"It is not in the nature of man--nor of any living entity--to start out by giving up, by spitting in one's own face and damning existence; that requires a process of corruption whose rapidity differs from man to man. Some give up at the first touch of pressure; some sell out; some run down by imperceptible degrees and lose their fire, never knowing when or how they lost it ... Yet a few hold on and move on, knowing that that fire is not to be betrayed, learning how to give it shape, purpose and reality. But whatever their future, at the dawn of their lives, men seek a noble vision of man's nature and of life's potential ... It is a sense of enormous expectation, the sense that one's life is important, that great achievements are within one's capacity, and that great things lie ahead." [Ayn Rand, Intro to Fountainhead, 1968]

Ayn Rand wrote, "Words are a lens to focus one's mind."

Life Moves On is "a series of frames of artistic philosophy: a set of principles in focus, portraits of fine human be-ing -- movements of life in love with logic and light. The words are simple and bold, but in their simplicity and boldness, when read slowly and carefully -- the truth is sharp and clear: easier to think about -- putting the mind in focus and the heart in harmony..."
more at "Life Moves On" (PDF)
 

"I love the richness and variety of the composition...references many musical traditions...a lovely layered work...playful...deeply moving, uplifting... richly evocative and flowing outwards." [Tom Radcliffe]

"Charming and innovative...an integrated work...inspiring melodies...fun and intriguing...extremely linear...The rhythm and key changes constantly...Chords are arpeggiated throughout...I'm pleasantly surprised by this piece's ability to seduce me...It speaks to the universality of the music that Mills-Cockell is able to capture the attention of someone so happily entrenched in the early music tradition...He really does a fantastic job of executing joyful music where "only a faint echo within the sounds spoke of that from which the music had escaped"...Sometimes he weaves back and forth between acknowledgment/experience of pain and joy; sometimes the pain hovers in the background, unrecognized or forgotten but still a part of history, while fun and happiness take over. Evil lurks, that's just a fact: But it never wins. Nicely done." [Carolyn Ray]

"With superb clarity, intensity, sincerity, confidence, and grace...the music can challenge, comfort, and cheer one's relentless movement towards the realization of life's beauty and happiness." [Monart Pon]

"Monart first heard John Mills-Cockell’s "Tillicum" & "December Angel" and first read Rand’s Atlas Shrugged 30 years ago, and, since then, wanted to hear a "Concerto of Deliverance" as created by his favorite composer. This album represents, for him, that desire achieved." [From album liner notes]
more at   http://www.starshipaurora.com/concertoofdeliverance.html
 

"In the boundless universe of stars, in a small region called the Milky Way Galaxy, is one star called the Sun. Spinning around this Sun, on a planet called Earth, is an organism called Man. This man is tapping the energy of the Sun and transforming the material of Earth to build his starship, his starship to seek, hold, and give, the beauty that brings him his happiness.

"The starship that man creates is an expression of his mastery over his own destiny, a mastery that breaks the circle of nature with a straight line, a line that reaches from this earth to touch the farthest stars."
more at   http://www.starshipaurora.com/projectstarship.html