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Hopes & Dreams
1. Earth & Sky 7:03
2. Living in Love 8:15
3. Dreamdance 6:51
4. Circle the Sun 5:26
5. Bamboo Morning 4:02
6. Soliliquoy 4:42
7. Sea March 5:32
8. Home 5:47
9. Interlude 6:21
10. Natural World 4:57
Total running time 59:03
I really love this new recording. People often ask me which CD is my favorite, and its a question that's impossible to answer. Its like trying to choose favorites between your children. Even though I don't have any children, I can relate to the fact it takes about nine months to make one, and several more to recover from delivering it. This record is all new music written from my innermost and simplest heart. When I hear it, and I've heard it a lot, it still takes me to a whole other place, and if I'm driving I will miss my exits. So if I had to say my favorite of the moment, "Hopes & Dreams" would be it. Mostly for sentimental reasons though.
This past year I have been spending a lot of time developing a music program at City of Hope Cancer Center. Part of the program is teaching patients and staff to play the harp. The other part is actually going into the wings, the chemotherapy rooms, the new patient areas and the ICU, and simply playing my harp. I sit for hours and just let the music float around the rooms. After a few minutes the hustle bustle quiets down and as I observe the scene my heart does a meltdown. There aren't words to describe the experience here, none could do justice, the only thing I know for sure, is that the people here are having a profound spiritual experience. This place of hope and healing where I sit and play all day is a miracle, something blessed, and I am lucky to be hanging around these people. So it is there that I pass my time and I try and write some lullabies for the soul. This new music has been useful in comforting the patients, and the staff loves hearing this music, so I decided to make a record of the melodies written while playing for them. Since so much of my live playing is improvisation, I can write and change things and try things, and I'm actually writing as I go. If I love a melody I will incorporate it into my performance over and over until I remember it perfectly. If I can't remember it later, than it was a fleeting moment that got away. Sometimes that happens too. "Hopes & Dreams" is a very mellow record, and somehow uplifting too. For those of you who favored "Love & Peace" and "Moonsongs" you will feel the same about this. I hope you will find it a comfort as well.
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