Light of this World

Constance Demby | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 22, 1988)
• Original Release Date: 1988
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sound Currents
• ASIN: B00005OMVW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #249,394 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Saved by The Song, October 18, 2002

By 

Gaile Gamble (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Light of this World (Audio CD)

We were on the last leg of a long road trip, headed West in our old gas-guzzling car. We had one more mountain range to go to reach our destination and around mid-afternoon we began climbing rapidly into the higher elevations. After a while the winds picked up and snow started falling heavily. Within a couple of hours, we started to notice that the only other vehicles on the road were big rigs and snow plows. The gas tank was getting low. Every time we took a turn-off, following signs to gas stations, we would drive for several miles to find that the business was closed. We had no choice but to keep going. This went on for miles. Then the gas tank was on empty. We kept driving.

Gradually, I became gripped by an almost uncontrollable fear as I realized the actuality of our situation. I started playing "Light of This World" on my cassette player, over and over, blasting the song into my headphones. As the passenger, I felt totally helpless. I noticed that it was about 2 am. We kept driving, and I kept listening and praying that the batteries wouldn't run out. Listening to, and singing along with, the song was the only thing that kept me from going into a state of total, uncontrollable terror.

We continued driving ON EMPTY for 3 hours, until 5 am. When we started to come down out of the mountains, there was no more snow. In the distance, we could see a light. As we got closer, we could see that we were approaching a truck stop. I thought it was a mirage.

It was open. We got gas, food and batteries, and were even allowed to use the showers (only truckers were normally allowed to use them). We felt that we had been given a miracle. I believe the music opened the channel for this to take place.

This was my most profound experience with music therapy!!!

Thank you, Constance!!!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Serendipity, October 11, 2003

By 

Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Light of this World (Audio CD)

The advantage of a collection is that it can focus on a facet of a composer's work rather than the musician's original concepts. Of course, the composer may disagree with this. But in most cases this is a happy marriage, especially in this case.

Constance Demby's compositions range from tuneful to aridly mathmatic. Without some form of entrance key, the listener who isn't used to what she is trying to do may get put off. Since much of Demby borders on minimalism, it is not always easy to absorb. By selecting carefully, this album overcomes this hurdle. There is enough here to draw in any listener.

There are excerpts from albums as diverse as Novus Magnicat, which has had great critical acclaim, and the far more technically oriented Sunborne, which is every inch a challenge. Since Demby appeals both to the New Age listener and the musical adventurer the albums serendipity assures the widest possibler experience.

Often Demby's spiritual leanings put off more catholic listeners, who are afraid that what they are going to get is trance music with pompous titles. And there is, no doubt, some of that here. What is important, is to listen to the music down below the hype. Where you will discover what was at the time a fresh and unique style of musicianship.