Piano composition/performance: Francess Harris (@pianofran)
Orchestration: Timothy McGuire (@tim_mcguire)

Collaborations: Timothy McGuire / Francess Harris

I am pleased to share a new collaboration with the very talented Timothy McGuire, who added his beautiful orchestration to my "Twilight in the Garden" piano composition.  It was an honor to collaborate with Timothy and to hear more of his amazing work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: https://soundcloud.com/tim_mcguire

Twilight In The Garden - Timothy McGuire Mix

Many thanks to Timothy McGuire for adding his beautiful orchestration (and a bit of magic!) to my "Traveling Light" piano composition. This is our second collaboration and it was a pleasure to work with Timothy again!  To hear more of his wonderful music, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here:  https://soundcloud.com/tim_mcguire

Traveling Light - Timothy McGuire Mix

I am happy to share this third collaboration with Timothy McGuire who added his beautiful orchestration to my "Finding Hope" piano composition. It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his wonderful work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: https://soundcloud.com/tim_mcguire

Finding Hope - Timothy McGuire Mix

Many thanks to Timothy McGuire who added his beautiful orchestration to my "Promises To Keep" piano composition. It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his wonderful work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: https://soundcloud.com/tim_mcguire

Promises To Keep - Timothy McGuire Mix

Thanks so much to Timothy McGuire who added his beautiful orchestration to my "In The Rain" piano composition. It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his wonderful work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: @tim_mcguire

In The Rain - Timothy McGuire Mix

The last autumn leaves are letting go and falling, after providing a season of beauty...A companion piece to "Whisper in the Wind".

Last Leaves Falling

Come Take My Hand

Thanks so much to Timothy McGuire who added his beautiful orchestration to my piano composition, "Emmanuel". It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his amazing work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: @tim_mcguire

Emmanuel - Timothy McGuire Mix

Today, and every day, we pray for peace in our world.

Today We Pray For Peace

A Cherished Moment

Thanks so much to Timothy McGuire who added his beautiful orchestration to my piano composition, "Moments Remembered". It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his amazing work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: @tim_mcguire

Moments Remembered - Timothy McGuire Mix

A little "quiet improvisation" from earlier today, this composition has a few elements reminiscent of an earlier work ("Today We Pray for Peace").  It seemed fitting however, since rest is easier to find when peace exists.

A Time Of Rest

A Winter Chill Arrives

Peaceful & Still

Many thanks to Timothy McGuire who added his beautiful orchestration to my piano composition, "Come Take My Hand". It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his incredible work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: @tim_mcguire

Come Take My Hand - Timothy McGuire Mix

Falling Snow

Faraway Dreams

A large branch of my family tree belongs to the McGill family, who found their way to North America in the 1700s, from Tullycahan, Louth, Ireland, when my 5th great-grandfather, John McGill, was 10 years old.  My grandmother would occasionally tell me stories about her ancestors...They worked hard, played hard, lived difficult lives, but still managed to love deeply and honor their family.  Recently, I lost a cousin from the McGill line and decided to revisit a little family history and create a composition that recalls the lives they lived and their journey to North America.

The McGills

Inspired by a long-remembered childhood dream of this tiny, mythical creature hovering over my windowsill, then abruptly leaving (represented by the final chord in the composition).

The Windowsill Faerie

"...He leads me beside the still waters." Psalm 23:2

I have always loved the poetry, and the messages contained in the book of Psalms.  Throughout my life, I have returned to the Psalms as a means of comfort during tough times and celebration in good times.  

Today, I have been reflecting on Psalm 23, specifically on the passage that mentions "still waters".  The though of stillness itself is very comforting in our modern-day world...We need peace and calm more than ever before.  Whether or not you are a reader of Psalms, I hope this music infuses your day with a few moments of stillness.

Still Waters

Winter Carol

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." - J.R.R. Tolkien

Time whispers constantly in the background of our lives, reminding us that we have a limited amount of it, and should strive to use it wisely and live with purpose.

Time Whispers

A reflective composition on the Christmas star.

Star Of Hope

I love improvising and “being in the moment” of creating and playing music at the same time. It’s like taking an impromptu snapshot of a particular point in time, to be remembered later. This work was created late one evening this past week on a very cold, clear evening when the house was warm, quiet and still.  I might revise it in the future, but for now, I like the musical picture and the memory of the peaceful moment it was created.

Beginning (An Improvisation)

Many thanks to Timothy McGuire who added his beautiful orchestration to my "Last Leaves Falling" piano composition. It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his incredible work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: @tim_mcguire

Last Leaves Falling - Timothy McGuire Mix

Many thanks to Timothy McGuire who added his beautiful orchestration to my my piano composition, "The McGills".  It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his incredible work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: @tim_mcguire

For the story behind the composition, see below:

A large branch of my family tree belongs to the McGill family, who found their way to North America in the 1700s, from Tullycahan, Louth, Ireland, when my 5th great-grandfather, John McGill, was 10 years old. My grandmother would occasionally tell me stories about her ancestors...They worked hard, played hard, lived difficult lives, but still managed to love deeply and honor their family. Recently, I lost a cousin from the McGill line and decided to revisit a little family history and create a composition that recalls the lives they lived and their journey to North America.

The McGills - Timothy McGuire Mix

Many thanks to Timothy McGuire who added his beautiful orchestration to my my "Joyful Hearts" piano composition. It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his incredible work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: @tim_mcguire

Joyful Hearts - Timothy McGuire Mix

Many thanks to Timothy McGuire who added his beautiful orchestration to my "Peaceful and Still" piano composition. It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his incredible work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: @tim_mcguire

Peaceful And Still - Timothy McGuire Mix

Late today, I sat down to finish a particular music project, then never got around to it.  A few hours earlier, the news had included a tragic event and it was heavy on my heart.  Sitting at the piano and recalling the day’s events, my thoughts turned to the very old song, “Dona Nobis Pacem” (translated “grant us peace”), and this improvisation was the result. 
 
Originally a prayer from the Agnus Dei section of the Latin mass, “Dona Nobis Pacem” has typically been sung as a round. (My improvised arrangement uses the primary melody from the round. )  Over the years, the song has been published in church hymnals, appeared in popular programming/literature, and used to promote peace during turbulent times.

Today’s world is as turbulent as ever, peace is needed more than ever, and the prayer is as heartfelt as ever…Grant us peace.


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Improvised arrangement/piano: Francess Harris, based on
"Dona Nobis Pacem" traditional melody (in the public domain)

Dona Nobis Pacem

A very old Advent/Christmas hymn, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is a translation of the Latin hymn, "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel."  John Mason Neale provided the most well-known English translation in 1861, and the hymn has been adapted into other modern languages as well.
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"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" Music - Public Domain
Piano Arrangement/Performance - Francess Harris

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

For Mr. Harris...Remembering the moment we first met. 😊

The First Moment

Many thanks to D{M}A for reimagining, enhancing and remastering my original "Fireflies" piano composition to give it a "dreamier" sound. For more D{M}A music, visit: soundcloud.com/user-680220197-131292885

Fireflies (Dream Mix by D{M}A)

Many thanks to Timothy McGuire who added his beautiful orchestration to my piano composition, "The Windowsill Faerie". It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his incredible work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: @tim_mcguire

The original piano composition was inspired by a long-remembered childhood dream of this tiny, mythical creature hovering over my windowsill, then abruptly leaving.

The Windowsill Faerie - Timothy McGuire Mix

Through Misty Waters

Many thanks to Timothy McGuire for adding his exquisite orchestration to my "Beginning" piano composition/track. It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his incredible work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: @tim_mcguire

Beginning - Timothy McGuire Mix

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn” – Hal Borland

The Long Winter

Many thanks to Timothy McGuire who added his beautiful orchestration to my piano composition, "From the Emerald Isle". It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his incredible work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: @tim_mcguire

For the story behind the original composition, keep reading...

Born in County Cork, Ireland, Robert Farrell (my great-great-great grandfather), had a sense of adventure, so it was probably no surprise that in the 1800s, he boarded a ship for North America with his wife and daughter.  What was it like to travel from the Emerald Isle to a new world?  Perhaps he had mixed emotions, but more than likely, he was filled with excitement at the prospect of pursuing long-held dreams.  Ultimately, his story took a very unexpected turn...that tale is told in my "No One Really Knows" composition.

From The Emerald Isle - Timothy McGuire Mix

Thanks so much to Timothy McGuire for adding his exquisite orchestration to my "Still Waters" piano composition/track. It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his incredible work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: @tim_mcguire

Still Waters - Timothy McGuire Mix

"When one flower blooms, Spring awakens everywhere." - John O'Donohue

A companion piece to "The Long Winter".

Awakening

Thanks so much to Timothy McGuire for adding his exquisite orchestration to my composition/track, "A Cherished Moment". It is always a pleasure working with Timothy and to hear more of his incredible work, you can visit his SoundCloud page by clicking here: @tim_mcguire

A Cherished Moment - Timothy McGuire Mix

Gathering Courage

Welcome to my SoundCloud page.  It serves as a jar of sorts, to catch the musical ideas flying around in my head!  My hope is that you find something to listen to that offers encouragement and refreshes your soul.

PianoFran

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