Story

Greg Pichler of the Progressive Shamanists has released a new rendition of his original song, Beyond Abyssinia, originally entitled The Distant Calamity, Part II - Requium.

Background

Greg Pichler of the Progressive Shamanists composed a revised version of the song, The Distant Calamity, on February 2, 2023, retitling the song, Beyond Abyssinia.

Pichler originally composed the song, the Calamity, in the two parts. Pichler composed the score for Part I, subtitled, Atmosphere, at the Music Hall at Lehigh University, over the course of the Spring break of 1979 between March 10, 1979 and March 17, 1979. Click here to listen to Pichler's piano rendition of Part 1 of the Song, The Calamity, subtitled Atmosphere, recorded on Saturday, March 17, 1979 or thereabouts.

Pichler originally composed the score for part II, subtitled Requium, over the course of the Summer of 1981, while on break from attending undergraduate studies at Lehigh University.

In September, 1981 at the outset of the Fall semester Pichler introduced Part II of the song to the members of the Tau Epsilon Phi, fraternity house band, The Shrooms, including James Jordan, Keith Swanson, and Scott Keller. The Shrooms, who later added Bob Jones as keyboardist, performed Part II of the song at a Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity party on Saturday, November 21, 1981. Click here to listen to The Shrooms' rendition of the Song, The Calamity, recorded over the course of a rehearsal on Saturday, November 14, 1981.

Pichler's band mates also referred to the song on hard copy song lists as Where's My Wallet after Pichler reported that he could not find his wallet prior to attending a rehearsal in the basement of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity Annex.

Huw Roberts, the original guitarist of the group, transfered out of Lehigh University over the Summer break of 1981 and was not available to rehearse the song with the other original members of the Shrooms. However, Roberts did perform at the fraternity house party on Saturday, November 21, 1981 on the material he was familiar with from rehearsing and performing with the group earlier that calendar year.

What the song is about

The song, Beyond Abyssinia, is about a soldier of a nation at war with a neighboring nation. The original rendition was specifically centered on the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. However, the revised version is same story, but told from the prespective of a Ukraine soldier fighting against the Russian military during the Russian invasion and occupation of East Ukraine, starting on February 23, 2022.

Credits

The lyrics are largely developed from an interpretation of chapter, God Will Punish Ethiopia, Isaiah 18 of the old testament.

A number of melodies from the band, Yes, were spliced into various parts of the composition.

Special Thanks to Denys Davydov of the Ukraine for his daily updates on the situation in Ukraine and for his extensive collection of war footage on his telegram channel. Click here to access Denys Davydov's YouTube channel.

The Progressive Shamanists are currently working on the composition, adding instrument parts. What is currently available is otherwise a work in progress.

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