This piece was written as a requiem for the passing of a dear friend. It was conceived as a reflection and prayer for the transition from Chaos and Decay to Transformation and Rebirth. As the Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh says, "if we look deeply at the rose, we see the garbage; if we look deeply at the garbage, we see the rose." With this simple and fundamental view of the world, we see that within the suffering of loss, confusion and despair, there is also the seed and potential for transformation and peace. This transition is occurring all around us in each moment--in our own lives and in those of our loved ones.

This project took two years to complete, spending the first five months researching and contemplating the subject matter before writing down a single note. This album became a transformational process for me and for many involved in the production as it developed into an all-encompassing, complex endeavor. In a world where media is cast into an ocean of endless information, there is no way to know where this piece will land or upon whose ears it will fall. At the beginning of the conceptual stages, the story that would unfold as the guiding narrative was imagined during meditation and the sketching process. I tried to capture the architecture of the envisioned sonic dimension as representing the emotional experience of our polarity infused, chaotic minds; and what might be an animated, musical exposition of the phenomenon and purpose described in the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Whether or not this was successful is to be determined by each individual listener, as the album uniquely becomes their own. In the end it is music, to be reflected upon and enjoyed.

The images included with this album are an integral part of the artistic experience. DZO Olivier and I worked on sculpting them for one year in an effort to communicate the story and philosophy of the BARDO album. I invite you to be drawn into each stunning visual, knowing that the brilliant mind of Olivier meditated for months on the symbolic concepts and narrative arc within BARDO before condensing his vision into the illustrations before you.

Most importantly, there is no right or wrong way to perceive and appreciate art. However, to anyone looking for suggestions, one of the best ways to discover BARDO is to use a good set of headphones or speakers, with your eyes closed in an isolated listening environment, and with the volume set to a loud (but safe) level. As this album was engineered to be experienced from beginning to end, I invite you to sit down and listen straight through the recording in its entirety to see where it leads you. Allow the opening drones to draw you in and drift into the vibrant realms of this sonic-cinema.

In resonance,
Christopher Bono

BARDO is a surreal, musical drama narrating the metamorphosis of "The Fool", a character derived from the Major Arcana of the Tarot system, as he experiences a pscyho-spiritual journey through a cycle of darkness and despair transitioning after a destructive center to the afterlife, which eventually unfolds into a positive blossoming of transcendence and fortunate rebirth.

BARDO [which is the Tibetan word for "transitional state" or "portal") was originally a site-specific work commissioned by Sympho Concerts and was premiered at the iconic Ann Hamilton Tower in Geyserville, CA in June 2012. Musicians, dancers and audience members were positioned along the length of the entire structure on double-helix interior staircases. For this recording, the original vertical plane, along with the rhythmic movements of dancers, was taken into consideration for the compositional process. It was then translated onto a horizontal level for a larger orchestral ensemble featuring 47 musicians.

The narrative of BARDO was inspired by four fields of reference: The Tarot System, The Tibetan Book Of The Dead, sound healing/esoteric sound theories, and sacred geometry. The geometric structure of the pentagram was chosen to represent the piece's overall structure and development. The golden triangles of the pentagram can be used to produce a logarithmic spiral, similar to the spiraling staircases inside the Ann Hamilton tower. In many ancient mystical traditions, each of the pentagram's five points represent the four elements [earth, water, fire, air) plus the zenith representing ether, or spirit. Within some ancient musical traditions, each element also represents one of two specific musical intervals, depending on whether that element is defined as 'ascending to ether', or 'descending to earth'.

Based on the work's trajectory, a combination of these elements were used to express the musical drama as it was unfolding. This formula then suggested a rhythmic and textural character, the primary intervals of significant motives, and a tonal center for each "Bardo", or "portal". These symbolic ideas combined with imagined movements of the dancers were primary forces in designing the sound world of BARDO.

The first movement, "Bardo I: Enter the Mystic", marks the genesis of the spiritual journey of the Tarot System's Fool. We begin from a place of isolated desperation, and this initial darkness culminates in "Bardo II: The End of the Oligarchs" with the destruction of the archetypal Tower, representing the social and psychological constructs of humanity and the individual mind.

The second half of the album chronicles the 'in-between' experience as described in the ancient Tibetan Book of the Dead. In "Bardo Ill: Enter The Void" the music guides the Fool through a series of difficult psychological experiences leading to a liberated state, where a wondrous, spinning tunnel of visual and sonic phenomenon inspires ascension. From a place of infinite possibility, "Bardo IV: Clouds Blooming at the Thought of Union" moves the Fool through what the Tibetans call the Sidpa Bardo, or the Bardo of transmigration. In this final Bardo, the Fool arrives at the door to his next embodied life, where he fulfills the destiny created by the loving embrace of his future parents.

Each movement is preluded by ambient portals that act as passageways to the varying environments of each movement.

1) Bardo I: “Enter the Mystic” (11:09)
An open ominous drone appears upon the horizon, introducing a new surreal drama. Out of this nebulous tone a dark cluster emerges insinuating a frightful hue [1:15). We hear for the first time, the raining succession of two intervals of the sixth sounding in the violins and cellos, known in many ancient traditions as the "Mystic lnterval"[l:55).

A series of grounded, heavy, thick chords strikes us and we are led into Bardo I, an earthly portal of desire and attachment. [2:48) Beginning from a place of shame and confusion, the "Fool" commences his spiritual journey. He yearns to find an insight of peace through liberation from the powerful gravitational pull of his negative perceptions. The swirl of these serpentine, self-destructive emotional states fluctuate between gradual swells of inspired yearning, empowered by nostalgic memory and the inherent struggle to transcend the abyssal trap of these destructive mental formations.

This yearning finally culminates in a breakthrough (7:43), as an intuitive aspect of his consciousness drives the Fool to directly face the churning storm of dark destiny emanating from his own mind. With a newfound but naive determination [8:01), his gaze turns directly within, as he crosses the threshold marking the source of his intensive suffering [8:57). In this deeper recess of awareness, the Fool is brought unto the scheming presence of the tyrannical Oligarchs. These mistakenly righteous beings have fabricated a system of supremacy for themselves far above the embrace of the earth and its natural way. Believing they are immune to nature's order, they create illusory rules and constructs to feed their hungry egos, as a trumpet song shouts out their dominance upon the world below. [9:57)

Their proclamation settles, and a series offinal harmonies stream down into a foreboding cloud. The Fool, now a necessary witness to a powerful sequence of ancient archetypal events set into motion long ago, is drawn directly into the heart of the inexplicable tunnel of darkness-- with no choice but to surrender.

2) Rise Tower, Arise! (1:48)
Energized by the vibration of a mechanical, droning C tone, an awe-inspiring massive Tower arises from the great field of formative potential. The Fool witnesses the accomplishment of the earthly exploits of the Oligarchs, as they celebrate and take pleasure in their illusory conquest of the physical world.

3) Bardo II: “The End Of The Oligarchs”
We are channeled into the second Bardo through a series of open intervals insinuating space and possibility. The neutral sounds of air and ether are eerily interrupted by the low dark energy of the “Mystical Chord” (as defined by Alexander Scriabin). This harmonic collection defines the tonal field of Bardo II. The Fool has encircled the Tower and now becomes a witness to the power of Divine Destruction as it begins to accelerate a war against the afflictions of the Oligarchs.

Death’s drive marks its way as we hear the “Song Of Separation”(1:29), proclaiming the false power of these selfish Earth rulers. They misuse the sounds of the Mystical Chord for their own advantage, yet paradoxically, the music becomes a theme to their own end. The Divine Destroyer’s mysterious energy aggregates into a large mass of destruction encircling the Tower. As this section concludes, the thick dark textures of the Mystical Chord are broken apart into a jagged and asymmetric rhythmic deconstruction of the tonal material. The Oligarchs cling to their bounties and struggle to secure their systems against unavoidable death, but the unknown energies of impermanence begin to break them down, striking them in incessant, yet unpredictable, patterns.

Abiogenesis (3:35)
The jagged sounds of struggle abruptly crash down as the battle comes to a halt. For a moment the Oligarchs seem extinguished. All that remains is a droning, dark pool of low tones; until slowly, something begins to percolate in the murky primordial ooze. Voices emerge chanting elemental seed mantras that coerce form from the remaining roots of negative mental formations. Slowly these seeds of suffering swell and swell, surging in and out of the liquid, atonal crescendos. Gathering strength, the dissonance increases as this black energy is resurrected.

Bardo II Pt. 2: “The Reckoning” (7:23)
The Destroyers’ energy abruptly awakens as the Egoistic Oligarch’s are attacked through the possession of the Tower itself. As the Oligarch’s maintain their hold on tyranny, more and more jagged, violent rhythms take a grave toll. Finally, The Divine Destroyer dispenses a furious pattern of broken stabs in combination with a singular violent harmony, all together hammering through the afflicted walls of the Oligarch’s and breaking their hold on the Collective Consciousness.

Silence, and then slowly, a mysterious musical wind comes through the scene (8:26) as the remnants of the Old Ways gradually begin to regather momentum one last time.

A slow crescendo apexes into a final recapitulation of the fatalist “Song Of Separation” (10:18). Shocking interruptions brought forth by the mysterious energy of the Divine Destroyer signal the collapse of the entire Tower and the destruction of everything around it -- including the embodied life of our witness, the Fool, in one final series of brutal blows.

4) The Dawning Space of Azure Light (3:37)

5) Bardo III: “Enter The Void” (10:29)
A being emerges from the water element. It is the Fool passing from his earthly end into what the Tibetans call the Chönyid Bardo, or the intermediate state between lives. Accompanied by music derived from the geometric structures of the pentagram, he begins a spiraling journey through the hallucinations and obstacles inside this labyrinth
of karmic repercussions.

The pentagram music gives way to the droning, dorian motive of a solo guitar (0:49). This noble and forceful music is meant to guide the migrating soul-mind through the many challenges of the transitional state. As the Fool experiences visions of terrifying deities weighing his black deeds against his white deeds, these assured sounds urge him to fight back against weak inclinations, and avoid the fearful appearances of the psychological demons which torment and tempt him to find the easiest path of least resistance. After being reminded and encouraged to trust his own inner wisdom and not become fearful or attached to this psychedelic storm, the militant musical guidance
A swelling bed of trilling strings interrupts the silence, heralding a shift of state.
We again hear the raining drops of the Mystic intervals (the sixths), the musical passport of the Bardos (4:24). The Fool enters a new dimension of hope, joy, and positive growth carried by the intentions of his past actions (5:51). Spinning away in rolling patterns of fluctuating movement, the musical energy carries the Fool on and on through spirals of rhythmic light to a place beyond the powerful dark dreams of the in-between.

“Kyrie Eleison” (7:57)
After a period of silence, an instrumental setting of the “Kyrie Eleison” (derived from the traditional Requiem Mass) expresses the wishes and prayers of those who remain on the physical plane. Placing their faith in the possibility of a communicative path between two worlds, Divine intervention is invoked to protect the lost loved one as he moves through the void that cannot be known by those bound to the earth.
comes to an abrupt close, and a moment of emotional stasis is reached (3:14).

6) Endless Doors to Endless Wombs (7:04)

7) Bardo IV:”Clouds Blooming At The Thought Of Union” (7:42)
A series of Major seventh intervals, representing the ascent of water into ether, marks the passage into this last Bardo. Known as the Sidpa Bardo, it is the portal of becoming, or transmigration. The Fool, having moved through a cycle of spiritual despair, destruction and death, and on through liberation from the challenging emanations of the Chönyid Bardo, is now at the period where the blooming of new life is to occur. On a magic carpet of a minor second drone, the music moves between periods of melancholy, beauty and wonder; as gentle rhythmic shifts of the same intervallic material occur, suggesting the glimmering dance of light through clouds as
form moves within a celestial atmosphere.

As the Fool’s mind glides through these swirling tunnels of sound and light, a simple, constant pulse gradually rises beneath this flow, as a gravitational weight from another, parallel sphere attempts to ground the floating soul-mind of the Fool.

This energy crescendos and decrescendos in cyclic waves until it eventually bursts into the celestial Sidpa portal, in an overwhelming climax induced by the karmic aspirations of both the Fool’s basic goodness and the concentrated aspirations of past loved ones. (2:55)

After this peak, reminiscent musical moments from earlier Bardos are passed and presented in a different context. The soul-mind swims through these waves and their various crests and continuous peaks. Following a series of oscillating climaxes, the angelic voice of a beneficial deity is heard for one brief moment, calling the Fool to the gates of his final path (4:11). Here he is brought to the space where he will enter the door to his next incarnation. Hovering above his future parents engaged in loving embrace, the musical architecture glides to a cadential point and the mystical intervals of the sixth rain down for one last time. (5:19) The old Fool, a Fool no longer, hovers above his new life and enters a Womb of fortunate rebirth, only to begin anew.