passionflower family

Family Passifloraceae, composed of about 600 species of herbaceous or woody vines, shrubs, and trees in 20 genera. Members of this family grow mostly in warm regions. Many species produce edible fruits. Members of the largest genus, Passiflora, are highly prized for their showy, unusual flowers. A pedestal-like structure in the centre of the flower carries the reproductive parts of both sexes. The passionflower blossom is often used to symbolize events in the last hours (Passion) of Jesus, which accounts for the name of the group.

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Religious drama of medieval origin dealing with the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Early Passion plays were written in Latin and consisted of Gospel readings alternating with poetic descriptions of the events of Christ's Passion (i.e., his sufferings between the Last Supper and his death). Use of the vernacular for these poetic passages led to the development of independent vernacular plays. By the 16th century many of the plays had been overtaken by secular influences and had become mere popular entertainments. Some survived into the 21st century, most notably the one performed by local villagers every 10 years at Oberammergau, Ger. Seealso liturgical drama; miracle play; mystery play.

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Passion: Music for The Last Temptation of Christ is a musical album released in 1989 by Peter Gabriel. It is his second soundtrack and eighth album overall. It was originally composed as the soundtrack for the film The Last Temptation of Christ, but Gabriel spent several months after the film's release further developing the music, finally releasing it as a full-fledged album instead of a "movie soundtrack". It is seen as a landmark in the popularisation of world music. It was remastered with most of Gabriel's catalogue in 2002.

Overview

While music from countries outside the United States and England has certainly flourished, little of it has been heard in the Western world. Passion introduced many listeners to such world-renowned talents as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Youssou N'Dour, L. Shankar, and Baaba Maal, paving the way for these and other musicians to find audiences in America.

As a soundtrack for the film, Gabriel used the resources of the organisation he founded, WOMAD, to bring together musicians from the Middle East and Africa. He worked with them to create a soundtrack meant to enhance the mood of the movie, based upon the actual music played during the time of Jesus. However, he added a modern ambient musical touch to the original pieces, producing a musical work that has influenced many musicians in the years since its release.

The album has received near-universal praise from audiences around the world. Many have called it Gabriel's finest work, and some have said that his later albums (which have all had similarities to Passion) seem muddled in comparison.

Later in the year came a companion album, Passion - Sources, featuring additional songs on which Gabriel does not perform. Gabriel described this album as "a selection of some of the traditional music, sources of inspiration, and location recordings."

The cover art Drawing study for Self Image II (1987) is a mixed media composition by the artist Julian Grater.

Track listing

1. "The Feeling Begins" – 4:00
2. "Gethsemane" – 1:26
3. "Of These, Hope" – 3:55
4. "Lazarus Raised" – 1:26
5. "Of These, Hope - Reprise" – 2:44
6. "In Doubt" – 1:33
7. "A Different Drum" – 4:40
8. "Zaar" – 4:53
9. "Troubled" – 2:55
10. "Open" – 3:27
11. "Before Night Falls" – 2:18
12. "With This Love" – 3:40
13. "Sandstorm" – 3:02
14. "Stigmata" – 2:28
15. "Passion" – 7:38
16. "With This Love - Choir" – 3:20
17. "Wall Of Breath" – 2:29
18. "The Promise of Shadows" – 2:13
19. "Disturbed" – 3:35
20. "It Is Accomplished" – 2:55
21. "Bread and Wine" – 2:21

Personnel

Compositions by Peter Gabriel, with the exception of "Open" (based on an improvisation by L. Shankar and Gabriel) and "Stigmata" (based on improvisation by Mahmoud Tabrizi Zadeh and Gabriel). "Zaar" was written around a traditional Egyptian rhythm which is performed to fend off evil spirits.

1. The Feeling Begins
• Manny Elias - octabans, surdo, skins
• Hossam Ramzy - finger cymbals, tabla, dufs
• Peter Gabriel - synthesizers, shakers, skins, surdo
• David Bottrill - drone mix
• David Rhodes - guitar
• L. Shankar - double violin
• Vatche Housepian - Armenian doudouk
• Antranik Askarian - Armenian doudouk
2. : The doudouk is playing an Armenian melody, "The Wind Subsides". (Armenian doudouks recorded for Ocora Records under the direction of Robert Ataian.)
3. Gethsemane
• Peter Gabriel - flute samples, flute, voices
4. Of These, Hope
• Massamba Dlop - talking drum
• Peter Gabriel - bass, percussion, flute whistle, Prophet 5
• L. Shankar - double violin
• David Rhodes - guitar
• Mustafa Abdel Aziz - arghul drone
5. Lazarus Raised
• (Players unknown) - Kurdish duduk & tenbur
• David Rhodes - guitars
• Peter Gabriel - piano, Akai S900
6. : This piece incorporates a traditional melody from Kurdistan telling of the unhappy love of a young girl for Bave Seyro, a legendary warrior. (Kurdish duduks are from UNESCO Collection - A Musical Anthology Of The Orient, general editor Alain Danielou for Musicaphon Records.)
7. Of These, Hope - Reprise
• Massamba Dlop - talking drum
• Peter Gabriel - bass, percussion, flute whistle, Prophet 5
• L. Shankar - double violin
• David Rhodes - guitar
• Mustafa Abdel Aziz - arghul drone
• Baaba Maal - vocals
• Fatala - additional percussion
8. In Doubt
• Peter Gabriel - Audioframe, Fairlight samples, vocals
• Mahmoud Tabrizi Zadeh - kementché
9. A Different Drum
• Doudou N'Diaye Rose - percussion loop (four bars)
• Fatala - percussion loop (three bars)
• Peter Gabriel - surdo, percussion, Audioframe, Prophet 5, voice
• L. Shankar - double violin
• Youssou N'Dour - voice
• David Sancious - backing vocals
10. Zaar
• Hossam Ramzy - tambourines, dufs, tabla, finger cymbals, triangle
• Peter Gabriel - surdo, additional percussion, Audioframe, Akai S900, voice
• Nathan East - bass
• David Rhodes - guitar
• Mahmoud Tabrizi Zadeh - kementché
• L. Shankar - double violin
11. Troubled
• Bill Cobham - drums, percussion
• Hossam Ramzy - finger cymbals
• Peter Gabriel - percussion, Fairlight, Emulator, backing vocals
• David Sancious - backing vocals
12. Open
• Peter Gabriel - Prophet 5, Akai S900, vocals
• L. Shankar - double violin, vocals
13. Before Night Falls
• Hossam Ramzy - finger cymbals, tabla, dufs
• Kudsi Erguner - ney flute (playing a traditional Armenian melody)
• L. Shankar - double violin
14. : The Ney flute is playing a traditional Armenian melody.
15. With This Love
• Robin Canter - oboe, cor anglais
• L. Shankar - double violin
• David Sancious - Akai S900, synthesizer arrangement
• Peter Gabriel - Audioframe, Fairlight, piano, Prophet 5, synthesizer arrangement
16. Sandstorm
• Location Recording - Moroccan percussion & vocals
• Hossam Ramzy - surdo, tabla, tambourine dufs, mazhar
• Manu Katché - additional percussion
• Mahmoud Tabrizi Zadeh - kementché
• L. Shankar - double violin
• Peter Gabriel - Fairlight
17. Stigmata
• Mahmoud Tabrizi Zadeh - kementché
• Peter Gabriel - Prophet 5, voice
18. : Based on an improvisation by Mahmoud and Peter Gabriel
19. Passion
• Djalma Correa - Brazilian percussion
• Jon Hassell - trumpet
• Peter Gabriel - Prophet 5, Akai S900, Fairlight, voice
• Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Qawwali voice
• L. Shankar - double violin
• Youssou N'Dour - voice
• Julian Wilkins - choirboy
20. With This Love - choir
• Robin Canter - cor anglais
• Richard Evans - choir recording
21. Wall Of Breath
• Kudsi Erguner - Turkish ney flute
• L. Shankar - double violin
• Musicians Du Nil - arghul
• David Rhodes - Ebow guitar
• Peter Gabriel - synthesizers
22. The Promise Of Shadows
• Bill Cobham - drum kit
• David Bottrill - lead tambourine
• Peter Gabriel - Emulator, Prophet 5, Audioframe, additional percussion
• David Rhodes - guitar
23. Disturbed
• Hossam Ramzy - surdo, tabla
• Mustafa Abdel Aziz - percussion loop
• Said Mohammad Aly - percussion loop
• Fatala - African percussion
• L. Shankar - double violin
• Peter Gabriel - Fairlight, Prophet 5
24. It Is Accomplished
• Bill Cobham - drums, tambourine
• David Bottrill - tambourine 2, distorted slide
• Nathan East - bass
• Mustafa Abdel Aziz - arghul drone
• David Sancious - Hammond organ
• David Rhodes - Steinberger guitar
• Peter Gabriel - doholla, additional percussion, Roland D-50, piano, Prophet 5, voice
25. Bread And Wine
• Peter Gabriel - contrabass, Prophet 5, voice
• David Rhodes - Ebow guitar
• Richard Evans - tin whistle
• L. Shankar - double violin

Trivia

• The track "The Feeling Begins" was used as the concert introduction to Alanis Morissette's 1995-1996 world tour.
• The soundtrack is in common use among some members of the Ordo Templi Orientis as background music in performances of Liber XV, The Gnostic Mass.

References