Ars Longa Vita Brevis (album)

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Ars Longa Vita Brevis is the second album by the English progressive rock group The Nice.

Guitarist David O'List left the band during the recording of the album, leaving the remaining three members to complete it. After flirting briefly with replacement guitarists (including Steve Howe, later to join Yes), The Nice decided to carry on as a keyboard-led trio. The title is an aphorism attributed to Hippocrates usually rendered as "life is short"; Keith Emerson's interpretation of this can be gauged from his sleevenote:

Newton's first law of motion states a body will remain at rest or continue with uniform motion in a straight line unless acted on by a force. This time the force happened to come from a European source. Ours is an extension of the original Allegro from Brandenburg Concerto No. 3. Yesterday I met someone who changed my life, today we put down a sound that made our aim accurate. Tomorrow is yesterday's history and art will still be there, even if life terminates.

Structurally the album started where its predecessor left off- shortish songs and extended work-outs based on classical themes- but a step forward was taken with the addition of an orchestra and the extended length of Ars Longa Vita Brevis itself, forshadowing the later Five Bridges Suite.

The US release of the album added "America" which was originally a single in the UK.

Allmusic's Bruce Eder described the album as "a genuinely groundbreaking effort".

Track listing

• All tracks credited to Jackson/Emerson/Davison except where noted.

1. Daddy, Where Did I Come From (Emerson/Jackson) - 3:43
2. Little Arabella (Emerson/Jackson) - 4:17
3. Happy Freuds (Emerson/Jackson) - 3:27
4. Intermezzo from the Karelia Suite (Sibelius) - 8:57
5. Don Edito el Gruva - 0:13
6. Ars Longa Vita Brevis: - 19:20

• Prelude (Emerson)
• 1st Movement - Awakening (Davison]])
• 2nd Movement - Realisation (Jackson/O'List/Emerson)

Ars Longa Vita Brevis

Life is too short to paint a kiss

So sing a picture, paint a song

Take it home and bang your gong

Life is an ill cast comedy for fools.

Ars Longa Vita Brevis

A caption to a life of bliss

A rose too beautiful to see

Jumped off the bush to speak to me

Of life that's an ill cast comedy for fools

• 3rd Movement - Acceptance "Brandenburger"
• 4th Movement - Denial
• Coda - Extension to the Big Note

Bonus tracks on the 1998 rerelease

• Daddy, Where Did I Come From (Mono single mix)
• Happy Freuds (Mono single mix)

Bonus track on the 2005 rerelease

• Happy Freuds - 3:27

Personnel

• Keith Emerson - keyboards
• Lee Jackson - bass guitar
• Brian Davison - drums
• Robert Stewart - orchestral arranger/conductor
• Don Brewer - engineer/consultant
• Gered Mankowitz - cover photograph and X-rays of The Nice