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The Great Stupa at Sanchi, India, established by Ashoka the great (4th–1st century BC).

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A stupa (from Sanskrit: m., स्तूप, stūpa, Sinhalese: ස්ථූපය, Pāli: थुप "thūpa", literally meaning "heap") is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship. After "stupa", "chorten" is the most commonly encountered English term. The term "reliquary" is sometimes used, after a Christian functional equivalent. Stupas are an ancient form of mandala.^[1]

Description and history[link]

Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath, northeastern India is the oldest Stupa in existence. Stupa surrounded by four lion-crowned pillars. Gandhara, 2nd century AD.

The stupa is the oldest Buddhist religious monument and was originally only a simple mound of mud or clay to cover relics of the Buddha (cetiya). After the parinirvana of the Buddha, his remains were cremated and the ashes divided and buried under eight stupas with two further stupas encasing the urn and the embers. Little is known about these early stupas, particularly since it has not been possible to identify the original ten monuments. However, some later stupas, such as at Sarnath and Sanchi, seem to be embellishments of earlier mounds.

In the third century BC, after his conversion to Buddhism, the emperor Asoka had the original stupas opened and the remains distributed among the several thousand stupas he had built. Nevertheless, the stupas at the eight places associated with the life of the Buddha continued to be of particular importance. Accordingly, the importance of a stupa changed from being a funerary monument to being an object of veneration. As a consequence their appearance changed also. Stupas were built in Sri Lanka soon after King Devanampiyatissa converted to Buddhism, the first stupa to be built was the Thuparamaya. Later on Sri Lanka went on to build many stupas over the years, some like the Jetavanarama in Anuradhapura being one of the tallest ancient structures in the world.^[2] Sri Lanka also boasts construction of stupas, which have used most advanced engineering techniques and knowledge, for example the use of 'lightning conductors' and 'special shelters (vatadage)', which is the reason they have been standing undamaged for thousands of years.^{[citation needed]}
Ghalegay hosts one of the biggest stupas at Mohallah Singardar in district Swat, Pakistan.^{[citation needed]}

They evolved into large hemispherical mounds with features such as the torana (gateway), the vedica (fence-like enclosure evolved from the vedic villages), the harmika (a square platform with railings on top of the stupa), chattrayashti (the parasol or canopy) and a circumambulatory around the stupa. From the third century BC onwards, stupas were incorporated into the hall of the chaitya-griha.

One such stupa was discovered at Sopara, an ancient port near Mumbai, and is believed to be one of the most ancient stupas in the world. The oldest known stupa is the Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath, India, while the tallest is the Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, at a height of 127 metres. The most elaborate stupa is the 8th century Borobudur monument in Java, Indonesia. The upper rounded terrace with rows of bell shaped stupas contained buddha images symbolizing Arupadhatu, the sphere of formlessness. The main stupa itself is empty, symbolizing complete perfection of enlightenment. The main stupa is only the crown part of the monument, while the base is pyramidal structure elaborate with galleries adorned with bas relief of scenes derived from Buddhist text depicted the life of Siddharta Gautama. Borobudur unique and significant architecture has been acknowledge by UNESCO as the largest buddhist monument in the world. According to Brahmi, kharoshti, Pali and Sanskrit edicts Ashoka the great founded 84,000 stupas all over the south Asia.

The stupa evolved into the pagoda as Buddhism spread to other Asian countries. The pagoda has varied forms that also include bellshaped and pyramidal ones. Today, in the Western context, there is no clear distinction between the stupa and the pagoda. But in general stupa is used for a Buddhist structure of India or south-east Asia, while pagoda refers to a building in east Asia which can be entered and which may be secular in purpose.

Types of stupas[link]

Built for a variety of reasons, Buddhist stupas are classified based on form and function into five types:^[3]

• Relic stupa - in which the relics or remains of the Buddha, his disciples and lay saints are interred.
• Object stupa - in which the items interred are objects belonged to the Buddha or his disciples such as a begging bowl or robe, or important Buddhist scriptures.
• Commemorative stupas - built to commemorate events in the lives of Buddha or his disciples.
• Symbolic stupa- to symbolise aspects of Buddhist theology, for example, Borobuddur is considered to be the symbol of "the Three Worlds (dhatu) and the spiritual stges (bhumi) in a Mahayana bodhisattva's character."^[3]
• Votive stupas - constructed to commemorate visits or to gain spiritual benefits, usually at the site of prominent stupas which are regularly visited.

Features of a stupa[link]

• Harmika-It is built on the top of the oval shaped stupa.
• Medhi-It is an elevated circular path around the stupa used for Pradhikshina
• Toran-It is the Gateway to the stupa.
• Vedica-It is a railing meant for the protection of the holy place.

Symbolism[link]

The sharing of the relics of the Buddha, Zenyōmitsu-Temple Museum, Tokyo Buddha relics from Kanishka's stupa in Peshawar, Pakistan. These surviving relics are now housed in Mandalay, Burma.

"The shape of the stupa represents the Buddha, crowned and sitting in meditation posture on a lion throne. His crown is the top of the spire; his head is the square at the spire's base; his body is the vase shape; his legs are the four steps of the lower terrace; and the base is his throne."^[4]

Five purified elements[link]

Although not described in any Tibetan text on stupa symbolism, the stupa may represent the five purified elements:^[5]

• The square base represents earth
• The hemispherical dome/vase represents water
• The conical spire represents fire
• The upper lotus parasol and the crescent moon represents air
• The sun and the dissolving point represents the element of space

Construction[link]

To build a stupa, transmissions and ceremonies from a Buddhist teacher is necessary.^[6] Which kind of Stupa to be constructed in a certain area is decided together with the teacher assisting in the construction. Sometimes the type of stupa chosen is directly connected with events that have taken place in the area.^[6]

Treasury[link]

All stupas contain a treasury filled with various objects. Small offerings called Tsa-Tsas fill a major part of the treasury. Creation of various types of Tsa-Tsas is a ceremony itself. Mantras written on paper are rolled into thin rolls, and put into these small clay stupas.^[6] Filling the treasury, one layer of Tsa-Tsas are placed, and the empty space between is filled with dry sand. On the new surface appearing, another layer is made, until the entire space of a treasury is full.^[6]

The number of Tsa-Tsas are dependent on the size of both the treasury and Tsa-Tsa, since it should be completely filled. For example, the Kalachakra stupa in southern Spain has approximately 14 000 Tsa-Tsas within.^[6]

Jewellery and other "precious" objects are also placed in the treasury. It is not necessary that the jewellery be expensive, since it is the symbolic value that is important, not the market price.^[6] It is believed that the more objects placed into the stupa, the stronger the energy of the Stupa will be.^[6]

Tree of Life[link]

A very important element in every Stupa is the Tree of Life. It is a wooden pole covered with gems and thousands of mantras, and placed in the central channel of the stupa.^[6] It is placed here during a ceremony or initiation, where the participants hold colorful ribbons connected to the Tree of Life. Together the participants make their most positive and powerful wishes, which are stored in the Tree of Life. In this way the stupa is charged up, and will start to function.^[6]

Benefits[link]

Building a stupa is considered extremely beneficial, leaving very positive karmic imprints in the mind. Future benefits from this action will result in fortunate rebirths. Fortunate worldly benefits will be the result, such as being born into a rich family, having a beautiful body, a nice voice, and being attractive and bringing joy to others and having a long and happy life, in which one's wishes are fulfilled quickly.^[7] On the absolute level, one will also be able to reach enlightenment, the goal of Buddhism, quickly.^[7]

Destroying a stupa on the other hand, is considered an extremely negative deed, similar to killing.^[8] Such an action is explained to create massive negative karmic imprints, leading to massive future problems. It is said this action will leave the mind in a state of paranoia after death has occurred, leading to totally unfortunate rebirths.^[8]

Eight great stupas[link]

The Eight Great Stupas

There are eight different kinds of stupas in Tibetan Buddhism, each referring to major events in the Buddha's life.^{[citation needed]}

Lotus Blossom Stupa[link]

Also known as Stupa of Heaped Lotuses or Birth of the Sugata Stupa, this stupa refers to the birth of the Buddha. "At birth Buddha took seven steps in each of the four directions"^[5] (East, South, West and North). In each direction lotuses sprang, symbolizing the Four Immeasurables: love, compassion, joy and equanimity. The four steps of the basis of this stupa is circular, and it is decorated with lotus-petal designs. Occasionally, seven heaped lotus steps are constructed. These refer to the seven first steps of the Buddha.^[5]

Enlightenment Stupa[link]

Also known as the Stupa of the Conquest of Mara. This stupa symbolizes the 35-year-old Buddha's attainment of enlightenment under the bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, where he conquered worldly temptations and attacks manifesting in the form of Mara.^[5]

Stupa of Many Doors[link]

Also known as the Stupa of Many Gates. After reaching enlightenment, the Buddha taught his first students in a deer-park near Sarnath. The series of doors on each side of the steps represent the first teachings: the Four Noble Truths, the Six Perfections, the Noble Eightfold Path and the Twelve Links in the Chain of Dependent Origination.^[5]

Stupa of Descent from the God Realm[link]

At 42 years old, Buddha spent a summer retreat in Tushita Heaven, where his mother had taken rebirth. In order to repay her kindness he taught the dharma to her reincarnation. Local inhabitants built a stupa like this in Sankasya in order to commemorate this event. This stupa is characterized by having a central projection at each side containing a triple ladder or steps.^[5]

Stupa of Great Miracles[link]

Also known as Stupa of Conquest of the Tirthikas. This stupa refers to various miracles performed by the Buddha when he was 50 years old. Legend claims that he overpowered maras and heretics by engaging them in intellectual arguments and also by performing miracles. This stupa was raised by the Lichavi kingdom to commemorate the event.^[5]

Stupa of Reconciliation[link]

This stupa commemorates the Buddha's resolution of a dispute among the sangha. A stupa in this design was built in the kingdom of Magadha, where the reconciliation occurred. It has four octagonal steps with equal sides.^[5]

Stupa of Complete Victory[link]

This stupa commemorates Buddha's successful prolonging of his life by three months. It has only three steps, which are circular and unadorned.^[5]

Stupa of Nirvana[link]

This stupa refers to the death of the Buddha, when he was 80 years old. It symbolizes the Buddha's complete absorption into the highest state of mind. It is bell-shaped and usually not ornamented.^[5]

Kalachakra stupa[link]

A 9th kind of stupa exists; the Kalachakra stupa. Its symbolism is not connected to events in the Buddha's life, but instead to the symbolism of the Kalachakra Tantra, created to protect against negative energies.^[9]

Regional names[link]

Regional names for stupa include:

• Chaitya (Nepal)^[3]
• dāgaba (usually spelled "Dagoba") (Sinhalese: දාගැබ, from Sanskrit dhātu-garbha. (दातु-गर्भ) "relic-chamber" )^[3]
• Candi (Indonesia and Malaysia).^[3]
• Chedi (Thailand [เจดีย์])^[3]
• Chorten [Tibet, Ladakh (India) and Bhutan] མཆོད་རྟེན༏ (Wylie: mchod rten), "basis of offering")^[3]
• Dagoba / Chaitiya / chaitya / thupa / vehera / dagaba (Sri Lanka) ^[3][10]
• Chedey (Cambodia)^[3]
• Phrathāt (Lanna)
• Havitta (Dhivehi: ހަވިއްތަ) or ustubu (Maldives)
• Suburgan/Suvarga (Mongolia)
• Субурган (Russia)
• Tap (Korea [塔/탑], from Chinese)
• Tháp (Vietnam [塔, from Chinese])
• Thart (Laos)
• Ta (Chinese: 塔; Mandarin Pinyin: tă; Jyutping: taap³), ancient transliteration of Sanskrit stupa.
• Sotoba (Japan [卒塔婆/そとば], Tō (Japan [塔/とう], from Chinese)
• Zedi (Myanmar [Zedi စေတီ) /Pahto (ပုထိုး])
• Setaow (စေတဳ, /cetɔe/)
• Tseti (ၸေႇတီႇ) or Puhto (ပူႉထူဝ်း)
• Chedi (Thai: เจดีย์, from the Pāli cetiya (चेतिय)
• Chedi (Tamil or Thoopam
• Chedi Sinhalese: චෛත්‍යයය)
• pagoda SouthEast Asia^[3]
• tope (Hindi: स्तूप, from the Sanskrit)
• garbha (Sanskrit: गर्भ, meaning a storehouse or repository)
• sotoba or sotōba (Japanese: 卒塔婆, a transliteration of stupa, usually shortened as tō 塔)

Gallery[link]

• 

  The Great Stupa at Sanchi, India,established by Ashoka the great (4th–1st century BC).

• 

  Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath, northeastern India is the oldest Stupa in existence.

• Swayambhunath Cloud.jpg

  Swayambhunath, also known as Monkey Temple, is an ancient religious complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

• Bodnath Sky.jpg

  Boudhanath is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

• 

  Ruwanwelisaya Chedi in the sacred city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

• JetawanaStupa1.JPG

  Jetavanaramaya stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka is the largest brick structure in the world^[2]

• 

  The main Stupa crowning Borobudur, the largest Buddhist structure in the world, Java, Indonesia.

• 

  The Great Stupa at Shambhala Mountain Center, Colorado, USA

• 

  Khmer style stupa within the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

• 

  Different architectural features that comprise Shwedagon Pagoda and similar Mon-style stupas, in Yangon, Myanmar.

• 

  Phra Sri Ratana Chedi within Wat Phra Kaeo, in Bangkok, Thailand.

• 

  White Dagoba Temple (Baita Si), also called Miaoying Si, in Beijing, China.

• 

  Stupa in Gotemba, Shizuoka City, Japan.

• 

  Stupa at near Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet.

• 

  Stupa in Quaid-i-Azam University Campus in Islamabad, Pakistan.

• 

  Evolution of the Butkara stupa in Pakistan, through the Mauryan, Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian and Kushan periods.

• 

  A pagoda at Dambulla golden temple, Sri Lanka

See also[link]

References[link]

Footnotes[link]

Notations[link]

• Mitra, D. (1971). Buddhist Monuments. Sahitya Samsad: Calcutta. ISBN 0-89684-490-0.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Stupas

External links[link]

• The Stupa Information Page
• Boudhanath Stupa at Kathmandu Nepal
• The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, under construction in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia

Oliver Shanti (Born Ulrich Schulz 16 November 1948 in Hamburg), also known as Oliver Serano-Alve, is a New Age musician. Founder of the band Inkarnation which was originally based on meditative music, and later transformed into "Oliver Shanti & Friends". Because of Oliver's unavailability, the rest of the group is continuing with multi-instrumentalist Margot Reisinger (formerly known as Margot Vogl and Margot Shanti), a member of the original staff, as "Existence".

Allegations of child sexual abuse[link]

In 2002, a warrant for his arrest was issued in Germany, with a €3000 reward offered, on suspicion of his having committed child sexual abuse.^[1] Shanti went missing at that time, and was reported^[2] to be living secretly in Germany or its adjacent countries. He was arrested in Lisbon, Portugal, on 29 June 2008,^[3] and charged with 314 cases of child abuse on 20 April 2009.^[4][5] After having attempted suicide during his pre-trial custody,^[6] "Oliver Shanti" was sentenced to six years and 10 months in prison on Friday, December 4, 2009 - after a Munich court convicted him of 76 counts of child sexual abuse.^[7]

Discography[link]

Main:

• 1987 - Licht-Prakash-Light (as Inkarnation)
• 1987 - Frieden-Shanti-Peace (as Inkarnation)
• 1987 - Listening to the Heart
• 1988 - Rainbow Way
• 1988 - Vila Nova Mellow Days (as Oliver Serano-Alve)
• 1989 - Walking on the Sun
• 1990 - Minho Valley Fantasies (as Oliver Serano-Alve)
• 1992 - Vida Para Vida (as Oliver Serano-Alve)
• 1993 - Tai Chi
• 1995 - Well Balanced
• 1996 - Tai Chi Too
• 1997 - Circles of Life: The Best of Oliver Shanti (compilation album including 3 new tracks)
• 1998 - Seven Times Seven
• 2000 - Medicine Power
• 2002 - Alhambra
• 2006 - Man Heaven Earth (compilation album featuring 2 tracks by "Existence" and Dahmani)

Projects:

• 1996 - Buddha and Bonsai Vol. 1
• 1997 - Shaman
• 1997 - Buddha and Bonsai Vol. 2
• 2000 - Buddha and Bonsai Vol. 3
• 2000 - Shaman 2
• 2002 - Buddha and Bonsai Vol. 4
• 2005 - Buddha and Bonsai Vol. 5: The Power of Silence

Thematical compilations:

• Indiens: Sacred Spirits
• Shaman: Red Indian Chill
• before 1997 - Meditative Music of Budo-Gala: The Magic of Martial Arts
• 1997 - Spirit of Budo: The Power of Balance
• 1997 - 10 Years of Sattva Music
• 1999 - Tibetiya (including 3 new tracks by Oliver Shanti)
• 2001 - 15 Years of Sattva Music
• 2001 - Reiki: Brightness Healing

Other:

• 2008 single - Oliver Shanti feat. N.i.M.i - Roo Be Asemoon (Olugu Zamba Remix)
• 2010 single - Oliver Shanti feat. DJ Sunf - The Tree (rmx)

References[link]

1. ^ "Munich - Search for Ulrich Schulz - Arrest warrant for serious child sexual abuse" (PDF). http://www.polizei.bayern.de/content/7/0/1/3/schulz_eng.pdf. Retrieved 2008-02-05. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "Münchner Polizei jagt spirituellen Serien-Kinderschänder". http://www.merkur-online.de/nachrichten/politik/muenchner-polizei-jagt-spirituellen-serienkinderschaender-138178.html. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 
3. ^ "Alemão detido por pedofilia em Lisboa foi agraciado com Medalha de Mérito da Câmara de Cerveira (in Portuguese)". http://sol.sapo.pt/PaginaInicial/Sociedade/Interior.aspx?content_id=99868. Retrieved 2008-06-29. 
4. ^ "Anklage gegen Musiker Oliver Shanti erhoben". http://www.n24.de/news/newsitem_4990035.html. Retrieved 2009-04-21. 
5. ^ "Klage gegen Oliver Shanti - Sektenguru unter schwerem Verdacht". http://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/7/465595/text/. Retrieved 2009-04-21. 
6. ^ "Angeklagter Sekten-Guru Oliver Shanti überlebt Selbstmordversuch". http://www.welt.de/news/article5094870/Angeklagter-Sekten-Guru-Oliver-Shanti-ueberlebt-Selbstmordversuch.html. Retrieved 2009-12-13. 
7. ^ "Nearly seven years prison for child abuser guru Oliver Shanti". http://www.thelocal.de/national/20091205-23735.html. Retrieved 2009-12-05. 

This article about a German musician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the debut song by the British band Procol Harum, released 12 May 1967. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart^[1] on 8 June 1967, and stayed there for six weeks. Without much promotion, it reached #5 on the US charts, as well. It is one of the fewer than 30 all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) copies worldwide.^{[citation needed]}

With its haunting Bach-flavoured instrumental melody, soulful vocals, and unusual lyrics—by the song's co-authors Gary Brooker, Keith Reid,^[2] and Matthew Fisher-- "A Whiter Shade of Pale" reached #1 in several countries when released in 1967. In the years since, it has become an enduring classic. It was the most played song in the last 75 years in public places in the UK (as of 2009),^[3] and the United Kingdom performing rights group Phonographic Performance Limited in 2004 recognised it as the most-played record by British broadcasting of the past 70 years.^[4] Also in 2004, Rolling Stone placed "A Whiter Shade of Pale" #57 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

More than 1000 recorded cover versions by other artists are known.^[5] The song has been included in many music compilations over the decades and has also been used in the soundtracks of numerous films, including The Big Chill, Purple Haze, Breaking the Waves, The Boat That Rocked and notably in Martin Scorsese's segment of New York Stories. Cover versions of the song have also been featured in many films, for example by King Curtis in Withnail and I and by Annie Lennox in The Net.

The original writing credits were for Brooker and Reid only. On 30 July 2009, Matthew Fisher won co-writing credit for the music in a unanimous ruling from the Law Lords.

Recording and personnel[link]

The song was performed and recorded at Olympic Studios in London, England with Gary Brooker providing the vocals and piano, Matthew Fisher on a Hammond M-102 organ, David Knights on bass and Ray Royer on guitar. Drums were by session drummer Bill Eyden. A few days later, the song was re-recorded with the band's then newly-recruited drummer Bobby Harrison. That version, though, was considered inferior^{[citation needed]} and one of the original mono recordings was chosen for release.

Producer for the record was Denny Cordell and Keith Grant was the sound engineer.^[6]

The song was included on the original U.S. release of the Procol Harum album, but not on the UK version.

Lyrics[link]

Reid got the title and the starting point for the song at a party. He overheard someone at the party saying to a woman, "You've turned a whiter shade of pale," and the phrase stuck in his mind.^[7][8] The original lyrics had four verses, of which only two are heard on the original recording. The third verse has been heard in live performances by Procol Harum, and more seldom also the fourth.^[9] The author of Procol Harum: beyond the pale, Claes Johansen, suggests that the song "deals in metaphorical form with a male/female relationship which after some negotiation ends in a sexual act."^[8] This is supported by Tim de Lisle in Lives of the Great Songs, who remarks that the lyrics concern a drunken seduction, which is described through references to sex as a form of travel, usually nautical, using mythical and literary journeys.^[10] Other observers have also commented that the lyrics concern a sexual relationship.^[7]

Structurally and thematically, the song is unusual in many respects. While the recorded version is 4:03 long, it is composed of only two verses, each with chorus. The piece is also more instrument-driven than most songs of the period, and with a much looser rhyme scheme. Its unusually allusive and referential lyrics are much more complex than most lyrics of the time (for example, the chorus focuses on Chaucer's The Miller's Tale). Thus, this piece can be thought of as a forerunner to the progressive rock that would reach its zenith about ten years later.

The phrase a whiter shade of pale has since gained widespread use in the English language, noticed by several dictionaries.^[11][12][13] As such, the phrase is today often used in contexts independent of any consideration of the song. (See ^[14] for many annotated examples complete with links to original sources.) It has also been heavily paraphrased, in forms like an Xer shade of Y--this to the extent that it has been recognised^[15][16] as a snowclone – a type of cliché and phrasal template.

Composition[link]

The song is in moderate time, in C major, and is characterised by the bassline moving stepwise downwards in a repeated pattern throughout. In classical music this is known as a ground bass. The harmonic structure is identical for the organ melody, the verse and the chorus, except that the chorus finishes with a cadence. The main organ melody appears at the beginning and after each verse/chorus. But it is also heard throughout, playing variations of its theme and counterpointing the vocal line. Both the vocal and the organ accompaniment reach a crescendo at the beginning of the chorus "And so it was, and later ..."; where the organist rapidly runs his finger down and up the entire keyboard. The final instrumental fades out to silence - a common device in pop music of the time.

The Hammond organ line of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" was inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach's "Sleepers, Wake!" and "Air on the G String" - both of which use a similar stepwise bass motion. But contrary to popular belief, the song is not a direct copy or paraphrase of any music by Bach,^[17] although it makes clear references to both pieces. This similarity is referred to in the 1982 play The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard and the 1991 film The Commitments. A yet closer melodic influence that is seldom cited can arguably^{[weasel words]} be found in the organ choral prelude "O Mensch bewein dein' Sünde groß" (O Man, Lament Your Sin So Great), BWV 622, from Bach's Orgelbüchlein (Little Organ Book). The music also borrows ideas from "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge.^[18]

Reception[link]

The single was released on 12 May 1967 by Deram Records and entered the UK charts on 25 May. In two weeks it reached number one where it stayed for six weeks, and on the UK chart for a total of 15 weeks. A May 1972 re-release on Fly Records stayed in the UK charts for a total of 12 weeks, and reached number 13 as highest. In the US, it reached #5 and sold over one million copies. In the Netherlands it entered the chart at number one in June 1967 and again reached number one in July 1972.

Chart positions: # 1 (UK), # 1 (the Netherlands), # 1 (Germany), # 1 (Ireland), # 1 (Australia), # 1 (World), # 3 (Norway VG-lista), # 5 (USA Hot 100). "A Whiter Shade of Pale" also managed to peak at number twenty-two on the soul charts in the U.S.^[19]

Over time, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" has earned extensive critical acclaim:

• John Lennon was a great fan of the song and was known to have played it repeatedly in his Rolls Royce. When it was released in England, Lennon (and friends in his circle) reportedly confused Brooker's soulful vocals with Steve Winwood, who had popularity at the time with The Spencer Davis Group.
• It was named joint winner (along with Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", which also uses the word 'fandango') of the Best British Pop Single 1952–1977 at the BRIT Awards, part of Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee.
• #57 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004.
• British TV station Channel 4 placed the song at #19 in its chart of the 100 greatest number one singles.^[20]

Authorship lawsuit[link]

In 2005, former Procol Harum organist Matthew Fisher filed suit in the High Court against Gary Brooker and his publisher, claiming that he co-wrote the music for the song.^[21]

Fisher won the case on 20 December 2006 but was awarded 40% of the composers' share of the music copyright, rather than the 50% he was seeking and was not granted royalties prior to 2005.^[22]

Gary Brooker and publisher Onward Music were granted leave to appeal, and a hearing on the matter was held before a panel of three judges during the week of 1 October 2007. The decision, on 4 April 2008, by Lord Justice Mummery, in the Court of Appeal upheld Fisher's co-authorship^[23] but ruled that he should receive no royalties as he had taken too long (38 years) to bring his claim to litigation. Full royalty rights were returned to Brooker.^[24]

On 5 November 2008, Matthew Fisher was granted permission to appeal this decision to the House of Lords.^[25] Lawyers say it is the first time the Law Lords have been asked to rule on a copyright dispute involving a song.^[26] The appeal was heard in the House of Lords on 22–23 April 2009.^[27]

On 30 July 2009 the Law Lords unanimously ruled in Fisher's favour. They noted that the delay in bringing the case had not caused any harm to the other party; on the contrary they had benefited financially from it. They also pointed out that there were no time limits to copyright claims under English law. The right to future royalties was therefore returned to Fisher.^[28][29] The musicological basis of the judgment, and its effect on the rights of musicians who contribute composition to future works, has drawn some attention in the music world.^[30]

Video[link]

The first video for the song was shot in the ruins of Witley Court in Worcestershire, England.^[31] The Witley Court video features four of the five musicians who played on the hit single: Gary Brooker, Matthew Fisher, David Knights and Ray Royer, in performance and walking through the ruins. Only the drummer in the video isn't on the record: early band member Bobby Harrison is seen miming to session man Bill Eyden's drumming. According to Shindig! Magazine's Procol Harum cover story by Alan Robinson (November–December 2009 issue – page 55), the video was directed by Peter Clifton whose insertion of Vietnam War newsreel footage caused it to be banned from airplay on the "Top of the Pops" TV show. The band subsequently made another video using "Scopitone" technology, but by this time, Robin Trower and B.J. Wilson had replaced Royer and Harrison in the band, so only three of the five musicians on the recording are represented, and no performance footage included – only the five musicians cavorting around London, running across fields, etc. This lineup, with Fisher in a monk's cowl, also mimed to the song on Top of the Pops, (though Gary Brooker sang live) and black and white footage of this performance has been shown online, perhaps constituting the third video of the song from 1967. (See also its inclusion on the 'Top of the Pops 40th Anniversary 1964–2004 DVD'.)

There was also a video shot as part of Joel Gallen's Deja-View music video series.^[32] Originally airing on various networks in late 1985 through 1986, this video starred Harry Dean Stanton and Bernie Taupin, but featured no member of the band. It has also aired on VH1 Classic, and has recently surfaced online.^[33][34]

References[link]