Everywhere and for All-Time
Everywhere and for All-Time is a piece that explores the connections between the cosmos, modern scientific findings, and ancient Hindu cosmology. Recently, cosmologists have come up with a theory that differs from the Big Bang: they call it the “Big Bounce Theory.” Rather than our universe starting from a singular point before time existed, the Big Bounce Theory posits that time and space have always existed and always will exist, with the universe going through cycles of contraction and expansion; in a sense cycles of “death” and “rebirth.” Therefore, the Big Bounce marks the time when another universe died and gave birth to our current universe. This modern scientific thinking is perfectly in line with ancient Hindu cosmology from as long ago as the 15th century BCE. According to Hinduism, time is infinite with a cyclic universe, where the current universe was preceded and will be followed by an infinite number of universes. The different states of the universe are cyclically created and destroyed by the Holy Trinity: Brahma, the creator, Krishna, the preserver, and Shiva, the destroyer. As the soloist, Maya serves as all three at various stages in the piece. According to Hindu teachings, we are currently in the fourth and last yuga (world age) of the universe, Kali Yuga. This is believed to be an age when virtues are at their worst, being right before the destruction of the current universe which then ushers in the first phase of the cycle again. The cyclical nature of the universe’s death and rebirth are represented in several ways in the piece: the first being a certain rhythmic structure, or tala (5,2,3,4) that comes back throughout the piece. The second being the palindromic structure of the piece: it ends exactly as it began, but in reverse. As inspiration for the piece, the composer made use of the following text which alludes to the cyclical nature of the universe according to Hindu belief: From Fervour kindled to its height Eternal Law and Truth were born: Thence was the Night produced, and thence the billowy flood of sea arose. From that same billowy flood of sea the Year was afterwards produced, Ordainer of the days nights, Lord over all who close the eye. Dhātar, the great Creator, then formed the sun and moon exactly as before. He formed in order Heaven and Earth, the regions of the air, and light. Rig Veda 10.190.1-3, c. 1500-1200 BCE Heather Pinkham *The electronic sound at the beginning of Movement II is a simulation of the Big Bang, created by (c) John G. Cramer – 2013 of the University of Washington.
