Late Nite Harp: Recent Episodes
Holly Honeychurch
This harp journey was recorded on the Summer Solstice 2023. It's a vibrant, joyful offering (in E Major & its modes) with some incredible birdsong to accompany it. The birdsong was recorded by me, out of my window, at 3 am in Glasgow City, a couple of years ago Amazingly, even in the city there can be wonderful, peaceful, natural moments. And seagulls! Lots of seagulls. They make an appearance, laughing a little but the blackbird takes centre stage as its exquisite melodies echo off the buildings. I loved my time in Glasgow and this was one of the dawn highlights.
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This is a soothing piece of music, which will lull you into relaxation like the waves of the ocean. It's a lament so it's pensive and emotive. What is this mermaid lamenting I wonder? Is she yearning for someone, does she feel completely free? You decide. This delicate harp song is a special offering of healing for you.
Have you heard my new album The Mother and The Angel?
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Enjoy an hour of healing harp music with music married together from different albums. It's relaxing, haunting and melodic. Listen to sail the seas to unknown, magical lands and find yourself once more.
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The mermaids are swirling tonight with an ethereal harp and voice track full of glorious reverb taking you to higher realms with angels and light beings.
This piece is full of hypnotic magic.
If you would like an ethereal harp video made just for you or a friend or family member, please have a look at what I am offering. A bespoke service of healing and nourishment with divine harp music. I'll make a unique piece, with a caring, personal message. It'll be such a joy and an honour to create.
It's a beautiful gift for you or a loved one.
Please help me buy a car to enable me to play in the community more easily and to those people in hospices at the end of their lives.
A thousand thank yous for your generosity. ā¤ļøāØā¤ļøāØ
Love to all. Shine brightly š
Come and swirl in water and fly with seagulls. This ethereal harp music is full of magic and relaxation. Rest in the vibrations for a while and drift away into a cosmic ocean which is safe and nourishing. In C Minor.
Hey! How are you? Here's an ethereal harp journey from my new album Planets II. I love Neptune. It's sparky, on a mission, soaring, shiny, full of light and richness with rumbles of bass and drama thrown in for good measure. I'd love you to support me and buy it on Bandcamp š
Happy Friday!! š¤øš»
Hey! How are you? Here's an ethereal harp journey from my new album Planets II. I love Neptune. It's sparky, on a mission, soaring, shiny, full of light and richness with rumbles of bass and drama thrown in for good measure. I'd love you to support me and buy it on Bandcamp š
Happy Friday!! š¤øš»
A full moon, magical harp piece exploring the modes of Eb major.
Today is an auspicious day for setting positive intentions and life changing affirmations. Think of a powerful, nourishing phrase personal to you and say it over and over. Connect with the power of the full moon's energy to solidify wonderful beliefs and attitudes in your life. Release all negativity from your thoughts.
I am radiant.
My music is radiant.
My music heals the world.
I am rich and supported.
Sail away to the moon on this wonderful harp journey.
Buy my Planets II album āØ
Notes on Uranus: attitude, confidence, sweeping melodies, emotive, lush, soaring reverb.
Would love you to have a listen and support my album. You help me to keep going on this wonderful, ethereal harp journey šš¾
Pre-order Planets II
There's sweeping passion in this activation. It gets quite dramatic and opens wide. It's in the key of G Minor Harmonic so has an exotic, faraway feel. I love exploring the notes of a key and finding magical patterns. The music feels romantic. I'm imagining moments in relationships, the spicy bits, the passionate bits followed by the tranquility. And the love.
I see a magnificent, secret chamber full of gold and jewels when I listen to this piece. It's in G Harmonic Minor and has an exotic, mysterious feel. I love the ethereal harmonies swirling around and I also love the sacred, nourishing harp vibrations. It's rich and alive. Come and bathe in some exciting, glorious harp music.
I've been thinking about the cycles of life. There are ups and then there are downs. Nothing is forever as much as we wish it was and all the emotional, unpredictable times are part of us - part of our journey. We have to own them. And sail through them all the same. It helps to have a bright heart. And joyful thoughts make life easier. A lightness of spirit lifts us up. I've met people with the opposite makeup and I feel for them.Ā It's about finding the beauty in every moment, even through all the challenging emotions that try to bring us down. Take some time to let the tears fall, then rise up again even stronger! We are in control of our thoughts ultimately - as much as we think we aren't. It's just finding a way to manage them and lift ourselves up to the radiant sun to receive grace from the universe. Cycles and circles. Our lives are full of them.
This piece keeps returning to the same wonderful, cyclical melody. It's in C Minor so is a more mournful mode, but within it I've created a joyful energy which I return to again and again. Like the cycles of life. Bittersweet and overflowing.
If you were thinking of buying one of my albums - today's the day as it's Bandcamp Friday! Head over to La Navigatrice and Cosmic Harp to get some healing harp goodness ššļøš·šµ
I've been thinking about the cycles of life. There are ups and then there are downs. Nothing is forever as much as we wish it was and all the emotional, unpredictable times are part of us - part of our journey. We have to own them. And sail through them all the same. It helps to have a bright heart. And joyful thoughts make life easier. A lightness of spirit lifts us up. I've met people with the opposite makeup and I feel for them.Ā It's about finding the beauty in every moment, even through all the challenging emotions that try to bring us down. Take some time to let the tears fall, then rise up again even stronger! We are in control of our thoughts ultimately - as much as we think we aren't. It's just finding a way to manage them and lift ourselves up to the radiant sun to receive grace from the universe. Cycles and circles. Our lives are full of them.
This piece keeps returning to the same wonderful, cyclical melody. It's in C Minor so is a more mournful mode, but within it I've created a joyful energy which I return to again and again. Like the cycles of life. Bittersweet and overflowing.
If you were thinking of buying one of my albums - today's the day as it's Bandcamp Friday! Head over to La Navigatrice and Cosmic Harp to get some healing harp goodness ššļøš·šµ
I'm experimenting with not playing so many notes all at once. It's a habit to play familiar patterns of strings in all my pieces; my fingers feel like they always need to be plucking something or at least ready to pluck something and I wanted to change that to allow the music more space and pauses so it can literally soar upwards, morphing and changing as it goes. Although it feels like forever to me, as I refrain from play, I like what I've created here. There are peaceful moments to breathe in the sound vibrations. By the time 3 minutes comes around though, I'm up to my old tricks - unable to keep from plucking those strings š It's a happy dance of a piece. Maybe played at a futuristic, cosmic ball somewhere far far away.
My Bandcamp page - La NavigatriceĀ
Thank you to all those who support me by listening to my music and buying my albums, it means a lot. Here's to the next 100!
Today's piece is called Faith. It's full of so much magic and gratitude.
Those who have yet to discover my amazing Bandcamp pages full of wonderful music can find them here:
La Navigatrice for ethereal harp adventures.
Cosmic Harp for atmospheric, ambient listens.
100 image šš½
Hello, welcome to episode 99! Please bathe in the feminine beauty of Venus from my album Planets I. She's in C# Minor.
Concentrate on loving yourself first and then go love others fiercely. Love love love yourself! Listen to these melodic vibrations to connect with higher ethereal powers and feel love all around. 432Hz is a frequency of peace and love. Use its spirit and energy to lift yourself up and create an inner vibe that will make you fly like a bird full of love.
Here's an uplifting, ethereal 5mins for your Friday, which feels full of magical elf song. Here lies a land of fairies and secrets. Ancient powers and crystal kingdoms. These sound frequencies remind me of this passage from The Silmarillion -
"A sound arose of endless interchanging melodies woven in harmony that passed beyond hearing into the depths and into the heights, and the places of the dwelling of IlĆŗvatar were filled to overflowing, and the music and the echo of the music went out into the Void, and it was not void."
J.R.R Tolkien
The wonder of it all consumes me when I listen to angelic sound waves such as these. May you get lost in them like I do. May they heal your pains.
Thank you to Emily, Odd, Alan, Cameolove, Jean, Jason, Robert, Aaron, Jeannie, Kez and Simon for buying my new album. Sending these special waves of goodness across the oceans to you. š
Thank you Willgard for the art š§āāļøšøšš¼
Exploring C Major chords and melodies with a little added note fuzziness due to the buttoned shirt I was wearing that was buzzing against my harp as I played. Interesting how it came through on the recording. Can you hear which note it is?
Thank you to those who have already bought my new album šš¼ Looking forward to releasing it fully on July 13th. I definitely went on a huge musical journey whilst making it. I had so much sound going into my ears and into brain during production - so many sound waves, that there were times I had to take a step back and hear nothing at all. So full of sound was I. And in the quiet I'd learn things too. But honestly, it wouldn't last long because the music would keep on going in my head even when I wasn't listening! I was so fully immersed in the cosmic adventure of making this planet suite, I think I even heard it in my sleep.
May you enjoy the adventure too. It's a time for you to settle back and go with the planetary flow. Who knows what you'll discover.
Go well! Shine on! Thanks again. Holly.
Pre-order Planets I on Bandcamp.
Happy Solstice Blessings! May the magic of the sun shine down on you with happiness and good fortune. This harp piece unfolds brightly and effervescently. It's ethereal and glorious in its resonance. Let's all be healed by the sun. Here in Scotland we had our one day of sunshine (per year š) yesterday and that one simple day made me smile so much! The flowers are buzzing with energy and life. I want to be like the flowers in the sunshine. Go well! Shine on!
Image by - Zaimful š
An ethereal improvisation reminding me of a tango dance. It starts out slowly with an exploration of chords, which sing out, making me hear all kinds of angelic voices within their vibrations. Then it turns a little sultry and exotic. I've been in the sun a lot today for the first time this year - actual sun on my face, wow! I'm even a little burnt ha! I'm so full of sun and this piece is full of it too. It's in A minor. Enjoy this swirly offering.
Hey, Happy Friday! Sending lots of glorious sunshine to wherever you are and hope you're enjoying yourself with a cold drink and good company whether that be by yourself or with others. Celebrating the return of the sun in Scotland šš„³šĀ
I went swimming today. And while I usually do lengths, today I became a child again and floated, rolled around, stretched, dove, did some handstands. I was a mermaid, connecting with water at every level. I played and experimented. It's my safe place. I love being weightless and have always been a water baby. I feel free. This piece feels watery and wavy. It's soft and gentle. Delicate and serene. It has a nice flow to it and connects me back to the lull and sense of peace I felt earlier today. A minor today.
This piece is in C# Minor. It's pensive, melancholic and magical. The sounds of rolling thunder and tropical animals (birds, frogs, monkeys!) make for a piece full of vibrant life and ancient energy.
A sweet, joyful harp reset in uplifting D Major. The melody reminds me of the kind of music I used to hear ringing round school when I was a teacher. The childrens' voices would be bright, happy and alive and everything felt right with the world - it used to make me quite emotional : )
The birds were recorded in my garden in Scotland. They're busy singing their spring songs at the moment. Some birds I don't even know the names of (yet : ), so diverse are they. Louder and more melodic each day, they get. I'm loving every minute of it. Bathing in birdsong is my favourite thing in the world.
For Papa. 11 years ago today you left this earth to fly free. šā¤ļøš
A delightfully ethereal and uplifting piece reminding me of the relationship between a flower and her hummingbird. It's a dance of loveliness and a joy to behold. A force of nature in the most delicate way. I'm sure this sweet music will make you feel happy and content. It represents everything positive, wonderful and good in the world.
My encounter with a swan.
Transistor Podcast Platform.
Hello to all you beautiful folk listening far and wide! Love to you all. Keep shining on š
I wanted to share all the countries where my harp music has sparkled for the sheer wonder of it all ā¤ļøš¶šš¼š¤øšæāāļø
Germany
Canada
Spain
Brazil
Iran
New Zealand
Puerto Rico
Italy
India
Australia
Taiwan
Philippines
Israel
Pakistan
Macedonia
Indonesia
France
Thailand
Portugal
Norway
Malaysia
Ireland
China
Vietnam
Netherlands
Myanmar
Guatemala
Georgia
Colombia
Austria
United States
United Kingdom
Hummingbird image from Pexels with thanks š¦
I love this piece. It conjures up a lot of melacholic emotion and takes me away somewhere pensive. I love how there's so much emotional drama in such a short space of time. Ethereal, with lots of reverb.
I love these short harp resets. This one predominantly uses chords from Eb Lydian (the 4th mode of Bb major) and sounds dreamy, cerebral and floaty. It finishes on a chord of G minor (the relative minor of Bb major) meaning the piece isn't left hanging and feels complete.
My harp playing begins softly tonight, floating in on a breeze. I love this style. I'll explore it more. To hear melodies on the breeze, not knowing where they're coming from is a real treat. Have you ever experienced that? Healing moments of magic. There are some amazing robins in the mix tonight too. And I love all the spirals and melodic patterns I explore. 6 mins onwards conjures up a special energy for me. Enjoy!
It would have been my Dad's 89th birthday today. This piece is connecting with him up there, at the top of one of those glorious melodic spirals. Happy Birthday Pa!
Happy to announce the release of my new podcast Meditation Lights. Here's the intro. I'll be creating bright, energising, empathetic episodes full of love, joy and harp music.
You can find it here: https://meditation-lights.hollyhoneychurch.com/ and all podcast platforms.
Hey lovely folk, hope this episode finds you smiling. I've moved to a little cottage in the delightful Scottish countryside yay! I composed this new harp piece in the first week of being here and it features local birdsong from a 5am dawn chorus. Lush! You might be able to hear the powerful River Clyde in the background too. Looking forward to releasing many more magical pieces here.
Meditation Lights, my new meditation podcast is out tomorrow Monday 28th March. Look out for it and see what you think. If you fancy some peace, harp music and inspiring words please follow along. Go well! Holly xx
This powerful piece soars majestically. Its purity cannot be touched. It's divine, strong and kind. We all have this magic soul seed inside, but some of us have forgotten about it and lost their way. It's a welcoming force without malice. It expands our hearts and protects the innocence in the world. May we all find our soul seeds once more.Ā
In F # Minor.
Ukraine šŗš¦ā¤ļøāļø
Clarifying, energising tones in C Major. Listen to them when you need a quick, cleansing moment to reset. Feel refreshed. Let your mind go and bathe in healing sounds.
I've been experimenting with sound frequencies. I used to play my harp in 440Hz but after some comparisons, I've started playing in 432Hz. So I've downtuned my harp strings by 8Hz from the standard 440Hz of modern day tuning. Here's a great comparison video using guitar. Which do you prefer? I love that so many sound frequencies exist, all with their own vibe.
Itās full moon - a silver snow moon to be precise. Iāve been writing lots recently. Tonight I wrote an empowerment prayer with the force of the full moon behind me. Hereās a little excerptā¦
I ask for this prayer to soar up into the highest heights, into the moonās aurora, a place of shimmering light and hope. Please allow me to rest there for a while also, and be held by Her auroric embrace, for being there close to such mystical vibrations will envelop me in a solace I cannot explain.
This lovely little piece came to me in a big ball of joy. Iām so grateful to play harp and create magical sounds. Especially when this kind of sweet energy pops out to play all of a sudden. The birdsong is exquisite too and fits perfectly with the atmosphere. The mysterious E Phrygian today with moments of happy C Major and wistful A Minor.
Hello! Letās celebrate beautiful music. Tree of Love is the first track on my new album Craobhan. Itās passionate, vivacious, exotic and features divine birdsong. All three songs on the album are amazing. Check it out for relaxing, musical magic.
La Navigatrice ~ https://la-navigatrice.bandcamp.com/album/craobhan
Hello! Happy New Year!
Iāll begin 2022 with an ambient piece thatās uplifting, bright and calm. Angels weave sweet melodies and hold you in a warm embrace. The sound waves emanate healing and high vibrations. Great for your morning meditation or to rest your tired eyes after a busy day. These few moments will rejuvenate you. Allow yourself to be carried away with the magic.
Hello sparkly people! This is the first half of a piece called The Castle. You can download the whole track on Bandcamp. Itās a richly romantic cosmic harp journey full of swirly softness and brilliant drama. Find out what happens next here.
This track is for you if you want to experience a really resonant bass. I imagine these harmonies soaring around a majestic castle, echoing through its halls and chambers for all to hear. Although this piece was made on my 25 string harp, what you hear is a whole orchestra of strings - especially cellos and double basses. I love its resonance and regality.
I recorded this stunning birdsong at 4am recently, walking back home after a night of dancing. I look forward to my after-club-dawn-chorus walks so much. I met some robins on this early morn, singing their hearts out in the trees above. Then they joined me on the path, bobbing around, unfazed by my being there. Their round little bodies are so sweet. I love how tame they are. I know they have a special relationship with humans. Iāve heard many stories.
I got my recorder out and caught some of their morning singsong. Isnāt it divine?
This little piece is in A Minor. Whilst practising tonight, I stumbled across this gorgeous melody, so thought Iād stay there for a while and enjoy its vibration.
A sweet, uplifting, playful piece reminding me of a little snowflake dancing in the breeze. It's time to twinkle. āļø
This simple cosmic harp piece goes on a journey with a flower as it grows and blossoms. Itās in E harmonic minor and has quite a forlorn, emotional tone to it, as if the harp is already saying goodbye to this little flower, knowing what will come. We watch it grow stronger as the elements test it. We see it bask in the sun with the birds. It has a fleeting moment to shine. And then, it is gone.
The melody suits the autumnal vibes now, where everything is turning to rest and hibernation. I love this time of year. I think I was a bear in a previous life.
Hey everyone, itās time for a spooky soundtrack to celebrate Halloween and Samhain. This is a moodier, atmospheric and chilled out harp journey taking on a dungeon synth feel. Itās ethereal too and has an eerie suspense running through it.
There are plenty of cats to meet. Youāll hear all kinds of meows and purrs. The purrs in particular became quite hypnotic for me. There are also beautiful droplets of water from inside the cavern, sampled from all over the world. That makes it super magical for me. Itās an immersive experience and well worth a spooky listen.
Itās funny because one of the cats sampled (the one with the foghorn voice) sounds exactly like the darling cat from my childhood, Amy. She was my good pal. Now sheās come back to see me yay! Itās been a surreal and nostalgic process, composing with her meowing in the background.
This is half the journey. You can find the whole thing here on Bandcamp.
āØš»āØ
Thought Iād release a 12 min ocean soundscape in a new harp style Iām exploring. Thereās so much gorgeous resonant base and many bright, uplifting notes along with lots of ethereal whale song weaving in and out of the slow, serene melody. Itās full of peace.
If youād like to hear the full hour, you can find it on Bandcamp as part of my Cosmic Harp project. Itās called Cosmic Ocean.
Celebrating the wetter weather with a watery cosmic harp song from my album, La Navigatrice. This is La Navigatrice II. Sailing her way across the emotional oceans of her soul. Reaching the light at the shore. Itās calming, soothing and hypnotic. There are even ethereal seagulls.
Hey everyone. Iām pleased to introduce one of the pieces from my new album La Navigatrice. Itās called Unfurling and is about finding ourselves and shaking off the stuck energy that isnāt serving us. To find our magical wings. There are murky, unsettling depths and rhythmical, joyful heights. I explore many melodies and textures along the way. There are deep bass notes, atmospheric pauses and lots of elation. Enjoy.
This uplifting cosmic harp journey is full of high vibrations. I imagine a sweet spirit guiding me through my life with playfulness and love. They dance next to me, helping me, protecting me, encouraging me to rise up into the light like a beautiful flower. Helping me see my sunshine within. This piece is in G Minor and while the minor keys can have a forlorn tone to them, I love this key, the rhythms, and the energy thatās been created. It feels strong, magical, and full of elation.
Iāve been thinking how lucky many of us are to have beautiful, relaxing summers. Doing what we want, in the warmth of the sun with sweet scented flowers dancing on the breeze. Feeling free. I want to keep feeling grateful for the simple pleasures in life that some others donāt have. While I played today, I imagined us all dancing in flower meadows with smiles on our faces. All of us, together, happy. Letās enjoy lifeās beauties and nourishing times. Feeling the love and sending love out into the world.
This is a bright, ethereal cosmic harp journey where I meditated on the feeling of weightlessness and flying as I played. There are some wonderfully flowing rhythms and uplifting notes. It makes me swirl serenely every time I hear it now, just like a dandelion seed in the breeze. Iām exploring F# Dorian and E Major in this piece. I like its mystical, exhilarating feel.
This is an instrumental version of a sweet little song called Cookie Cat I wrote last year. It has a soft, gentle melody with twinkly, sparkly bits running through. It conjures up images and feelings of times past with dear beloved furry friends and bittersweet, final days.
This cosmic harp journey is in the Romanian or Ukranian Scale. It suits the current weather here in Scotland where itās hot hot hot!! Itās a mode of the harmonic minor - the fourth mode - and is full of mystery and magic with lots of exotic sounds running through it. Itās energetic in places - I get totally carried away in parts. It makes me happy to create exciting harmonies and melodies. I love to explore the wonder and power of my little harp.
This beautiful song flows with earth and air energy. Its ethereal overtones make it magical and uplifting. The hypnotic melody comes back again and again to ground you. Itās an extended instrumental version of my song - In the Deep of the Forest - which has profound words and is full of earthy love. I wanted to celebrate its lovely melody, so created this longer piece. Iāve added in some woodland forest sounds too, like beautiful songbirds, which float in and out of the music. I really love it.
This piece is contemplative. So much happens in our lives and some of it is really hard. When I think about the earth, steadily turning day by day, I find strength to keep moving forward, step by step. Through the hardships and struggles. Through the crazy emotions. Until I reach the beautiful sunrise, which warms my soul. I like taking solace in the rhythm of the earth. This piece in C Minor follows that steady rhythm. Itās a little forlorn but there are still moments of high sparkle.
Iāve really been swirling around to my latest musical journey. It has lots of beautiful melodies running through it and an exotic, mysterious atmosphere. Itās in the mode of G Phrygian Dominant and has a warm, passionate desert-like feel. The name Sahara Dancing Free comes from a girl I once met and that was her name. I loved it so that now, fifteen years after meeting her, Iāve named a piece after her. Maybe sheāll hear it one day : ) Iād love to stand on top of a giant sand dune.
Edit* G Phrygian Dominant is actually the 5th mode of C harmonic minor.
Todayās improv has a fruity, vibrant feel. I play in C Minor harmonic and added in a little tropical soundscape. The rhythm is quite marzurka-like and that style originated in Poland so itās a piece of many places. I went into a bit of a lucid state listening to it earlier then came back to reality as the pace and volume picked up again : ) Enjoy.
Oh my goodness, I love this piece sooo much. Itās about The Spring Queen. Sheās here to wake everyone up! All the spirits of the forest, the pixies, fae folk and elementals. Theyāre all fast asleep from winter time and sheās here to fill everyone with joy and wonder and warmth for her season. Sheās bold and bright, radiant and beautiful. Her melody is vast, reaching out over the lands, echoing all around. And everything responds to her song. They wake up and shine out their colours and vibrations for everyone to enjoy. Thereās laughter and giggles and a few big wake up yawns. Nature stirs as the Spring Queen sings.
All is full of love.
Itās been a weird, spacey kind of day. Toothache woke me up at 3:30am and the day has spiralled in all kinds of weird directions since then, but Iām glad I caught the early morn because I was able to get the most beautiful dawn chorus recording from out my window. Iāve said it before - I love the beautiful resonance that comes from birdsong echoing off the sandstone tenements. Itās really special.
A blackbird was the star of the show this morning with a chorus of dynamic seagulls intertwined. The gulls use the rooftops all spring and summer to nest and raise their young so this is something Iāve gotten used to over time. I love their chatter. Sometimes they sound like cats, other times like babies and theyāve always got something dramatic and interesting to say.
This exploration is in A Dorian. Itās dreamy and soothing.
I decided to record a practise session today. I feel a bit like a sculptor, chiseling away at marble in order to find the art, the object, the person, the melody. There are chords and experiments as I pass over the strings, things that feel familiar and then things that sound weird. There are completely unknown things and unusual territories (when clashing notes come out). Then all of a sudden I get inspired, I know whatās waiting for me and I go in search of it chasing it down like a butterfly in the breeze. Thereās a section starting around 4 minutes that really floated my boat, I stay there a while basically making love to the melody ha! and trying different combinations of notes. So good! So dreamy. With the added golden reverb I can hear a chorus of angels accompanying me. How divine. How lucky am I? This practise is in E minor. I do like the minor keys, theyāre so dramatic. Happy Saturday!
Welcome to The Night Circus, a place of enchantment and dreamy realities. I read this book by Erin Morgenstern a few years ago and this new piece feels like it belongs in the book. Thereās magic and mystery in the layers, also playfulness and chaos. I feel Iāve pushed the boat out further creatively this time. There are moods and beautiful phrases coming out of nowhere. The pace shifts around. Thereās an exotic, mysterious feel which can be uplifting yet mournful. When I make these podcasts, I just start with a few chords and then let the song take me where it wants to go. I donāt know whatās going to happen. With this one, I felt like I was flying across the strings wanting to go faster and faster, chasing the melodies, which would leap out and dance all around. I felt like I was falling but also catching someone as they fell. This piece is full of atmosphere, sometimes dark, often elated, I love its enchanting, music box sound.
This is an instrumental version of the last song I released called Uma Viagem. It felt good to explore chords and see what sounds came out. Itās definitely got an exotic feel in places and a vast amount of dreamy reverb dancing around of course. Iām on quite a journey myself at the moment (arenāt we all?) with lots of realisations and decisions being made meaning that psychological burdens are being lifted. I feel so light. Hooray! Happy Spring Equinox! Letās welcome back the light. Long may freedom continue x
A soft, gentle song sung by a fire with nature as a soundscape. This songās melody lulls me as I sing. It calms me and gives me peace. The sounds of the crackling fire connect me deeply to somewhere safe. Hereās the video I made for it.
E lĆ” vou eu
Pra mais uma viagem
Afirmando a imagem
Do meu Cristo Jesus
Meu Deus me ajude
Para cumprir a risco
Eu estou de viagem
Com meu Jesus Cristo
Meu Rei SĆ£o JoĆ£o
Mestre dos meus estudos
Aprender vou com tudo
A final eu existo
Odemir Raulino da Silva
Quadro Azul #19
Hereās an epic Santo Daime song for you. It was already fast and strenuous to sing and then I went and made it sound like it was in a cathedral too. Itās on the faster side of my song repetoires and I love singing it for its power and clarity. I made a video for it also, which you can watch here.
Veio da floresta
Como um Beija-Flor
Pousou na beira-mar
E explandiu o seu amor
Mostrando para todos
O caminho do Senhor
Ajuntando os seus filhos
Na estrada do amor
Esta forƧa Ʃ o Daime
E o Daime Ć© luz
Ele Ć© o mensageiro
Do caminho de Jesus
Que deu por nĆ³s a vida
E morreu por nĆ³s na cruz
Nossa Santa Estrela Guia
Ele Ć© quem nos conduz
A esta ForƧa eu entrego
O meu coraĆ§Ć£o
Guiai bem os meus passos
Neste mundo de ilusĆ£o
Estar no caminho reto
Aprendendo a uniĆ£o
Sou filho desta terra
Meu Padrinho Ć© SĆ£o JoĆ£o
Paulo Roberto
I love the energy of this song. Itās hypnotic to sing and Iām all into being protected by angels so it makes me sing even more passionately : ) Iāve made a video for it here with lots of colour and vibrancy.
O anjo de Deus nos protege
Com seu santo manto azul
De leste a oeste, de norte a sul
Viva a Estrela do azul
Que faz brilhar as Estrelas do CĆ©u
Do arcanjo Rafael
Este globo gira perfeito
Com diversas amostragens de cor
Ć Deus em tudo, Ć© o fruto, Ć© a flor
Vida do meu Criador
Que faz brotar com todo vigor
Vida do Rei do amor
Pad. Alfredo
This beautiful song is about The Queen of the Sea ~ MamĆ£e YemanjĆ”. Iām sure I was a mermaid in a past life as Iām much better at gliding through the sea than walking on land these days so I connect in a knowing way with this sacred song. I remember hearing it in ceremonies years ago and thought it had an oriental feel. I never seemed to have the words to sing along with at the time but now I do hooray! I think it goes very well with the dreamy harp melodies. There are a couple of nice surprises to listen out for too.
Here are the lyrics and translation. Please relax and enjoy.
Luar se fez um raio prateado
Iluminando o cƩu e as espumas do Mar
Lindo clarĆ£o Ć beira-mar
Vejo MamĆ£e IemanjĆ”
LĆ” vem, lĆ” vem junto com suas sereias
Nos abenƧoar, Rainha IemanjƔ
Dona das Ć”guas tu Ć©s MĆ£e
Oh! Janaina OdoiĆ”
Iluminai minhas profundas Ɣguas
Para eu decifrar mistƩrios do meu mar
Nesse meu mar de emoƧƵes
Rainha vem me iluminar
IemanjĆ” princĆpio gerador
Amor fundamental tĆ£o puro e maternal
IemanjĆ” vem confortar
Oh! Janaina OdoiĆ”
~~~~~~~~
The moonlight became a silver ray
Illuminating the sky and the sea foam
A gorgeous gleam on the sea shore
I see Mother YemanjĆ”
Here she comes, here she comes along with her mermaids
To bless us, Queen YemanjĆ”
Lady of the waters, you are Mother
Oh! Janaina OdoiĆ” *a traditional greeting to YemanjĆ”
Illuminate the depths of my water
So that I may decipher the mysteries of my sea
In this my sea of emotions
The Queen comes to illuminate me
YemanjĆ”, the creative principle
Fundamental love so pure and maternal
YemanjĆ” comes to comfort
Oh! Janaina OdoiĆ”
I really enjoyed making this piece. Itās got a wintry feel. Iāve had the melody in my head for a long while, since 2012 in-fact when I originally wrote the song. I love singing it, especially in the colder months. It feels super magical and mysterious. The melody is hypnotic and the whole mood of it is like a music-box. Iām transported to a far off land where nothing is quite as it seems. The majesty of the snow sounds other worldly in D harmonic minor and thereās an aura of things being unresolved until the warmth of the sun comes through with strength and hope on the note of G.
When I hear this song I think of kites and bubbles : ) I like the moods it goes through in the space of five mins. The tempo changes, itās loud then soft, it ebbs, it flows, it soars in places and swirls up, up, up. I feel like Iām flying in the sky listening to this. Itās in E minor today with a simple chord progression which sounds like bubbles making their way to the surface to pop.
This piece conjurs up the dancing lights of the Aurora Borealis for me. They're so divinely majestic aren't they? I've only ever seen them in pictures but even that is more than enough. I like the high trills and sparkly bits through this song. It feels cheeky and alive. It builds slowly and reaches magical heights before calming down again. I love its energy.Ā
Oooo Iāve just had a final listen to this Mermaid song and I totally lost my sense of space sitting in my chair and felt like I was being taken by the sea somewhere magical. It gave me such a gentle peace.
When I was little, one of my favourite films was Supergirl. She was my idol (of course). I remember her home was a sparkling, underwater kingdom. It felt safe, calm and pure. When I created this song I started to see that place again. And mermaids too. Singing, gliding, welcoming, smiling. A chorus of crystal harmony. This is a water song. Even my track colours have an ocean theme : )
Today I play in A Mixolydian. I think it sounds dreamy, bright with a tiny bit of mystery.
When I started exploring chords and feeling my way into this song I saw the image of a girl scrubbing a stone floor. She was tired and sad. It reminded me of Cinderella. Rashin Coatie is the Scots name for her.
This song has a contemplative feel. I started experimenting with A Dorian mode which sounds slightly sorrowful and pensive to me. But thereās hope too with sections of high, bright melodies which radiate light. Itās a battle between resignation and strength, fragility and possibilities. Just like in our minds, where there can be a juxtaposition of emotions flowing through us. This song is for all of us. Weāre all Rashin Coatie in some way. I like to think that by the end of the piece, which finishes in E minor, sheās made up her mind. Sheās won her battles and sheās ready to taste freedom, with or without a prince.
Go Rashin Coatie!
Iām really excited about this piece. Iām exploring the third mode of the scale of G major. Itās called the Phrygian mode and Iām blown away with how beautiful it sounds. As Iām obsessed with autumnal colours at the moment I can feel the influence itās had on the music. I see an elusive, strong golden queen taking care of her trees. The winds blow, the leaves dance in the breeze. And she dances too (she even has her own melody). Dancing with the elements, with the sprites, with the spirits of the forest. Sheās powerful and kind and as bright as the most golden leaf shining in the sunshine. Itās her final dance before the coming of winter.
Itās a time to appreciate what we have, enjoy each moment of colour and vibrancy, make way for a new season and let go of the old ready to be born anew. And maybe do a bit of a hibernating too. š I love this piece. The melodies are magical and I adore it ebbing and flowing with angelic voices.
Hello lovely people, Iāve been digging into chord progression and key signatures recently. Exciting stuff hey!? Even though Iām musical, Iāve always found the theory side boring and a challenge, so I just play for pleasure and search for nice sounds without knowing too much about exactly whatās going on in the nitty gritty world of music theory. But Iām delving deeper now and in this piece I explore some chords that work nicely together in C minor. That means all the levers are down on my 25 string harp if anyoneās interested.
Itās been a revelation to remember that each scale has a major and a minor key - one of the first things I would have been taught in music lessons but had totally forgotten the juxtaposition of up until a few days ago. And now things are beginning to click in my musical brain (with the help of some great online teachers) and a new world of sound patterns is opening up. Expect more explorations. Yay!
In my twenties I spent many hours singing the most beautiful Brazilian songs from the Rainforest. Funnily enough I discovered them when I took a rickshaw ride in Holland and the dutch person driving was singing one of the songs. Talk about fate!
I was hooked for ten years. Then I stopped singing them as life changed direction and danced to a different rhythm and they slept in my heart. Now theyāre awakening once more and Iām excited to sing them again and play them on the harp.
These songs take some influence from Catholicism and while Iām not religious in the traditional sense of the word, I can appreciate their power and magic. Once I get wrapped up in the melody I spiral high and forget everything else. These tunes mesmerise me.
My religion is Love and these songs are full of love, healing, hummingbirds, nature, spirits of the forest, motherly vibrations and divine beings like angels and The Queen of the Sea (MamĆ£e YemanjĆ”).
Itās funny Iāve got a Celtic heritage and Iām singing songs from far away lands, lands where Iāve never been before but they changed my life back then and I love singing them so much. Iām looking forward to sharing them with you in my style (much slower and gentler than the originals). I feel called to. The world needs healing songs right now.
This oneās called Hummingbirdā¦itās one of my favourites. Yay!
Ć Beija, Ć© Beija-Flor
Que minha MĆ£e me entregou
Para afastar as doenƧas
De quem for merecedor
Meu Mestre estĆ” comigo
Pois ele Ć© meu amor
Ć no cĆ©u e na terra
Jesus Cristo Salvador
Oh meu Juramidam
Foi Ele quem me mandou
Para relembrar lembranƧas
Da salvaĆ§Ć£o do amor
Meu Mestre estĆ” comigo
Mesmo aqui aonde estou
Ć a glĆ³ria do meu Pai
Jesus Cristo Redentor
Eu digo tĆ”, eu digo tĆ”
Eu digo tĆ” e aqui estou
Eu nĆ£o me esqueƧo, eu sĆ³ me lembro
Do meu Mestre Ensinador
Pad. SebastiĆ£o
Meu Pai peƧo que VĆ³s me ouƧa
Para eu pedir o perdĆ£o
Eu peƧo nĆ£o sĆ³ para mim
Para mim e os meus irmĆ£os
Meu Pai quando for perdoar
Perdoa como lhe convƩm
Eu peƧo que vĆ³s nos perdoe
Como perdoou em BelƩm
A barca que corre no mar
Corre no meu coraĆ§Ć£o
Aquele que aqui batiza
Batizou no rio de JordĆ£o
A sacred song written after the passing of beautiful soul Maria DamiĆ£o.
Choro muito e lamento
Tudo que jĆ” se passou
Deixo tudo saudosamente
E vou viver no meio das flores
Vou viver no meio das flores
Junto com a Virgem Maria
Os terrores que aparecem
Ć essa grande rebeldia
Vamos todos meus irmĆ£os
Vamos cantar com amor
Para Deus e a Virgem MĆ£e
Nos defender destes terrores
Sou filho da Virgem MĆ£e
ReconheƧo este poder
Chamo a forƧa, eu chamo a forƧa
Para vir nos defender
Iām experimenting with building sound and drama into my pieces. Less is more in my opinion but even still, trying to decide what to keep in and leave out is challenging sometimes. I enjoy the simple beginning in this one and I love singing it so much. Hope you enjoy listening.
Hold Me - by Holly
A saturday afternoon jam session exploring strings - making them twang, searching out patterns, going up to the high notes, trying not to lose my trail, my musical adventure. I never quite know what Iām gonna get when I start. Where Iām going to go. Adding another layer to twirl and swirl with the melody is a lovely experience. I love the richness and sparkles.
This is my ode to Cookie the cat. A dear sweetie I looked after on my housesitting adventures. I met her three times and it was always lovely to see her. She got poorly on my last visit and that was hard to see. Iām not very good when animals get sick. It makes me so sad especially when thereās nothing you can do for them. But Iāll always remember her as a green eyed darling, loving strokes and lap time. And that last meal of chicken broth she ate was an absolute joy for her. After so long without nourishment, she finally wanted to eat and she chatted away outside the stable whilst polishing off two bowls.
A Saturday afternoon improv as sunshine streams through the windows onto my harp. Itās taken from a song of mine and this short piece is a riff on it.
Day 30!!! Made it and feeling elated. Woo hoo! Itās been a great experience making a song a day. I would highly recommend it. Sometimes I wanted to scream, sometimes I did scream, sometimes I was so sleepy at 11pm trying to get the levels right and sometimes that led to a little frustration. But along with all those things I feel like Iāve achieved something super special. Iāve got many of my own songs out there now. And that feels fantastic. Theyāve been waiting patiently in books for so many years and now theyāre full of colour and light. Itās only the tip of the iceberg really. Iāll be back. Singing once more.
For the final song, Iāve gone back to simplicity. Back to nature. This song is from the rain forest. From a collection of songs/hymns devoted to the Holy Mother - Santa Maria. Itās haunting and beautiful. I love it.
Day 30 - A song a day.
Day 29. Getting close nowā¦
This song is inspired by a very beautiful Throes of Dawn track, The Understanding. Itās a prog metal album which is dear to my heart (and one of the few I can listen to because it doesnāt having the screaming vocal style in it). The whole album is such a journey and the guitar riffs out of this world. This is a snippet of a melody (starting at 1m30 on the track) which I made into something new. I love the space in it. As well as the bass. I love a bit of bass!
Happy Friday!!
Woah, this one was bigger than I thought, though I shouldnāt have been surprised. For me this song has the biggest emotional effect on me out of all my songs. I wrote it after seeing a documentary about these sweet geese who take a massive life threatening flight over mountains to reach new pastures. Iām a bit weepy when it comes to nature documentaries and this song was born out of the spirit of struggle and determination. Itās not only the bird who has challenges but all of us! Weāre all that little bird. Trying our best to make it. Thereās a nice harp solo at the end too.
Day 28 - A song a day (I need a rest : )
This is another early song I learnt on my harp. I remember making it so complicated for myself when I put the musical notes on paper and then struggled to follow my own composition. I felt blocked by what Iād written down. That was when I realised I didnāt need to sight read and follow a definitive pattern anymore. I discovered I could flow freely and improvise the notes as long as I had the chord progression. It was a revelation.
I grew up only being able to sight read on my violin (with no improvisation skills or desire at all) and Iāve ended up enjoying improvising on the harp so much. Iām super grateful for all its magic and grace. Woo!
Day 27 - A song a day.
Waaa Iāve had a super busy day recording fun, exciting material (for my new childrenās podcast) so I only started recording this at 7pm. Very late for me. But it turned out quite nicely. This is the first song I played when I started learning the harp. Before then it was just me and my voice. So this song is extra special to me.
Fav line - āMy sweet bed of starsā.
Song by Holly.
Day 26 - A song a day.
A medieval tone to this one. Super magical especially with the birdsong.
Lyrics by Holly.
Day 25.
I love the lyrics to this song. I was fully immersed in nature, spiritual growth and beauty when it came to me about ten years ago. Itās got a great melody. Very earthy and hypnotic.
Day 24/30 - Song a Day
A bit of marching fun. This song came to me in 2017. The lyrics (if you find yourself humming along to the melody when you walk) are -
Peace, hope, love
Peace, hope, love every day
Peace, hope, love
Peace, hope, love in every way
Giving smiles, giving hugs, giving love
From my heart and on my path
Day 23 - A song a day
This song is all about love. A celebration of being in love. With a special someone. And maybe theyāre not even on this plain anymore. Maybe theyāre flying high somewhere else. But love crosses worlds and ether. Love is love. Love will always be there. Isnāt that wonderful?
Day 22 - A song a day.
There was a full pink moon a couple of days ago. Hereās a full moon song in its honour. In love with these lyrics.
Lyrics by Holly.
Day 21 - A song a day.
I fancied learning this sweet melody today. Itās a lovely song. I listened to Audrey Hepburn singing it. Now I canāt stop humming it.
Day 20 - A song a day.
A few years ago I drove to my first float. I drove past a beautiful tree, in a field. A fine looking tree with a perfectly round shape. An oak. While having my float, this melody came to me and Beautiful Tree was born.
A song about our connection with angels. This song is simple and raw. No voice and harp reverb (until the end anyway!).
Day 17 - A song a day. Wow, thatās so many days already!
Get your floaty ribbons ready and bits of shiny material, crank up the volume and dance round your living room with your kids/cats/doggos/bunnies/guinea pigs/tortoises etc imagining you are bright shiny stars. Letās all dance together. Yay!!
Song by Holly.
Day 16 - A song a day.
Oh how I love the purity in this song. Oh how it soars. Itās by Bettina Maureen. Check out her beautiful album Lullabies for the Soul. A super special one.
Day 15 - A song a day.
Written by Cristina Tati, this gorgeously haunting song is simple and powerful.
Day 14 - A song a day.
I sang this song a few days ago. Hereās an extended harp version of the melody. It has some swift jazzy moments in it as well as lots of time to chillax. It gets a bit crazy at the end. A bit out of control. Fun fun fun! Keep moving and shaking people! Bodies love to move.
Day 12 - A song a day.
This song is about courage and determination. I feel strongly about folk feeling free in their lives and working towards being the best versions of themselves. I know weāre all vulnerable and need love and support to fly high. Along with friendship, music does this for me. I feel so energised and empowered after listening to music. This song especially leaves me feeling ready to face the world.
Day 11 - A song a day
This was an energetic song to sing. I love it. Itās funky and vibrant. It builds slowly with layers and trills. I wish it had gone on for longer. I could have stayed in its vibe for ages. I imagine it being played with lots and lots of musicians and I just know the whole room would go off like a rocket. Bet you can guess what my favourite line is : )
Itās an original song by me written in the Peak District countryside.
Day 10 - A song a day.
I wrote this song over 10 years ago. I listened to an old version of it just now, sung around a camp fire, just me and a friend on guitar, trying to figure out the chords. It brought back sweet memories of that night - finally finding a musician to sing my songs with. It was 2am. Summertime. I had so many to share. I just wanted to keep going. We were there for hours, singing and playing. At first to friends and then when they fell asleep, to sheep in the next field. I had an old phone to record on which had to be ākept awakeā because if it went off it stopped recording. Ha. How times have changed. That was the beginning of the magic for me. Of the possibilitiesā¦
Now Iām a one lass band. Making sweet music with my trusty harp. I love all the experimentation and layering. So much magic to create.
This song is special to me. A lullaby for the soul. Taking you deep into the centre of the earth. Deep into Mother Nature herself. Come and find the hummingbirds and the forest paths. Theyāre waiting for you.
Day 9 - A song a day.
This is a magical song by Adrian Freedman. A song that came to him after his mum passed. I got so emotional when I first heard it. Then couldnāt stop singing it and even took it up to the magnificent Haytor where I sang it out loud for the whole world to hear. So so beautiful. Such a healing song.
Day 8 - A song a day.
Spring is here! Birds sing, squirrels zoom, flowers burst open. Hereās my take on the loveliness of spring.
Day 7 - A song a day.
This is for all you water babies out there. As dolphins swim and play in these crystal melodies, letās somersault and dive into the song with them. Splash!
Day 4 - A song a day.
I felt nostalgic whilst playing this piece. I visited the place of my childhood recently and it brought back happy memories. It got me thinking about sweet innocence and leaving that behind as adulthood approaches. I may have said goodbye to little Miss Holly but I still carry an innocent sparkle around wherever I go.
This song will help you let go of all heaviness and whisk you away to a fairytale place full of flying, happiness and colour.
This song always conjurs up images of men fighting on battlefields for me. And poppies. I feel a solitude, a loss, a sadness within the song. But a deeper resolve too. At the core of oneās being. Where the stars of the universe reside. And those spiritual questions that nobody knows the answers to begin to unfurl. Then the improvised melody kicks in and I soar off into the sky.
You Are There - Holly Honeychurch
This musical journey feels full of mysticism and the song is beautifully evocative. It was one of the first songs I ever wrote many years ago. I remember being surrounded by strong women. Goddesses. And they inspired these lyrics. Itās powerful, bright and sensual. I like to swirl with the sounds and imagery. It opens me up to infinite possibilities. It also conjurs up a magical fairground full of love and excitement.
Warrior Women - Holly Honeychurch
This song is special. Itās expansive. It reaches unfathomable heights. I feel elated just thinking about it. The melody is firmly planted in my whole being. I invite you to take some time to enjoy this musical journey. Fly high in its magic and sparkles. Become stardust! Then share it with those who also wish to soar. Have fun. Love you.
A Boy Made of Stars - Holly Honeychurch
Iām really loving this episode. It flowed out so well. Itās original. Iāve had the song excitedly waiting in a song book for a few years now. I was flicking through it today and this one just popped out at me and I couldnāt help but sing. It has a light hearted melody and is full of hope, sparkles and swirling vibrancy.
Flowing Wind - Holly Honeychurch
Let me take you on a journey to a land full of colour and spice. Letās fly somewhere warm to a crystal clear sea with glorious golden sunshine beaming down. This is your journey. Imagine it. And soar!
Iāve loved this lullaby from Carnival Row since first I heard it. The melody is haunting and nurturing. Within the context of the series, it comes at a profound moment. It made me dive deep into the story of love, loss and the bond between mother and child.
Fly for You - Patty Gurdy - Carnival Row Soundtrack
Thereās the depth of the ocean and the expanse of the sky in this track. It took me into a gentle trance where I surrendered to its sound.
Pippinās Song from The Lord of The Rings
My maple harp dances through this track. The sound is light, playful and ethereal. I can see golden droplets falling into a calm pool creating ripples of magical music.
As the World Falls Down - David Bowie - Labyrinth Soundtrack.