From the recording Divine Enlightenment
Transcendence I (The Seven Circles) is track 5 on the 2022 crossover classical Rod Skelley album, Divine Enlightenment and the first movement of the three part composition, Transcendence. The piece begins with a single note E played by a violin and then adds chordal harmonies by a piano. Then the guitar begins with a mysterious arpeggiated theme in an odd 5/4 time signature. The guitar part employs an alternate guitar tuning (6-D, 5-A, 4-D, 3-G. 2-A, 1-D) with a second fret capo to change the usual tone and mood of the instrument. Instrumentation features classical guitar, piano, and strings, The song was composed, performed and recorded by Rod Skelley. The music draws inspiration from composers like Lou Harrison, John Cage, Phillip Glass and Steve Reich.
Lyrics
Verse for Transcendence I: The Seven Circles
The seven circles appear in the chaos. The seven powers of the seven heavens of chaos came into being with God’s will so that the immortal pattern of what existed from the first will rule for eternity. The seven powers shine through the darkness with immeasurable light and into the shadows of the abyss. With the will of Pistis we transcend.