The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume Two

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Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra chronology
The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume Two

Studio album by Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra
Released	1966
Recorded	November 16, 1965
Genre	Free Jazz
Length	36:45
Label	ESP-Disk
The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume One (1965)	The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume Two (1966)	Nothing Is (1966)

The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume Two is a 1965 recording by the jazz musician Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra. Where Volume One of the Heliocentric Worlds series had predominantly featured short abstract pieces, Volume Two opened the process out into longer pieces performed by a smaller group.

The Sun Myth is particularly striking, constructed around the intertwining of Ronnie Boykins' bowed bass and Ra's electronic keyboard. These predominantly low sounds contrast sharply with the interlude commentaries from the other Arkestra members. Different releases use versions with or without the overlay of African singing at the start and finish of the piece.

A House of Beauty is a feature for piccolo, keyboards and bowed bass, which transforms into an almost-conventional piano and plucked bass duet.

Cosmic Chaos is an early example of the apparently free but actually conducted blowing for which the Arkestra would become known over the following decades.