The first completed in a long, long time. I hope you like it!

Fearless

Both Eunice and I happened to have instruments with us when we visited Dad in hospital last one day last week. While he rested, we sat in the hospital courtyard and played some impromptu Kirtan, which I recorded on my phone. It was such a beautiful moment. I believe Aye Kerunene is a song about compassion.

Aye Kerunene - Eun and I

Om purnamadah purnamidam
Purnat purnamadacyate purnasya
Purnamadaya purnameva vashishyate

This is perfect, that is perfect
From the perfect springs the perfect
Take the perfect from the perfect, 
And only the perfect remains. 

I feel this mantra describes the complete wholeness of reality, or the divine consciousness flowing through life, which at its essence can't be reduced, improved or divided. Energy and matter is subject to constant transformation but it cannot ever be destroyed. 

Our life's apparent ebb and flow of possession and loss gets us all worked up - we get excited when we get what we want, and upset when we inevitably lose it. But what if gain and loss are just constructs of the mind based on the belief that we are entities separate from the whole flow of life?

Our experience seems to be that "I" ends at the physical limits of this flesh and blood body. But is there actually any place where "I" ends and reality or life or the universe begins? Aren't we part of the whole? And if I am the universe, is anything truly ever given or taken, gained or diminished? 

I believe every moment of life is a blessing, whether we seem to be experiencing ecstatic abundance or heartbreaking loss.

Om Purnamadah

Here's a composition with only guitar and a little ambient vocals accompaniment as I continue to practice and exercise and improve my guitar playing. Coming up with the tunes and harmonies is the easy part... It's getting my fingers to cooperate and play it decently that takes a long time and many, many takes, but I think I'm getting better at it. 

This melody was inspired by a very calming walk through horticultural gardens in Lansing while Delia was having her radiation therapy today. This is a "working draft", if you will - you might be able to catch Tom talking to the cats in the background here and there. Haha!

A Bloom Amongst The Briar I

An upbeat yet chilled out tune, the main melody of which showcases my new Shaw Irish whistle in low G - a warm, breathy sound that compliments my low D whistle very well, which I used for the harmonies. Acoustic guitar accompaniment. I hope you enjoy listening, I'd love to hear what you think of it! 

The Berry Brambles

This is something I made for one of Tom's new songs about his favorite holiday of the year... Krampus day, Dec 5th! I modified it a bit to show off the fruits of my cello practice. 

I would have debuted my super fancy cello work earlier but I was too busy snapping the neck off my cello. That's a bad thing, right? Luckily the guys at the music store really don't seem to care if you mutilate your rented musical instruments... one replacement later and I'm back in business. :)

The Bells of Krampus I

Let's drive down to the ocean 
By the mouth of the river
We'll watch those waves come tumbling in to shore
For what feels like forever

Because time, it seems to slow right down
As we find our souls gazing out across the blue
Feel that subtle connection with the inner
Found in quiet reflection of the vast beyond in view!

Something a little different, this time... just one verse so far, although it may be all it needs. Short and sweet. All music written, played, sung, recorded and arranged by Frances Gibbs! Inspired by that unspeakably magical feeling I experience every time I find myself by the sea, no matter the state, continent, or hemisphere...!

The Vast Beyond in View

I've had this song idea rolling around in my head for a year now, I felt it had a lot of potential and I always knew I would return to it some day and complete it... and here it is, I'm excited to finally have it done!

This was one of the rare instances that the whole whistle line was formed entirely in my head while driving to Crooked Lake with Delia before I ever even picked up my instrument. :) Guitar, djembe, low whistle, rattle.

The Crooked Lakeside

It's been a long time since I've polished up a track good enough to share. Although I've been working on a lot of unfinished bits and pieces and a few longer songs, here is a short and sweet thing I did in a few hours. Guitar, cello and vocals. 

It's both relaxing and soulful... Put your earphones in, close your eyes and let me take you somewhere else for a few moments.... :) 

Aeon

Getting back to making music.. it's been a long while. A laid back little untitled tune to get my feet wet.

A midsummer night song

I have written, played, recorded and arranged everything here, unless noted otherwise. Just sharing with the world something I love doing! :)

Willow Verbaan

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