2024 Remix and Remaster version to bring it up to the standard of the later album tracks for full album release in 2025.
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"A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine - From the fury of the Northmen deliver us, O Lord"

This track is now part of "The Pilgrims Way Project" exploring the history and natural world of Lindisfarne

Project Playlist

soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki/sets/the-pilgrims-way-project

Project Website

www.pilgrims-way.co.uk

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Instrumentation
The Vikings! instrumental features rolled timpani, strings, electric guitar and a choir ending. Various sound FX from that are classed as Public Domain are used to add colour to the track from www.freesound.org

creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

"Flock of Seagulls" by juskiddink (5th June 2010) licensed under creative commons attribution licence via www.freesound.org

creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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Background
Simeon of Durham recorded the grim events of the Viking attack on Lindisfarne in 793 AD

"And they came to the church of Lindisfarne, laid everything waste with grievous plundering, trampled the holy places with polluted feet, dug up the altars and seized all the treasures of the holy church. They killed some of the brothers; some they took away with them in fetters; many they drove out, naked and loaded with insults; and some they drowned in the sea" .
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'The Vikings' was in direct contrast to the dreamy first piece of the album. I came across a Latin Phrase spoken by priests as a prayer of protection from the scourge of Viking raids. It helped me get into the mindset required for this piece. I chanced upon some 'Foley' material of some actual Viking re-enactors from freesound and used this to create a very short, brooding piece that explodes into an electric guitar solo before just being suddenly left with a voiceover of me chanting the Latin phrase against the backdrop of the sound of the sea.

Often Viking raids were short and bloody and I wanted to try and capture how an attack like this could change everything for the vulnerable monks. Faith was their shield but could it really protect them from these savages from the sea ?

The Vikings - 2024 Remix and Remaster

2024 Remix and Remaster version to bring it up to the standard of the later album tracks for full album release in 2025.
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Lindisfarne has always held a special fascination for my wife and I, so it is no surprise to me that I would eventually create some music about it. Hopefully you can be swept away by the music but not the tide ;-)

This track is now the first track of the "The Pilgrims Way Project" exploring the history and natural world of Lindisfarne

Project Playlist

soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki/sets/the-pilgrims-way-project

Project Website

www.pilgrims-way.co.uk

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Instrumentation
The Pilgrims Way Instrumental features Low Whistle, coupled with the sound of strings waves and the wheeling of seagulls overhead. It also features Shevvanai Voice of the Elves VST. (Lara Ausensi)

"Flock of Seagulls by juskiddink (5th June 2010) licensed under creative commons attribution licence via freesound.org

creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Thanks to Redmando, Leonard Scaper and the Songwriters in the Kitchen Forum for the spark
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Background
Ever since 635, when King Oswald gave the Holy Island of Lindisfarne to St Aidan to establish his monastery, the island has been a place of pilgrimage. The road was not constructed until 1954 and until then the vertical poles were the only indicators of the safe route between the mainland and island. The sight of the poles stretching across the sand and mud is one of the most iconic views in Northumberland and to walk the route away from the road and follow in the footsteps of our medieval ancestors is a wonderful experience.

With 'The Pilgrims Way', there was actually very little research involved. Lindisfarne was a place both my wife and I loved and it was really created from a simple low whistle melody. I also included 'Foley' sounds to help in the immersion for the listener. Having got some initial positive feedback from some musical friends, I decided to try and create a series of pieces based around Lindisfarne. Given it's history and unique natural setting, there seemed plenty of material to go at.

The Pilgrims Way - 2024 Remix and Remaster

2024 Remix and Remaster version to bring it up to the standard of the later album tracks for full album release in 2025.

This track also need a bit of a rewrite too as some elements of the original just didn't work. A change of VST instrumentation including the use of Dicky Degan's Uilleann Pipes and some work on understanding pipe ornaments has brought it up to a standard I am now happy with.  
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An Irish-tinged tune about the Lindisfarne Gospels to reflect the Irish foundations of the community despite the later Romanisation of the Celtic church.

The track title comes from me thinking about it being a beacon of civilisation, a rallying point, during the Early Middle Ages whilst a far chunk of the UK was under Viking rule and Christianity had again been pushed to the margins of the UK.

Thanks to Karen O'Mahony (MonnoDB) for her (harp playing) advice - check out her stuff here:- @monnodb

This track is now part of "The Pilgrims Way Project" exploring the history and natural world of Lindisfarne

Project Playlist

soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki/sets/the-pilgrims-way-project

Project Website

www.pilgrims-way.co.uk

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Instrumentation
A Light in the Darkness instrumental features strings, high C whistle, harp, violin, Uilleann pipes, bodhrán (Irish frame drum) and a choir backing.

The sound of 'Eadfrith' doing his writing is a sound FX that is classed as Public Domain and used to add colour to the track, It can be found on www.freesound.org

creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

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Background
The Lindisfarne Gospels is an illuminated manuscript gospel book probably produced around the years 715-720 in the monastery at Lindisfarne, off the coast of Northumberland, which is now in the British Library in London. The manuscript is one of the finest works in the unique style of Hiberno-Saxon or Insular art, combining Mediterranean, Anglo-Saxon and Celtic elements.

The Lindisfarne Gospels are presumed to be the work of a monk named Eadfrith, who became Bishop of Lindisfarne in 698 and died in 721 AD.

Thinking Irish music lead to the inclusion of harp, bodhrán, uilleann pipes and a bit of whistle, all over a bed of strings and choir. The Foley sound of somebody writing with a quill pen set the scene and once I had the basic melody I was away. I took advice from a harpist on how they play chords and read up on Uilleann pipe drones and playing ornamentation too.

A Light In The Darkness - 2024 Rewrite Remix and Remaster

2024 Remix and Remaster version to bring it up to the standard of the later album tracks for full album release in 2025.
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With The North Shore I hope to give a feel of that 'magical interface' between land and sea, a place apart from the hustle and bustle of life where your soul can find peace for a while. A natural world full of wonder for those with the time and inclination to see.

This track is now part of "The Pilgrims Way Project" exploring the history and natural world of Lindisfarne.

Project Playlist

soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki/sets/the-pilgrims-way-project

Project Website

www.pilgrims-way.co.uk

(Semi-Finalist in the Instrumental category in the UK Songwriting Contest 2018)

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Instrumentation
The North Shore instrumental features low whistle, DADGAD tuned acoustic guitar, strings, choir backing, violin and synthesizer

A sea waves sound FX that is classed as Public Domain is used to add colour to the track from www.freesound.org

This recording was actually done at Bamburgh, just down the coast from Lindisfarne island.

creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

"Flock of Seagulls" by juskiddink (5th June 2010) licensed under creative commons attribution licence via www.freesound.org

creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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Background
The 'semi-hidden' North Shore of Lindisfarne is driven past by tourists every day, eager to see the 'sites' of the Island in their race against time before the tide cuts them off from the mainland. It is part of the Lindisfarne Natural Nature Reserve and its shifting sands and tides combine to create the 3500 hectares of dunes, saltmarsh and mudflats of the Reserve, home to a fascinating array of birdlife, seals, rare orchids and other wildlife. To experience it you need to spend time on the island, either by choosing to be cut off by an early tide or ideally stay on the island for a while.

The North Shore - 2024 Remix and Remaster

2024 Remix and Remaster version to bring it up to the standard of the later album tracks for full album release in 2025.
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This track is dedicated to the memory of Chris A and the time that was 'Elidor'. "I hope you are flying somewhere with that big grin on your face"

This track was very much a collision of ideas. I wanted to follow on from The North Shore and actually take the listener into the air to experience the feeling and freedom of flying like a bird. Additionally the track title "Flight of Fancy" was the title of an original instrumental played by a band I was in in the early 80's. The keyboard player in that band is sadly no longer with us, so I decided to try and reinvent the spirit of that time as a musical tribute to Chris.

Enjoy your Flight of Fancy :-)

This track is now part of "The Pilgrims Way Project" exploring the history and natural world of Lindisfarne.

Project Playlist

soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki/sets/the-pilgrims-way-project

Project Website

www.pilgrims-way.co.uk

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Instrumentation

(i) Sunrise (0:00 - 0:58)
Part One of the track features strings, brass from my new orchestral library Albion One by Spitfire Audio and timpani. It also includes an additional brass VST from Halion Sonic (Cubase).

(ii) The Shoreline At Dawn (0:59 - 2:28)
Part Two features Albion One Strings (muted - con sordini) and Woodwinds, Synthesizer and Electric Guitar

(iii) Into The Air (2:29 - 6:42)
Part Three has Strings (Longs and Ostinato), Synthesizer, Electric Guitar, Bass, Drums (Simon Phillips Studio Drums in Groove Agent) and a Choir Backing.

Various seabird sound FX that is classed as Public Domain are used to add colour to this part of the track from www.freesound.org

creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

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Background

This track seemed to naturally evolve into three discrete sections with a different musical flavour to each part.

(i) Sunrise (0:00 - 0:58)
As the title suggests, it is my musical imagining of sunrise on the beach with all the grandeur of a new day dawning. A big orchestral sound and timpani seemed the way to go.

(ii) The Shoreline At Dawn (0:59 - 2:28)
Part Two has a much more muted sound as nature begins to stir with the dawn and musically this part acts as a linking section between parts one and three.

(iii) Into The Air (2:29 - 6:42)
Finally we are into the air and I wanted to give a feeling of flying by the use of rising chords sequences and a string ostinato (a recurring rhythmic or melodic pattern). I also wanted to give a nod to the original Flight of Fancy so it has a variation of the main guitar riff I played back in the early 80's, some interwoven guitar and keyboard parts and harmony with underlying jazzy drum and bass parts.

Flight Of Fancy - 2024 Remix and Remaster

2024 Remix and Remaster version to bring it up to the standard of the later album tracks for full album release in 2025.
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The surviving medieval priory Lindisfarne is the focus for this track. The priory was re-established in Norman times in 1093 as a Benedictine house and continued until its suppression in 1536 under Henry VIII. The original priory of St Cuthbert's time was long gone by then following the location of the relics of the saint as a result of the Viking scourge.

Inspired by "The Rainbow Arch", the track takes it's name from this surviving rib of the crossing vault that survived when the tower above it collapsed. The photo of this arch was taken on one of my visits to Lindisfarne.

This track is now part of "The Pilgrims Way Project" exploring the history and natural world of Lindisfarne.

Project Playlist

soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki/sets/the-pilgrims-way-project

Project Website

www.pilgrims-way.co.uk

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Instrumentation

The Rainbow Arch instrumental features strings, violin, flute, a choir backing, synthesizer pad (quite Floyd -like) and uilleann pipes. There was no historical reason to use the pipes as the Irish monks were long gone. It was more to do with the mixture of sounds in this piece. It felt right to my ears. It also features my best approximation of multitracked chanting.

The Bell ringing sound FX is classed as Public Domain and is used to add colour to the track from www.freesound.org

creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

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Background

"The bell is rung for mass and the monks assemble. Whilst singing the chant they gaze up at the rainbow arch and their spirits soar."

I wanted to get inside the feeling of the monks in this holy place and was inspired by the surviving rainbow arch to do multiple parts singing the 'Kyrie Eleison' with different vocal timbres and link that into a rapture type section.

The Rainbow Arch - 2024 Remix and Remaster

2024 Remix and Remaster version to bring it up to the standard of the later album tracks for full album release in 2025.
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By Castle Walls - © P Goodrich 2019

"When Summer sun shines on your face
By Castle Walls I feel your grace
When bees alight on golden thrones
By Castle Walls 'twixt sea and stone"
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The Gertrude Jekyll garden, near to Lindisfarne Castle is the focus of this track. Now owned by the National Trust, originally it was a walled garden that was first constructed by troops manning the castle, presumably as far back as the 1500s or 1600s, to grow food.

In 1902, the Country Life magazine founder and owner Edward Hudson took out a lease from the Crown on Lindisfarne Castle and commissioned his friend, the architect Edwin Lutyens, to transform the Castle into a holiday home in which Hudson could entertain during his summer visits.

In 1911, Hudson decided to restore the old walled garden to use as a place to enjoy. Lutyens brought in his regular collaborator, Gertrude Jekyll to undertake the design work

This track is now part of "The Pilgrims Way Project" exploring the history and natural world of Lindisfarne.

Project Playlist

soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki/sets/the-pilgrims-way-project

Project Website

www.pilgrims-way.co.uk

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Instrumentation

By Castle Walls instrumental feature strings, cello, alto flute, alto F low whistle, english horn, piano, harp, alto glockenspiel, bass guitar, harpsichord and a mixed choir backing. It also features my initial poem voice-over and 'bees ensemble' :-)

The buzzing bees sound FX is classed as Public Domain and is used to add colour to the track from www.freesound.org

creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

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Background

In my head I had the idea of trying to capture the feeling of guests of Hudson, (or modern day visitors) walking around the garden on a late Summer afternoon, possibly stopping to listen to the bees, busy at work, collecting honey.

The poem came out of that thought which then inspired the musical direction of the piece.

I imagined the first part, idyllic, tranquil, moving to section where you just focus in on the bees and everyday life slips away for a while. This is followed by a grander 'promenade ending', where I imagined Hudson's guests strolling around in the late afternoon sun.

By Castle Walls - 2024 Remix and Remaster

2024 Remix and Remaster version to bring it up to the standard of the later album tracks for full album release in 2025.
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This Cinematic-style Celtic Fantasy is loosely based around an ancient Celtic gathering on Lindisfarne and had me researching the Common Brittonic language to get some interesting 'Foley' sounds. It was spoken in Britain and Brittany and eventually developed into Old Welsh, Cumbric, Cornish, and Breton. It also features my long suffering wife who over time has become a quasi- Foley artist and harmony part singer for me.

The Metheglin of the title is the oil that makes the celebration happen and is a type of spiced mead, so basically fermented honey with spices added. It also obliquely connects to Lindisfarne mead and also the bees featured in 'By Castle Walls'.

I wanted to get a sort of cinematic feel to be dropped into a Celtic Festival or feast day and I hoped the language and children's laughter would aid in the immersion. Finally in this project I get to do a fair bit of bouzouki playing which was a plus.

So hopefully you will enjoy the feast .... "búwa slanos ac swos"

This track is now part of "The Pilgrims Way Project" exploring the history and natural world of Lindisfarne.

Project Playlist

soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki/sets/the-pilgrims-way-project

Project Website

www.pilgrims-way.co.uk

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Instrumentation

A Taste of Metheglin features low and high whistles, harp, strings, violin, alto-flute, a choir backing and bouzouki. Percussion consists of bodhrán, clapping, various taps and knocks, shaker and even tapping on my acoustic guitar.

Vocal FX is a combination of Brittonic vocalisations and a backing line from the Soundiron 'Voices of Gaia' collection featuring the vocal talents of Linda Strawberry.

Some of the percussion sounds come from the excellent playable VST instrument set "Flying Hands Percussion" by HandHeld Sound

A sea waves sound FX and children laughing FX that are classed as Public Domain are used to add colour to the track from www.freesound.org

creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

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Background

This track is a combination of VST-based instrumentation and real-playing of instruments with additional clapping, tapping and knocking, all overlaid with original Foley sounds.

I wanted to try and get a well developed rhythmic feel and maybe the feel of circular dancing that hopefully comes out from the track.

A Taste Of Metheglin - 2024 Remix and Remaster

2024 Remix and Remaster version to bring it up to the standard of the later album tracks for full album release in 2025.
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On Lindisfarne, there is a ridge of land called 'The Heugh' made out of unyielding igneous rock. It is not particularly high but from this viewpoint you can see the Castle, the Abbey, St Cuthbert's Island, in fact most of the sights of the otherwise flat Lindisfarne. The old coastguard station is now an observation platform. I wanted to use this piece to describe the view as experienced by a modern tourist but also give a reflective nod to the old herring and general fishing industry of the past.

This is an interesting link all about it

www.islandshirearchives.org.uk/content/a…-heritage

This track is now part of "The Pilgrims Way Project" exploring the history and natural world of Lindisfarne.

Thanks to Fiona from Lionheart Radio for playing this track on her show

www.lionheartradio.com/

Project Playlist

soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki/sets/the-pilgrims-way-project

Project Website

www.pilgrims-way.co.uk

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Instrumentation

The High on the Heugh instrumental feature strings, cello, alto flute, high whistle, harp, bouzouki, concertina, choir, bodhrán and water pumpkins.

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Background

I wanted to start this piece with an ascent section so it includes a climbing motif that leads the listener up to the top of the Heugh. There they can reflect on the view of St Cuthbert's Island etc.

The next section introduces the idea of starting to think about the vanished fishing industry so I used the concertina, an instrument often used by sailors, to start painting this picture. It also adds in the bouzouki supporting the harp and supported by various strings.

Then it's into a hornpipe section and and it's a much more lively section as the listeners imagination takes free reign and features a bouzouki solo. It builds to a climax before the final melancholic reprise. This final reprise reflects on a lost time as it guides the listener back to the present day.

High On The Heugh - 2024 Remix and Remaster

2024 Remaster version for full album release in 2025.
 
This final track of the album acts as a bookend to the project, departing via the causeway after arriving over the sands in the first track, 'The Pilgrim's Way'.

The idea behind this piece is exploring the duality of the causeway and of Lindisfarne itself. Sometimes the causeway is below the water and sometimes above. Lindisfarne is in turn an island cut off from the modern world, then reconnected for a while before the cycle repeats itself.

Connection versus isolation, spiritual versus material, water and dry land in balance, governed by the ever changing tides. Even the concept of the water itself somehow holding echoes of past times and the call of of the natural world. This last idea is also a convenient way to reprise some of the 'Foley' sounds from the rest of the album, a worthy goal for the last track of this project. This piece is truly eclectic in nature so please enjoy the journey.

This track is now part of "The Pilgrims Way Project" exploring the history and natural world of Lindisfarne.

Project Playlist
soundcloud.com/mrbouzouki/sets/the-pilgrims-way-project

Project Website
www.pilgrims-way.co.uk

Photo by Paul Everitt ... "an early morning golden hour" of the Causeway. (used with permission). As I said to Paul "This picture of yours just seems to capture the spirit of the piece I'm creating".

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Instrumentation

Causeway Dreams features strings, cello, alto flute, C flute, French horn, English horn, alto F whistle, harp, DADGAD acoustic guitar, piano, St Peter's choir, Shevvanai, timpani, Northumbrian smallpipes, bodhrán and water pumpkins. Also including vocal phrases from Shevannai and Voices of Gaia (Linda Strawberry).

Additionally, various 'Foley' sounds including featuring ones from other tracks of the project.
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Background

When composing instrumental music you can often find yourself separating a piece into various thematic sections to create a journey for the listener. 'Causeway Dreams' breaks down into six sections. One of them is very short, (A Meeting of Worlds) but this crucially acts as a musical nexus or balance point in the music,

1) Into the Depths
The journey begins by plunging the listener below the water of the covered causeway, an alien world where the natural world, history and spiritual feelings all fuse together in the restless sea. The power of the sea is very much a feature in this first section. There is peril for the unwary, man cannot control this element of nature, only react to it's moods.

2) In a Place of Wonder
This lighter section featuring harp and flute introduces a feeling of wonder as you remain below the water with the creatures that call the sea their home.

3) Island Echoes
Still below the water you begin to hear echoes of 'Foley' sounds from previous tracks in the project brought together in this underwater realm, suggesting a merging of history and nature, an 'island memory', captured in the surrounding water of the island. At the end of this section you begin to ascend back towards the emerging causeway.

4) A Meeting of Worlds
As you emerge from the water you are in that moment of balance between the two worlds. The voice you first heard in 'The Pilgrims Way' is ready to lead you home.

5) Travelling Home
As the sea finally recedes, the rolling feel of acoustic DADGAD guitar and low whistle feature to lead the listener as you travel across the now fully uncovered causeway back towards the Northumbrian mainland.

6) The Call of the Coast
As you travel further along the causeway, you hear the sound of Northumbrian pipes over a boisterous bodhrán backing. The mainland is calling to you but the voice you first heard in the Pilgrims Way soars as a final reminder of this special place.

Causeway Dreams - 2024 Remix and Remaster

A collection of songs, instrumentals and orchestral pieces charting my adventures in home studio recording and production.  All original compositions using voice, acoustic and electric guitar (sometimes using altered tunings), bouzouki, low and high whistles and MIDI instrumentation. 

I'm also using VST instrumentation to create classical compositions and integrating orchestral sounds into my songs and instrumentals.

Links to various instrumental projects and other Social Media links are available below.

The current collaborative YouTube channel with Dee Zee is here:-

https://www.youtube.com/@DeeZeeandMrB

New tracks tagged #The Pilgrims Way Project