Commentary by William:

The Far Away/Gilgamesh Laments For Enkidu

These 2 pieces came to life after having played the CDI game “ Burn Cycle”. It was the pilot program originally slated to launch CDI (CD Rom for Television). The technology never really took off and the game was re-formatted for Mac & PC. It was a tale of software espionage that featured a principal character named ”Cutter”. Inspired by the story, I was moved to write some music that would lend itself well to similar media; perhaps, CD Rom games or other related software that called for evocative moods to accompany game-play. At the time, I had recently added some gear to my MIDI network and was eager to give it a test drive. Using a Roland JV-880, R-5, & D-50, and a E-Mu Proteus fx driven by Motu Performer 6.0, I managed “Cutter” and “Mystics”. In “Cutter’s original state, it existed as 3 distinct movements, each reflecting parts of the story. “Mystics” rose from a rainy day into evening’s efforts designed to create a tranquil atmosphere conducive to deep contemplation of the universe and fractional divisions thereof. Did I succeed? I laid them on a slab and offered them as a sacrifice to Gilgamesh. They have since embarked on a perilous journey into the netherworlds of Gilbert, Arizona where they have come to fruition among the cactus. I still have yet to hear them in their entirety! 
WJB

What is this song about?

In order to attain immortality, Ziasudra/Utnapishtim challenged Gilgamesh to stay awake for seven days and seven nights. Believing he was up to the challenge, Gilgamesh sat down on the beach but because of his long journey and emotional suffering he immediately fell asleep! Utnapishtim perceived Gilgamesh would argue to the contrary when he awoke, so to demonstrate to Gilgamesh that time had passed Utnapishtim had his wife bake a loaf of bread for each day the king slept. He reasoned the progressive forms of mold would prove to Gilgamesh he had been sleeping and therefore unworthy of challenge and ultimately immortality.

Seven days later Gilgamesh awakened and insisted he only dozed off for a few seconds. When Utnapishtim showed our hero the seven loaves of bread Gilgamesh realized he did indeed fall asleep. He wept bitterly knowing that he was not worthy of godly status and returned to the raft and the ferryman, Urshanabi.

As he cast off, Utnapishtim's wife was overwhelmed with pity for the king and begged Utnapishtim to give Gilgamesh one more chance. Utnapishtim told Gilgamesh of a plant whose properties would bring youth to those who ingested it. Although this would not give Gilgamesh the eternal life he sought it did allow him another lifetime. Utnapishtim told our hero of a plant called the Flower of Life that existed deep below the ocean.

Hearing this, Gilgamesh set off with Urshanabi to retrieve the "Flower of Life." He sailed out to the Apsu (the Sumerian word for the fresh water that flows under the Earth), tied millstones to his feet and sank deep into the ocean. He retrieved the plant, untied the stones from his feet and floated back to the surface with the Flower of Life.