Music composed to accompany films made by the captain of two riverboats full of WWII refugees on the Danube - one a set of Jews going downstream from Budapest toward Palestine in 1939 and the other a set of Volksdeutsch (people of German heritage) fleeing Soviets upstream from Romania toward Germany. The music is, appropriately, evocative of longing for the lost safety and comfort of home, of trepidation toward the future, of the inherent danger of such passages as these, and even a little bit of the placidity of a riverboat cruise. The setting is a small ensemble of 3-13 players and singers. Szemzö plays a bass flute, which is a very effective communicator of melancholia. Very highly recommended. Play any track - whatever fits.

1. Strings provide the foundation for sad flute and keening vocals
2. Instrumental
3. Paddles churning water contribute to the rhythm; sort of ominous bassline but hopeful, rising scales on horns
4. Sleepytime undercurrents of angst
5. Swinging tune ... in ultra-slow motion
6. Slow, airy (almost ECM-like) arrangement on an oppressive tune
7. Alternating short strings of one-note runs with staccato low notes on the piano, the song appears to move on two tracks ? one slow, one fast
8. Muted/strangled trumpet and full-bodied bass are a great pairing to reflect mixed emotions
9. Echoing/bouncing flute over repetitious, tired-sounding piano line which is eventually itself echoed by the return of the sound of paddles in the water; symbolic of the darkness before the light perhaps - title is "Counter-Light"