Freestone

Review Freestone - The Temple of Humanity

2009-07-21T11:03:00.000+02:00

The Temple of Humanity has received several great reviews in the international press; they can be found on Freestone’s website. Here is a review from Chris Hodapp; thanks Chris for appreciating the album.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Masonic Music: Freestone's "Temple of Humanity"

Freemasonry and music have long been intertwined. A large section of Anderson's Constitutions featured the lyrics to songs that were sung by the earliest members of the modern fraternity.

A new CD, "The Temple of Humanity" by the Dutch band Freestone, is the latest melding of Masonry and melody. Producer, composer, and Freemason Harm Timmerman wrote the twelve tracks, wrapped around Masonic symbolism, initiation, and mysticism, and even takes a stab at anti-Masons (Masonry Dissected). Vocalist Diederik Huisman, Alex Simu's flute, and the multi-talented Timmerman on guitar, bass and keyboards, have created a concept album with Freemasonry at its core, at times recalling Pink Floyd or Alan Parsons Project discs. At times progressive rock, at other times jazz, it is a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable collection of songs and ideas. These are not just occasional Masonic buzzwords grafted onto rambling studio tracks. They are contemplative lyrics that explore Masonic concepts, along with solid and enjoyable music. "Temple of Humanity" is well worth seeking out.

Lecture: Does Freemasonry belong in Popular Music?

2009-07-17T17:08:00.000+02:00

Harm Timmerman, Teacher of Music at Stenden University, Producer and composer of The Temple of Humanity prepared a lecture, including a multi-media presentation in which he further explains the ideas that can be found in the album’s music, lyrics and artwork. First he goes into detail to what extend Freemasonry can be found in popular music, after which he speaks about the motives that had him started working on the album. If you are interested in this presentation for an evening in your lodge, please contact Freestone: info@free-stone.org.

Dream Theater-A Rite of Passage

2009-07-17T16:41:00.000+02:00

Recently the American symphonic rock band Dream Theater released the album Black Clouds & Silver Linings; truly a great album with impressive songs and instrumental breaks the band is famous for. One song in particular caught my attention.

A Rite of Passage has lyrics full with references to Freemasonry. In the middle of the booklet of the album and on the cover of this single we see the well know international logo of the brotherhood, the compass and square within the middle, not the letter G what we would expect, but the logo of the band. Checking out the video of this song on Youtube we come across some strange looking ritual, with clear and obvious connections with Masonry. At the end we see a company of initiates gathered around what appears to be a holy object, the Perfect Cube.

Checking forum discussions on the website of Dream Theater’s record label Roadrunner, it is said that none of the guys in the band are Masons themselves, but somewhere in their family there can be found Masonic ties. All together, an interesting reference to the Masonic legacy in present day music. The song doesn’t seem to be critical toward Freemasonry at all, but seems more to be intended as some kind of tribute. And of course: it’s great music.

Dan Brown – The Lost Symbol

2009-07-17T16:32:00.001+02:00

Well, mr. Brown had the world waiting and speculating for several years, but finally we can expect the forthcoming Dan Brown novel in September 2009. By now, we all are expecting that in this next adventure of prof. Robert Langdon, Freemasonry is going to play a vital role. The title is not what most people thought it would be, The Solomon Legacy, but maybe even better: The Lost Symbol.

On the cover of both the American and the British version we see clear references to Freemasonry. It is known that Dan Brown is a serious reader of Masonic author Robert Lomas and comparing the cover of Turning the Hiram Key, only seems to underline this. The story of The Da Vinci Code, is largely based on Holy Blood, Holy Grail; basically Brown translated this highly speculative and none-scientific story in a great and easy to read page-turner. Maybe, Brown played this trick again: doing good and (in all respect) extensive research by studying interesting books about Masonic legacy, Masonic roots of the founding fathers of America, geometric patterns in Washington D.C., Kaballah, etc. and turning all this knowledge into a great novel.

Anyway, without any doubt this novel is going to be a best seller. I’m already looking forward to all the documentaries, specials on TV and in news magazines, et cetera. I’m pretty convinced that all together the novel with have its effect on the attention of the public for Freemasonry, either in a positive or a negative sense. These are exciting times. Considering Mr. Brown’s interest for Freemasonry, I sent him a copy of the album some time ago. Haven’t heard from him or his publisher yet. J

Freestone - The Temple of Humanity

2009-07-17T16:18:00.001+02:00

With the release of Freestone’s album The Temple of Humanity in May 2008, Freemasonry entered popular music for the first time. The album tells a story unheard in rock music: progressive and symphonic rock music inspired by the symbolism of the mystical and philosophical tradition of Freemasonry. Experiencing the album is like undergoing a musical ritual and brings forth associations with legendary artists such as Pink Floyd, Mike Oldfield, Alan Parsons, but clearly in a 21^st century performance which justifies comparison with present day bands. The album provides a discovery through symbols and rituals of Freemasonry. No conspiracy theories or unnecessary secrecy, but an authentic story based upon personal experience.

The album is composed and produced by Harm Timmerman, member of Lodge nr.17 L’Union Provinciale in The Netherlands and Music teacher at Stenden University . In co-operation with experienced musicians, ‘The Temple of Humanity’ is a professional produced authentic and unique album. The packaging and booklet contain fascinating art; artists from different countries (of whom a few are masons themselves) have contributed their work.

The album shows that in the changing music industry there is still place for something different. Indeed the album can help gaining new attention for the valuable legacy and tradition of Freemasonry among a broad and young public. Considering the character of the album and the fact that it’s full of references to history, legacy, symbolism and of course the meaning of masonry, the album indeed can contribute to the spreading of knowledge about Freemasonry. Much can be discovered in music, lyrics and artwork.