Hallelujah. So much meaning is compounded in this word. From its religious to colloquial uses, it conjures up a litany of emotions: praise, despair, relief, awe. The same could be said for Leonard Cohen’s iconic song by the same name; it is loaded with complexity. “Hallelujah” delves into brokenness, yearning, and atonement, and it questions the point of everything … which is a sentiment we all can relate to during this pandemic.
Cohen, a spiritual seeker throughout his life, once summed up the meaning of his song:
“This world is full of conflicts… of things that cannot be reconciled, but there are moments when we can transcend the dualistic system and reconcile and embrace the whole mess, and that's what I mean by ‘Hallelujah.’ …That's the only moment that we live here fully as human beings.”
In surrendering to the turmoil surrounding us, perhaps we might open a pathway to new realms of awakening and revelation.
Greg and I were inspired by these concepts in creating our composition “Hallelujah Variations.” We began writing the score in the wake of Cohen’s death in November 2016 (incidentally another fraught time in recent history); we inevitably felt the need to channel the range of psychological states in response to loss. Alongside the inspiration of Cohen’s song itself, we also looked to the music of Franz Schubert and Ludwig van Beethoven; their compositional styles were a fitting match for the transcendental message of “Hallelujah.” We found resonance between Schubert’s poetic, intimate piano-duet (and lied) writing and Cohen’s bard-like lyrics and simple melodic lines. As our variations progress toward an exalted climax we incorporate the metaphysical spirit of late Beethoven (the ghost of a certain piano sonata hovers—music lovers, try to spot it).
Our music video explores related themes of spiritual searching and renewal. The shoot took place last September over two days at the epic Tippet Rise Art Center in Montana—one of our favorite performing and filming venues in the world—and we focused on the concept of playing these eight variations amid the full cycle of a day (à la Monet’s legendary Haystacks). We started with a 4:30AM call-time beneath a sky littered with stars, weathered nearly 100-degree heat and shifting winds midday, wrapped post-nightfall, then resumed again the following dawn. Our small but mighty crew—major shout-out to Emily, Adam, Chris, and Brian!—was top-notch and fully immersed in the shoot with us. Greg began editing the film in between our recent tour dates, but as concert cancellations starting rolling in and quarantine restrictions began, the editing process accrued extra degrees of urgency, motivation, and relevancy. The two of us communicated across the country via FaceTime to finalize the edits, and the meaning of the project gained a whole new level of poignancy amid the anxiety and confusion of these times. Working on this film together has given us profound gratitude for the outlet of creativity as well as a revived commitment to share the joy and power of music with others, no matter what shall pass. Full circle, indeed.
So this is our gift to you: a heartfelt meditation on transcending the depths of darkness and suffering. May this music video bring you and yours consolation, hope, and light in the days to come.
-Elizabeth Joy Roe
