second site
27°37'35"N 77°13'05"E
Virgin Records 1997
Seven Degrees 2004
Päivi Björkenheim - vocals
Clive Bell - miniature khene, pi saw flute
Paul Schütze - steel drum, percussion, processing
composed and produced by Paul Schütze
Disc 1
1 first prologue
2 the dial is only visible by starlight
3 every day at noon the sun shines through these apertures for the space of about a minute
4 the image of the sun indicates the sun's position as it passes through a hole in the concurve surface
5 there is a brass pointer fitted with sights and pivoted to the centre of the circle by which altitude observations are made
6 the chamber is no longer accessible to visitors
7 access to any part of the engine is by steps which offer vantage points for various readings
8 suspended in the hum of history
9 originally cross wires stretched across each hemisphere, east to west and north to south
10 the ramped stair to the north of the two drums vanishes at thirty-two feet
11 these steps enable the observer to see all aspects of the brass calibration below
12 there is a huge calibrated sundial on each of its sides
13 this chamber is filled with garden tools and broken furniture
14 the mosaic of starlight slips back like the lid of an opening eye
15 this engine is primarily a calculator, though altitudes may be observed using the sighting bar fitted to the back
16 it is inscribed with concentric circles, at the centre of which lies a pointer
17 the calibrated parts are raised on three-foot pillars
18 the pink masonry charges the twilight with a faint sound
19 another slope with stars for the reading of figures
20 this engine is now only visible in twilight
21 here is an immense brass circle suspended vertically from stone supports
22 two hemispheres representing the sphere of heaven comprise the two halves of this engine
23 this wall describes accurately the north/south meridian
24 there are pillars at the centre of each circular wall each open to the sky
25 first memory
26 the sky has shaped this place
27 here I find a central iron pole with hooks facing to the north, south, east and west
28 a shadow is cast to the west before noon
29 the shadow can fall in the vacant sector of a drum
30 days and nights are measured here, and in the measuring seem longer, suspended somehow
31 the whole brass circle can be revolved around its vertical diameter so that altitude observations can be taken of any object at any time
32 a lofty but narrow chamber is contrived in the thickness of the walls and access is gained from a door opening from the masonry platform on which the engine stands
33 a further series of steps is only visible during the vernal equinox
34 hold the machine in the vertical plane
35 visible portions of the celestial sphere are represented by this map which has a movable elliptic which pivots at the point representing the pole
36 to move through these structures is to set them in motion
37 the altitude of the body observed is given while observing the vertically hanging bar through the two brass rings
38 a shadow is cast to the east after noon
39 these calibrations are no longer clearly visible
40 another flight of observation steps and the sense of quiet rotation as I ascend
41 I study the vaults of a shell in which we float
42 twenty-seven degrees, thirty-seven seconds
43 the roofs of the enclosed drums are implied by shadows
44 the floor and walls are calibrated to read altitude and azimuth
45 these are the cool engines of celestial map-making
46 here is the supreme engine
47 the sun seen through the pair of brass rings is used by the bar to indicate the time from sunrise until sunrise
48 a pointer indicates on three arms: west, north and east
49 here was the supreme engine
50 the engine of amplitude has a function which is no longer known
51 this engine is a rectangular brass plate
Disc 2
1 second prologue
2 once complete engine is formed by two differently incomplete parts which combined provide total reference
3 at one moment in the year the sun shines through a hole in the wall on to a calibrated arc
4 the stone dish is slotted with figures and shadow
5 the positions and altitudes of heavenly bodies maybe gauged with this engine
6 some steps ascend past markings to a platform
7 the central pillars are five feet three inches in diameter
8 on the east face are inscribed two quadrants of twenty-feet radius
9 the plants will steal this engine when we have gone
10 the shadow is cast north/south at noon by an iron pin
11 a shadow is cast to the east after noon
12 these steps are worn to a ramp and lead nowhere
13 all the lead calibrations are warm to the touch
14 it is only necessary to engrave a scale of the tangents along the rim to obtain a direct reading of the declination
15 second memory
16 the lead calibrations are poisonous to the touch
17 this is the north pointer engine
18 the rim of each hemisphere is a horizon divided into degrees and minutes
19 here is a room to divide the sun like an orange
20 sighting bars were placed in the slots within the chamber, but none remain now
21 the sound of insects here studs the night like a thousand fizzing stars
22 access by observers to each engine is gained by an imperfection which differs from
one to another
23 these structures are made in receipt of starlight
24 seven of the eight rings indicate signs
25 third memory
26 fourth memory
27 I have observed and measured for seven years
28 the heavens were spherical
29 fifth memory
30 there are four of these arcs, two in each chamber
31 these are instruments fuelled by shadow, and engines propelled by the sliding
of the skies
32 the stars are ranged across the inner shell of a vast hollow sphere in which
hung the earth
33 all the gardens will concur, here is the mixed engine
34 I will build other gardens, other engines
35 and the light falls on the circular arcs
36 beneath this circle is an arc of masonry steps for the convenience of observers
37 threads can be pegged to the centre of each quadrant and semicircle to
enable observation
38 here is a huge vertical right-angled triangle made of stone
39 these arcs are also accessible by numerous flights of stairs
40 we are closer to the sun now
41 on the west face is described a semicircle of nineteen-feet, ten-inch radius
42 into this chamber no ray of light can find its way except through two small squares
high in the south wall
43 the movement of the engines produces a scent
44 sixth memory
45 pointing towards the pole an iron pin is fixed at right angles to the centre of a dial
46 some of the calibrations are now submerged beneath the ground and cannot be read
47 this room is a lidless drum
48 seventh memory
49 near the bottom of the wall facing the south side of the eastern hemisphere
there is a hole
50 there are arcs made of marble which are calibrated with inlaid lead in degrees
and minutes
51 I have seen charts sent from portugal but they are flawed and full of error