Been a while since I did a collaboration!  This is a setting of Magenta Wise's lovely poem "The Step", used with permission.

The Step
Lyrics by Magenta Wise
Music by RoZita Berry

Standing alone in a promising dawn,
A little girl there, alone and forlorn,
She sighs and droops, her head hangs down,
On her precious brow a piteous frown.

The threshold beckons, drawing her feet,
Escape is impossible, what shall she meet?
What dreams await, what future fates,
Her trembling breath falters, and abates.

Then with weary sigh, she gathers strength,
A faltering step, a tentative length,
Over she goes, the seeds are sown,
Bravely embracing that vast unknown.

Now from her depths she hears a sweet voice,
Softly it whispers “You have every choice,
Just see what you want, believe it is true,
And all that you will is made unto you”.

Armed with this truth, the girl with sweet grace,
Boldly steps to her own chosen place,
Confidence blooms, her heart and soul lead,
Carefully measure each word and each deed.

And so she grows, creating her destiny,
Brimming fulfilment and fulsome ecstasy,
No need to be victim, she stands true and tall,
Knowing her power, the breadth of it all.

Her way is clear, it’s to love and to give,
To all that is needy, to all that would live,
Her mighty heartbeat resounds through the earth,
Inspiring the fearful to step and take breath.

©2021 by Magenta Wise and RoZita Berry

The Step

Ambient soundscape with guitar interplay and deep sonic layering.

New Places to Dream of

New Places To Dream Of

“You’re My Beautiful” is a love song I wrote for my wife Emma, to mark three significant milestones in her life. First, I wanted to give her a unique and special gift from my heart in the form of a love song for her birthday.   Second, Emma took early retirement in August 2023 from academia and research and was a professor of epidemiology at Ontario Tech University (OTU) in Oshawa, Ontario. We have taught at various institutions together over the years including Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, University of Windsor and most recently at OTU. We were passionate about teaching; have both received teaching awards and have co-published five textbooks related to public health together over the years.  Emma has recently released her first fantasy novel (Emma P. Shan) entitled “Ozia: When the Sky Tore” and plans on writing additional novels. We have also worked not only as partners in marriage, but also in research related to various noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and dementia.  Third, Emma is a breast cancer survivor, and this December will mark the 10th anniversary of her victory over this deadly disease.

"You're My Beautiful" is a collaboration between myself and Stephen Wrench, who wrote this beautiful instrumental and did the acoustic guitar performance.  It also features 5 times nominated Grammy artist Molly Cherryholmes on violin. On January 8,  2024 it hit No. 1 on the Euro Indie Network Music ranking and was No. 1 World Indie Network Top 100 Music list and . Hope you enjoy!. Hope you enjoy!

Also see:
Single Review- Fanbase Music Magazine-
https://fanbasemusicmag.co.za/2023/12/18/single-review-wally-baftfay-youre-my-beautiful/

Euro Indie Network Music Review of Song-
https://euroindiemusic.info/2023/09/16/music-for-your-ears-review-3-come-together-by-wally-bartfay/

Interviewed on “The Ranch” (Country and Western Show) with host Randie O’Neil (Episode 6). North Carolina. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqUyo5T491M

Interviewed on “The Someone You Should Know” Podcast by host Rik Anthony (episode 131) https://someoneyoushouldknowpodcast.buzzsprout.com/2047151/14014991-episode-131-dr-wally-bartfay-the-rock-n-prof

TIMELESS

YOU'RE MY BEAUTIFUL

You're My Beautiful

Words by Margaret Deland.  Music by RoZita B.

Where do you think the Fairies go
To buy their blankets ere the snow?

When Autumn comes, with frosty days
The sorry shivering little Fays

Begin to think it’s time to creep
Down to their caves for Winter sleep.

But first they come from far and near
To buy, where shops are not too dear.

(The wind and frost bring prices down,
So Fall’s their time to come to town!)

Where on the hill-side rough and steep
Browse all day long the cows and sheep,

The mullein’s yellow candles burn
Over the heads of dry sweet fern:

All summer long the mullein weaves
His soft and thick and woolly leaves.

Warmer blankets were never seen
Than these broad leaves of fuzzy green—

(The cost of each is but a shekel
Made from the gold of honeysuckle!)

To buy their sheets and fine white lace
(With which to trim a pillow-case),

They only have to go next door,
Where stands a sleek brown spider’s store,

And there they find the misty threads
Ready to cut into sheets and spreads;

Then for a pillow, pluck with care
Some soft-winged seeds as light as air;

Just what they want the thistle brings,
But thistles are such surly things—

And so, though it is somewhat high,
The clematis the Fairies buy.

The only bedsteads that they need
Are silky pods of ripe milk-weed,

With hangings of the dearest things—
Autumn leaves, or butterflies’ wings!

And dandelions’ fuzzy heads
They use to stuff their feather beds;

And yellow snapdragons supply
The nightcaps that the Fairies buy,

To which some blades of grass they pin,
And tie them ‘neath each little chin.

Then, shopping done, the Fairies cry,
“Our Summer’s gone! oh sweet, good-bye!”

And sadly to their caves they go,
To hide away from Winter’s snow—

And then, though winds and storms may beat,
The Fairies’ sleep is warm and sweet!

The Fairies' Shopping

One of the most beautiful songs ever.

By the way, Mary's not dead. She's just napping.  This is a song of pure bliss and happiness.

Lyrics--Robert Burns
Music--Unknown
Arranged and sung by RoZita Berry

Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes
Flow gently, I'll sing thee a song in thy praise.
My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream
Flow gently sweet Afton, disturb not her dream.

Thou stock dove whose echo resound through the glen
Ye wild whistling blackbirds in yon thorny den
Thou green-crested lapwing, thy screaming forbear
I charge you, disturb not my slumbering fair.

How lofty, sweet Afton, thy neighboring hills
Far marked with the courses of clear winding rills
There daily I wander as noon rises high
My flocks and my Mary's sweet cot in my eye.

How pleasant thy banks and sweet valleys below
Where wild in the woodlands, the primroses blow
There oft, as mild evening creeps over the lea
The sweet scented birk shades my Mary and me.

Thy crystal stream, Afton, how lovely it glides
And winds by the cot where my Mary resides
How wanton the waters her snowy feet lave
As gathering sweet flowerets, she stems thy clear wave.

Flow gently sweet Afton among thy green braes
Flow gently sweet river, the theme of my lays
My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream
Flow gently sweet Afton, disturb not her dream.

Flow Gently

I just hope I at least did partial justice to this lovely lyric.

All Things Bright and Beautiful
Music by RoZita Berry
Words by Cecil F. Alexander

All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all

1. Each little flower that opens
Each little bird that sings
God made their glowing colors
And made their tiny wings
(Refrain)

2. The purple-headed mountains
The river running by
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky
(Refrain)

3. The cold wind in the winter
The pleasant summer sun
The ripe fruits in the garden:
God made them every one
(Refrain)

4. God gave us eyes to see them
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty
Who has made all things well.

Copyright 2024 by RoZita Berry.  All rights reserved.

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Watch the video clip for this track : www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSsW4L3VfaA
Maya Demarle: Vocal Improvisation (at the Recording she were 6 Years old) Franz Kuppler: Flute, Mekkbuda: Instruments, Editing

Maya II - Remastered (lost in universe, yearning to be at home)

Two of the sweetest melodies this side of heaven, combined into one:  "Over the Waves" (sometimes known as "Loveliest Night of the Year") by Cesar Rosas, and "Westphalia Waltz" by Cotton Collins.  Perfect for a wedding.

Waltz Medley

A country song I wrote.  Old style...yanno, REAL country.

I dreamed a-bout Tex-as late last night
trav'-ling back to a gen-tl-er time
I saw blue-bon-nets cov'r-ing the prair-ie so wide
Sun-flow-ers and grapes on the vine.
In-di-an blank-et and eve-ning prim-rose
rain lil-ies and cac-tus blooms too
But the fin-est vis-ion to see by far
stan-ding all a-lone, was you.

Now I'm dream-ing of Tex-as
from the east coast so far
and won-d'ring if you are too
As I look out my win-dow
at that lone eve-ning star
I'm dream-ing of Tex-as
and you.

We're danc-ing the two-step in each oth-er's arms
while mus-ic the barn gai-ly fills;
Now we're rid-ing our hors-es down a long dus-ty road
as the sun sinks be-hind rug-ged hills.
Then you whis-per your love 'neath the star stud-ded sky
It seems but a mo-ment a-go
Oh, why did that dream have to with-er and die
like a rose ly-ing un-der the snow.

Now I'm dream-ing of Tex-as
from the east coast so far
and won-d'ring if you are too
As I look out my win-dow
at that lone eve-ning star
I'm dream-ing of Tex-as
and you.

Now I'm dream-ing of Tex-as
from the east coast so far
and won-d'ring if you are too
As I look out my win-dow
at that lone eve-ning star
I'm dream-ing of Tex-as
and you.

Copyright@2018 by RoZita Howard Berry.  All rights reserved.

Dreaming of Texas

Ten Feet Tall

Listen to "Shadows on stereo" (Headphones, two speakers, etc)

Shadows

I am a composer, writer, poet, and singer/songwriter and have 5 albums out on CD Baby.   I also have 16 books on Amazon.com under the name RoZita Berry.  I live in Jonesboro and have 2 cats named Rufus and Hansel.

The Step

RoZita B

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