,
The Light of this World.
We are the Light,
The Light of this World.
We are the Light of this World.
And we are one.

We are one
One with all.
And we want to be free.
We want to be free
Free to be in love,
Free to be in love with all that is.

We are the Light,
The Light of this World.
We are the Light,
The Light of this World.
We are the Light of this World.
And we are one.

There is a place to go to find peace,
R e m e m b e r....
There is a place to go to find love.
S u r r e n d e r....
Open your heart,
Open your heart .into Forever
F o r e v e r , F o r e v e r,
And you shall be free...

We are the Light,
The Light of this World.
We are the Light,
The Light of this World.
We are the Light of this World.,
And we are one.
And we are free.

We are the Light,
The light of this World

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