Frank van Velthoven
The Four Thoughts
‘The Four Thoughts’ explores spiritual themes based on an ancient Tibetan Buddhist text, using a drone-like note in each of its four sections. The piece, performed by Kwartet CelloWercken Zutphen under Jeroen den Herder, reflects on human existence, impermanence, cause and effect, and worldly suffering.
‘The Four Thoughts’ is inspired by an ancient Tibetan Buddhist text that calls for using human existence as a means for spiritual development, based on four thoughts:
- The unique opportunity that human birth offers.
- The impermanence of that opportunity.
- The law of cause and effect.
- The suffering inherent in worldly existence.
The piece’s structure incorporates an element of classical Indian music, with a drone-like note in each of the four sections. Each section features one note that functions as a drone, woven into the four voices in such a way that it is felt, but not immediately apparent. This note can appear in different octaves, and is never the root note of the other melodic movements. The piece’s construction gives it a unique character while maintaining the spiritual inspiration throughout.
This is a live recording by Kwartet CelloWercken Zutphen, conducted by Jeroen den Herder, with Jeroen den Herder, Camelia Ciobanu, Lluïsa Paredes, and Sari Šaciri on cellos.