jacob august riis - Spiritual Blogs - Ashtar Command - Spiritual Community2024-03-28T14:05:44Zhttps://www.ashtarcommandcrew.net/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/jacob+august+riisStonecutterhttps://www.ashtarcommandcrew.net/profiles/blogs/stonecutter2012-09-24T22:00:00.000Z2012-09-24T22:00:00.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://www.ashtarcommandcrew.net/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="http://poligraf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/444px-quarryman_1833-detail.jpg?w=444" alt="" /><br /> <span style="font-size:x-small;">(Detail from «<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quarryman_1833.jpg">Quarryman at work</a> » by Unidentified Artist)</span><br /></p><div align="center"><object height="81" data="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F55361&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=2f2f2f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" ></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" ></param><param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F55361&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=2f2f2f" ></param><embed wmode="opaque" allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F55361&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=2f2f2f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="81" allownetworking="internal"></embed> <param name="wmode" value="opaque" ></param></object></div><br /><p>« Stonecutter » is intended as an anthem to perseverance and is based on one of my favourite citations, one which has helped me on several occasions, the following <a href="http://www.quotes.net/quote/16935">quote</a> by<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Riis">Jacob August Riis</a> :<br /></p><blockquote><em>When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.</em></blockquote><br /><p>The main challenge of this composition was to have exactly 101 hits on the snare drum, with the 101st corresponding to the climax, the hammer hitting the rock one last time to split it in two. <br /></p><p>The piece is an instrumental, to which I have written the following verses : <br /><em>Don't mind me stone worker as I sit to watch you<br />There's a rock of a kind I need to cut in two<br />And I strain and I strive but when nothing will do<br />I come here to witness how it's going for you</em><br /><em>Strike the stone sledgehammer in your tenacity<br />There's beauty to behold and much courage to see<br />Smash your rock stonecutter in your self-confidence<br />There is strength to be gained and much reassurance</em><br /><em>It's not as if you were stronger than I can be<br />Your own rock shows no cracks though you keep bashing it<br />No it's more in the way that it appears to me<br />As if you know no doubt that monolith will split</em><br /><em>Nail your test sledgehammer for your dedication<br />I have praise to offer and much admiration<br />Boom your block stonecutter sing your faith with that sound<br />It's the music one hears when this gem they have found</em><br /><em>As the maul pounds the stone you are expressionless<br />Just focused on your goal in all seriousness<br />And when you deliver the bang that gets the win<br />On your face there's a grin as mineral gives in</em><br /><em>Crush your foe sledgehammer know your mercilessness<br />Brings a warmth to my heart that melts all hopelessness<br />Hit your aim stonecutter in your decisiveness<br />There's a light shining bright that dispels all darkness</em><br /><em>And although that last blow seems the critical one<br />It was no more crucial than any heretofore<br />No it was over time that this challenge was won<br />This outcome the feat of all that has gone before</em></p></div>