Description
The Resurrection of Lazarus, sub-titled A Cantata by Kerry Livgren, is a solo album by the American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Kerry Livgren of Kansas and A.D. fame, independently released on Numavox in 2021. Composed and produced by Kerry Livgren.
Featuring Phil Keaggy on electric solo guitar and Phil Ehart on drums with all other instruments and orchestration by Kerry Livgren.
Vocals provided by David Pack of of Ambrosia fame (as Jesus), John Elefante (as Lazarus), Phil Keaggy (as Thomas), Kim Borchers (as Mary), Susan Shewbridge (as Martha), Warren Ham of A.D. fame (as Nicodemus), Greg X. Volz (as Joseph of Arimathea), Allen Asbury (as Disciple 1), Bill Compeau (as Disciple 2), Cal Walker (as Disciple 3), Jake Livgren (as Caiaphas), David Luther (as Pharisee 1), Rich Williams of Kansas fame (as Pharisee 2), Steve Walsh of Kansas fame (as Pharisee 3), Monty Colvin of Galactic Cowboys fame (as Pharisee 4), Robby Steinhardt of Kansas fame (as Pharisee 5), Dave Hope of Kansas and A.D. fame (as Pharisee 6), and Matthew Schellenberg (as Pharisee 7). Background vocals and choir: Jake Livgren, David Pack, John Elefante, Kim Borchers, Susan Shewbridge, Bill Compeau, Cal Walker, Matthew Schellenberg, Jessica (Livgren) Matheis, Kreg Hoover, Stephanie Teagarden, Roxanne Livgren, Britta Livgren, and Katy Livgren.
How do I begin to talk about this piece of Music? My first recollection concerning it was in 1979 as I was writing music for Monolith (the Kansas album.) I had a keyboard set up in my music room, and suddenly this theme and melody just came through my fingers. You might ask me “What’s so unusual about that?” Many songs are written like that, but I can tell you that this composition was not a typical Kerry Livgren song. It felt, more than anything I had previously written, as though I were just a “conduit.” It seemed like someone else was composing it. I knew that this piece was not going to be played by Kansas, or any other band for that matter, but I had no idea what to do with it. I just recorded it to a Cassette and put it aside. There it stayed.
When I released my first solo album in 1980, “Seeds of Change,” I listened to the Cassette again, but still did not know how to proceed. Years later, after I got my first 24-track recorder, I recorded a rough version of it. I began to put together some of the orchestration using my keyboard instruments. When I began recording “One of Several Possible Musiks” in 1988, this “grand theme” came up again, but it was the same situation as before. It just didn’t fit. I knew this music was to be used for a special purpose.
After I had moved from Georgia back to Kansas in 1993, I set up my digital studio (after transferring all my analog tapes) and began working. While listening to them, I came across “the theme.” This is where it gets really weird. Somehow, this two minute piece of music became an epic Symphonic work, in different movements, and with lyrics and multiple vocal melodies. The strange part is – I have almost no memory of having written it. I don’t know when I realized the subject matter – the Resurrection of Lazarus, or how I came up with the lyrics and melodies. I have specific memories of composing most of my music and lyrics. I can remember the moment I wrote «Carry On Wayward Son», «The Wall», and «Dust in the Wind». But not this one.
I read somewhere that a “Cantata” was simply an Opera, but without the staging. It is a purely musical performance. I knew then what I was dealing with. I began studying up on Lazarus, and recording the music about 1995. I have been at it ever since. The lyrics, as much as possible, are right out of John Chapter 11. I obviously used my imagination to get inside the mind of Lazarus, Mary, Martha, Thomas, and many others, who surely knew about Jesus and what he accomplished with Lazarus. Jake Livgren was extremely helpful to have around. He sang every one of the “guide” vocals. Sometimes months would go by, even years, without working on The Cantata, but I always came back to it. During the recording process, the Cantata has been through several different formats, from Cassette to various forms of digital recording. Then I had a life-threatening stroke in 2009, which was followed by a nearly miraculous recovery. I have a suspicion that the reason the Lord gave me that experience, was so I would have a deeper understanding of what Lazarus went through, and of his ultimate hope – Jesus, and the restoration of Life. [Kerry Livgren]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-resurrection-of-lazarus-a-cantata-by-kerry-livgren/1761813205)
CD tracklist:
01. Movement 1 – 8:12
02. Movement 2 – 15:13
03. Movement 3 – 16:54
04. Movement 4 – 11:23
05. Movement 5 – 12:17
Note: Available at Bandcamp: https://kerrylivgren.bandcamp.com/album/the-resurrection-of-lazarus
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