The Story behind the Concert with further opportunity to support:
Monty and Ram met for the first time in September 2023 - Ram had arrived in Australia for the first time looking for opportunities to share his musical talents and abilities. In an intuitive search Ram found a Whirling Dervish style meditation event run by Monty and after a short audition Monty invited Ram to join him and they played together for the first time. From this small beginning created the seed for the outcome of what you see here. The material for this concert was gathered and created over a month's time before the first show at the Sivananda Ashram in Fremantle in Jan 2024 to show also at Civic Centre in Denmark in February. Monty, having received a Sarangi and a Tabla from Ram in India in October has only been playing these instruments as long to include these bountiful and rich tone flavours in his musical wanderings. Monty originally wrote this story as a much longer piece but decided to reduce it to provide a lovely setting for a new music universe. Jessica Berry - a long-term friend of Monty and fellow spiritual nerd and writer loved the story and was delighted to embrace a performing role. Later, she was inspired to bring together a series of mandala artwork designs for the performance: adaptively and intuitively the show came together piece by piece within only a few short weeks.
We do not seek to repeat this concert ad infinitum - but wish to keep creating new things and put our energy within that which empowers us and represents us in the moment when that moment is happening. We know this show is not perfect and do not seek to present it as such. In an age of AI - we embrace the authenticity of the moment and expose without reserve the fact that we are indeed human.
Over Jan to March 2024 Ram and Monty facilitated 15 events including Concerts, dedicated Qawwali style Kirtan, Whirling Dervish meditations and Vocal Workshops. We collaborated with a ream of driven individuals and were inundated with overwhelming support for the events within the various locations in Perth and the South West of Western Australia. With the events we provided pricing and a ticketing structure that allowed all to attend regardless of income to ensure the atmosphere of the work remained pure in its intention and interest - that the energy of the work remains the way it was given to us - as a gift. We understand finding the balance between industry and service is a line that is navigated carefully by each individual who participates in their work as a spiritual service.
Financially, we broke even (non-english speaking 'figure of speech' translation: we didn't lose or make any money). Monty has now moved to Denmark, Western Australia and has commenced farm work again to go on to create yet more events in the future and embrace new music and storytelling explorations.
If you like the work and wish to see more of it sooner - we give you the option to donate as you might wish. This isn't begging, we don't need your money - and we enjoy what we do the way we do it, living life in a way that does not promote inordinate social hierarchy which bolsters the poor foundation of the present social paradigm. We seek to promote systems of self-governance and self-responsibility that inherently decentralize - providing maximum opportunity for every generation to come. Monty has no dreams of 'making it' and sees such a path as the opposite of the intended outcome of providing authentic and sustainable fertile ground for self-realisation.
Monty has aspirations of developing these archetypal focused ideas into stage plays and film productions featuring a dynamic cast, exotic dance choreographed segments and a full multi-cultural orchestra. As various elements come together and the required networks are created he is coming closer and closer to realising this dream. Only through the lense of authentic gifting is the effect of this work for humanity pure in its fullest etheric potential and so innovatively detaching from industry becomes a necessity to complete the work.
All possible gifts would be received unconditionally with no influence on the work created or undue pressure or influence by doing so. You'll just have to trust that we'll keep being ourselves, serving according to our authentic meter and let go of any expectation attached to the value you contribute. We're so grateful for the support of so many that have supported us in order to make this happen! Thank you!
If you would like to provide an unconditional gift email [email protected] or call /message Monty on +61 422 563 234 for details
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Special thanks to the following amazing individuals:
Sam and Nigel, renovator/artist power couple who transcended Darnell’s to its current capacity of light allowing for such a magical evening in a magical setting and also for providing us with accomodation for the time two wandering fakirime’s were in Margaret River;
Sarah from Hami Hill, for supporting us in so many ways with her naturally unconditionally giving self;
Genevieve for a car, for the price of the new battery it had, which managed to last us throughout our tour;
Mira in Denmark, for helping us out in Denmark, being our impromptu groupie and supporting us with accomodation;
Laura and Clyde, for an amazing Kirtan collab in Margaret River;
Sean from Ovis Creative for a great discount on filming on the night supporting independent, local artists;
and countless others who we cannot name that helped us along the way for the total of 15 events in three months! An amazing achievement by any means! So grateful to everyone for all your support!
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The following is the information in the info to the video:
Immerse yourself in the enchanting "Path Of Eternal Light"—a captivating storytelling concert experience blending an Indian influenced imagination with inspiring narratives accompanied by original animated mandala designs.
Song list, Story and Mandalas ---
Introduction: "Wings of a Bird"
Song: Ghazel - Mere Shauq Da Nai Aitbar Tenu
Part 1: "Aisles of Light"
Song: Ghazel - Tere Aane Ki Jab Khabar Mehke
Mandala: Freedom Portal - The opening to new possibilities
Part 2: "No Separation"
Song: St Kabir Das Song - Man Lago Yar Fakirime
Mandala: Etheric Portal - Surrendering into the void of all potential
Part 3: "The Path"
Song: Qawalli Devotional Song - Mast Qalander
Mandala: Emergent Path Portal - intuitive compassing key
Part 4: "The Star"
Song: Qawalli Devotional Song - Rabba Kadi Vi Na Paen Vichore
Mandala: Divine Guidance Portal - the gateway to devotional unity
Part 5: "A Pressing Translation"
Song: St Ravidas Poetry with Ektare
Meaning: This song is based on poetry by enlightened mystic St Ravidas who was from the lower caste (13th Century) now accepted by all religious people in all castes in India as an enlightened master and saint. It is a warning that people are sleeping to their true nature and a call to be awakened to return to the true self now. We are dying every day so let's use this life for being our realised awakened self.
Part 6: "Communion"
Song: Tarana and Ja Ja Re Apne Mandirva Medley
Mandala: Communion Portal - the realisation of Oneness
Note: The songs, ragas and instruments used to illustrate this story are utilized in an expressive way featuring improvisational elements and non-traditional interpretations - we do not seek to represent the traditional forms in a direct rote way but to use them as a palette with which to paint a picture adding our own impetus to them. Please enjoy them within this context. We wish to acknowledge the value of the traditionalist approach to these forms and do not intend to replace them - we hope that by adapting the material to our own imagination we make these forms accessible to others that might otherwise not have come into contact with these timeless pieces. This doorway can drive further exploration and, if listeners wish, can then discover the rich heritage of these musics.
Download a specially prepared audio for this concert from Bandcamp:
[Link coming soon!]
Credits:
Storytelling Performance and Original Rotating Mandala Designs: Jessica Berry
Vocals, Harmonium, Ektare and Kirtal: Ram VJ
Sarangi, Kemence, Bendir, Tabla, Udu, Vocals, Looping: Monty Cash
Video Editing with Additional Animations/Effects: Monty Cash
Story Written by Monty Cash
Original event information for Path of Eternal Light with links and resources can be found here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1163141
Here is a link to short creative write-up about it: https://peakd.com/hive-193816/@montycashmusic/whoa-ive-discovered-the-ancient-recipe-for-creating-universes
A little history - Part 1 of ‘Embrace the Light’ series:
The Path of Eternal Light is an original collaborative experience that combines many artforms in order to create a realm to be experienced for a brief moment. The concept, originally developed by Monty, was first utilized in August 2022 at the same venue (developed by Sam Caruso) as a multi-collaborative art and music release featuring artworks by Amanda Forward made specifically for the story 'Open the Door' with an audio video installation of a collaborative animation made with illustrations by Jessica Berry and animation by Monty Cash; sculpture by Kirsty Hutchinson with Balkan inspired music and storytelling performed live with a multi-layered loop and multi-instrumentalist setup by Monty Cash. This ran over two nights with food and drinks with the art exhibition showing over the full weekend of the two performances. Open the Door is part 1 of 'Embrace the Light' series with The Path of Eternal Light being part 2.
Photos of the exhibition in August 2022 can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/dreamstoreality.vision/posts/pfbid0NoSceR9GiCxtE859wwu4EJU4HXWUbwwuYeQjwy6zwn7pyPwzaKvwdshQCLhSJ8xJl
Animation: https://www.facebook.com/dreamstoreality.vision/videos/757456908908536/
Live Performance video: https://www.facebook.com/dreamstoreality.vision/posts/pfbid02x3KwptabnkaZyySFQPdZVXqELUFBbgUVXYBhzJVmY7yVJTATnmYhcPjGTDyQdDTJl
A more recent performance of a longer version of 'Open the Door' in 2023:
Original music score composed and arranged by Monty Cash featuring a meditation with narration by Solange Niessen of the Netherlands: https://indance.bandcamp.com/album/open-the-door-with-a-guided-dream
To stay up to date with events email us with the subject 'Join mailing list' to [email protected] and/or join us on socials:
https://instagram.com/indanceindance
https://facebook.com/indanceindance