Philosophers of the European Enlightenment are often cited in connection with the political and cultural awakening to the idea of the individual and the recognition of individual interior truth.
The idea of authenticity - “know thyself” - is much older. The historical Bhuddha, who lived during the 5th century BCE, describes the four noble qualities manifested by a Buddha as Purity, eternity, happiness and true self. 

My Piano trio, True Self, was composed during lockdown and is in two movements. The first movement begins with a violin solo, - the elemental self, if you like. The mood is joyful, reflective and expansive. As each instrument enters, the theme is continuously reiterated in a series of meditative waves of counterpoint.

A longer dance-like second movement is intimately connected to the first,  emerging as another iteration of the original theme,  this time, framed by a driving dance-like accompaniment.

True Self HMR 2020 performed by Ilya Chetverikov, Natasha Sachsenmeier and Timothee Botbol.

Jeremy Arden