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Story of Mankind - A Requiem by Benjamin Koppel feat. Randy Brecker - Out Now

Story Of Mankind is a piece that depicts the cruelty of man through an interpretation in music of human feelings. Pictures of the trenches in Ukraine look frighteningly the same as pictures of the trenches of World War I. And thus, the story repeats itself. Again. 

French poet Apollinaire is by many not only considered one of the great poets of the early 20th century but also a pioneer of surrealism. And with his words as well as with lyrics from two great Danish poets of today,  Tomas ”TT” Krag and Morten Søndergaard,  Benjamin Koppel wanted to examine how the absurd sur-reality of war and destruction remain in the center of human actions. 

Master photographer Jan Grarup has travelled through Ukraine since the beginning of the war. His pictures will say more than a thousand words. And they have brought Koppel’s attention even closer to the horrific absurdity and devastating loss of both,  human lives and resources, that is the result of any war. 

Story of Mankind is a requiem. A mass for the dead. But it is also a celebration of life, of all that man as a species has accomplished, and of all the love that the human heart is able to offer. If we only remember to do so. And remember our story. 

Featuring a stellar cast of top musicians, this piece of music interprets the sadness and terror of war. Any war. Which, at any given moment in history, seems to be a part of the story of mankind.

TRACKS

CD #1

1.     YOU WHO HEAR US NOW [5:36]

2.    Afterthought I at vi tilfældigvis er født [0:39]

3.    I DON’T BELIEVE [6:16]

4.    Afterthought II at stå ved frontlinjen [0:36]

5.    ABSURD [8:04]

6.    Afterthought III en usynlig og lydløs fjende [0:25]

7.    REHEARSING DYING [5:23]

8.    Afterthought IV det eneste vi ved [0:21]

9.    CIVILIZATION [7:16]

10.  Afterthought V det som er inde i mig [0:30]

11.  TOC TOC LA DAME [8:40]

12. Afterthought VI som om alt var, som det var engang [0:25]

Total: 44:22

CD #2

13.  NOUX DIMES ADIEU [6:27]

14.  Afterthought VII alle disse menneskers angst [0:17]

15.  THEREFORE I AM [5:41]

16.  Afterthought VIII et skrig af lykke, vi er udelukket fra [0:21]

17.  EXERCISE [8:32]

18.  Afterthought IX vi skal vågne [0:19]

19.  BLEUET [6:15]

20.  Afterthought X hver dag må vi sige verden igen [0:10]

21.  NIGHT SOFT NIGHT [6:08]

22.  Afterthought XI kun sangen bliver tilbage [0:42]

23.  THE STORY OF MANKIND [8:15]

Total: 43:25

All composed by Benjamin Koppel

Lyrics by Guillaume Apollinaire (extracted by Benjamin Koppel), except 5, 9, 15 & 23 by “TT” Tomas Krag

Lyrics for Afterthoughts by Morten Søndergaard

Produced by Jeff Levenson and Benjamin Koppel

Arranged by Søren Møller and Benjamin Koppel

Recorded at The Village Recording, Copenhagen, June 2023 by Thomas Vang

Mixed by Thomas Vang and Benjamin Koppel

Mastered by Boe Larsen

Photos by Jan Grarup/WHILE WE BLEED

Design by Knut Schötteldreier

Liner notes by Adam Holm

Special thanks to Jan Grarup, Adam Holm, Tom Tramborg, Tomas “TT” Krag & Morten Søndergaard. 

Label: Cowbell Music

Benjamin plays Peter Jessen handmade mouthpieces and sax necks
 
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