Heart of the Sunrise
Encyclopedia
"Heart of the Sunrise" is a progressive rock
song by British band Yes
. It is the closing track on their fourth album, 1971's Fragile
. The compositional credits go to Jon Anderson
, Bill Bruford
, and Chris Squire
, though keyboardist Rick Wakeman
contributed some uncredited sections.
The song eventually rose to become the band's fourth most-played song. However, it was played approximately three hundred times less than "I've Seen All Good People" and received little if any airplay. It was popular enough, however, to appear on Yessongs
, Classic Yes
, In a Word: Yes (1969 - )
, and many other studio and live retrospectives. It was named the ninth greatest drum performance by digitaldreamdoor.com.
tour, Anderson says that the song is about the power and energy of the sunrise. In 1978, however, he said the song was about the power of love. Sometimes, he makes other comments. For example, on the October 16, 1971 show, Anderson states that the organ in the song is inaudible and will be performed without it. He further notes that the organ is "one of the best jokes in the business."
(in the same way as "America
" from Leonard Bernstein's score for the musical West Side Story). After one full sequence, it merges into a new, slightly funky section in 4/4 that lasts for a minute and a half. It afterwards breaks back into three full cycles of the main riff.
At around 3:25, after the final cycle, the song switches to a much softer style, where Jon Anderson begins singing. This section starts in 6/8 but includes many individual sequences, including a quirky 5/8 riff that appears in various speeds and arrangements. The song gradually builds in intensity, eventually including the main riff interspersed with the other sections. A brief classical snippet of Rick Wakeman's is used as well in both classical and rock arrangements.
The song itself ends very abruptly around 10:35, but a reprise of "We Have Heaven" from earlier on the album is included as a hidden track, extending it to 11:27 (11:32 on the 2003 release). Some vinyl pressings ended without this reprise. At either length, it is the longest song on the album.
Rick Wakeman contributed to the writing of "Heart Of The Sunrise" (and fellow album piece "South Side Of The Sky") by adding piano interludes to both songs, but wasn't credited because of contractual conflicts. He was instead promised more money by Atlantic studio executives, which he claims he never saw.
When performed live, the song was mostly performed the same as the studio version, accounting for obvious differences in instrumentation. Of course, the introductions changed as well. In the early part of the Big Generator tour, the main riff was worked into an instrumental version of "Almost Like Love" which led off the show.
Progressive metal
band Dream Theater
paid tribute to Yes with a live cover of this song, which is included on their 'Uncovered 2003-2005' official bootleg.
LCD Soundsystem
included a section of the song at the end of a live performance of their song "Tired"
film Buffalo 66, with matching cinematography. "Sweetness", from the band's eponymous debut, was also used.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
song by British band Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
. It is the closing track on their fourth album, 1971's Fragile
Fragile (Yes album)
Fragile is the fourth studio album from the English progressive rock band Yes, released on Atlantic Records. It is the first to feature keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who replaced Tony Kaye in 1971, and the first to feature cover art by Roger Dean, who would design many of the band's records.Upon its...
. The compositional credits go to Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
, Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
, and Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
, though keyboardist Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
contributed some uncredited sections.
The song eventually rose to become the band's fourth most-played song. However, it was played approximately three hundred times less than "I've Seen All Good People" and received little if any airplay. It was popular enough, however, to appear on Yessongs
Yessongs
Yessongs is the first live album from the English progressive rock band Yes, released on Atlantic Records. The album is formed of recordings from their supporting world tours for their studio albums, Fragile and Close to the Edge, between February and December 1972...
, Classic Yes
Classic Yes
Classic Yes is the second compilation album by British progressive rock group Yes.Originally released as a single LP with a bonus 7-inch 33 1/3 RPM disc featuring live versions of "Roundabout" and "I've Seen All Good People" from 1978, everything has been compiled onto one CD...
, In a Word: Yes (1969 - )
In a Word: Yes (1969 - )
In a Word: Yes is a 5-CD box set by progressive rock band Yes encompassing their entire career from its inception in 1969 to 2001, including material from the 1989 Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe album...
, and many other studio and live retrospectives. It was named the ninth greatest drum performance by digitaldreamdoor.com.
Meaning
According to Anderson, the song is about being lost in the city. This was explained on many tours. On the Big GeneratorBig Generator
Big Generator is the twelfth studio album by progressive rock band Yes. It was released in 1987 on Atlantic Records' Atco subsidiary label and was the follow-up to the massively successful 90125 album.- History :...
tour, Anderson says that the song is about the power and energy of the sunrise. In 1978, however, he said the song was about the power of love. Sometimes, he makes other comments. For example, on the October 16, 1971 show, Anderson states that the organ in the song is inaudible and will be performed without it. He further notes that the organ is "one of the best jokes in the business."
Content and structure
The song begins with a churning, bass-heavy riff that alternates between 6/8 and 3/4 timeTime signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
(in the same way as "America
America (West Side Story song)
"America" is a well-known song from the musical West Side Story. Leonard Bernstein composed the music; Stephen Sondheim wrote the song's lyrics...
" from Leonard Bernstein's score for the musical West Side Story). After one full sequence, it merges into a new, slightly funky section in 4/4 that lasts for a minute and a half. It afterwards breaks back into three full cycles of the main riff.
At around 3:25, after the final cycle, the song switches to a much softer style, where Jon Anderson begins singing. This section starts in 6/8 but includes many individual sequences, including a quirky 5/8 riff that appears in various speeds and arrangements. The song gradually builds in intensity, eventually including the main riff interspersed with the other sections. A brief classical snippet of Rick Wakeman's is used as well in both classical and rock arrangements.
The song itself ends very abruptly around 10:35, but a reprise of "We Have Heaven" from earlier on the album is included as a hidden track, extending it to 11:27 (11:32 on the 2003 release). Some vinyl pressings ended without this reprise. At either length, it is the longest song on the album.
Rick Wakeman contributed to the writing of "Heart Of The Sunrise" (and fellow album piece "South Side Of The Sky") by adding piano interludes to both songs, but wasn't credited because of contractual conflicts. He was instead promised more money by Atlantic studio executives, which he claims he never saw.
Live versions
A number of live versions were released:- Yessongs (Close to the Edge tour)
- Yes - Symphonic Live, 2002, (Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam)
- The Word is LiveThe Word is LiveThe Word Is Live is a live box set by progressive rock band Yes and was released in 2005 through Rhino Records.Considered the live companion to 2002's studio In a Word: Yes box set, The Word is Live serves to document the band's live story from early BBC recordings in 1970 with Peter Banks to 1988...
(TormatoTormatoTormato is the ninth studio album by British progressive rock group Yes. Issued as the follow-up to 1977's acclaimed Going for the One, Tormato received less than charitable reviews upon release and its virtues are still a matter of debate for Yes fans and critics...
tour) - Yesyears (Big Generator tour)
- An Evening of Yes Music PlusAn Evening of Yes Music PlusAn Evening of Yes Music Plus is a live album by the English progressive rock side project Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe . Released on October 12, 1993, it was recorded at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California on September 9, 1989....
(Performed by Anderson Bruford Wakeman HoweAnderson Bruford Wakeman HoweAnderson Bruford Wakeman Howe was a project of four progressive rock musicians, vocalist Jon Anderson, drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and guitarist Steve Howe . They had played together in Yes in the early 1970s...
, on their tour) - Live at Montreux 2003Live at Montreux 2003Live at Montreux 2003 is a 2007 live album from the English progressive rock band Yes. It is a live recording of the group's headlining concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival on 14 July 2003...
(Full Circle Tour)
When performed live, the song was mostly performed the same as the studio version, accounting for obvious differences in instrumentation. Of course, the introductions changed as well. In the early part of the Big Generator tour, the main riff was worked into an instrumental version of "Almost Like Love" which led off the show.
Progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
paid tribute to Yes with a live cover of this song, which is included on their 'Uncovered 2003-2005' official bootleg.
LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem was a prominent American dance-punk band from New York City. It was fronted by American singer-songwriter and producer James Murphy, co-founder of record label DFA Records...
included a section of the song at the end of a live performance of their song "Tired"
In film
"Heart of the Sunrise" was used in the Vincent GalloVincent Gallo
Vincent Gallo is an Italian-American film director and actor. Though he has had minor roles in mainstream films such as Goodfellas, he is most associated with independent movies, including Buffalo '66, which he wrote, directed, did the music for and starred in; The Brown Bunny, which he also...
film Buffalo 66, with matching cinematography. "Sweetness", from the band's eponymous debut, was also used.
Personnel
- Jon AndersonJon AndersonJon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
: Lead vocals - Bill BrufordBill BrufordWilliam Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
: Drums and percussion - Steve HoweSteve Howe (guitarist)Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
: Electric guitar - Chris SquireChris SquireChristopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
: Bass guitar and backing vocals - Rick WakemanRick WakemanRichard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
: Keyboards