Corridors of Shifting Trails

Concealed

A group of astronomer-priests mark the three stars of Orion's belt Mintaka, Alnilam and Alnitak rise one by one exactly where they had predicted over their shiny new megaliths but the night sky is dominated by an unwelcome visitor. 

Mintaka rises
Mintaka shine true

Magi breathe
a solstice prayer
of scrit on bone
this moonfrost eve.

A foxtail star 
rules the sky
All fear the dawn
ere fox may fall

Alnilam rises
Alnilam shine true

A dance begins
with sombre step
to drumbeat heart
with faith in stone

A foxtail star
rules the sky
All fear the dawn
ere fox may fall.

Alnitak  rises
Alnitak  shine true

Magi breathe
a solstice prayer
of scrit on bone
This moonfrost day...


I've used the Arabic names for the stars because I could not pronounce the Sumerian ones but even those would not be as old as I would want and a 'foxtail star' is of course a comet. 

The Pyramids of Giza and those of Teotihuacan, the stones of Nabta Playa and the three great circles of Thornborough Henge in sleepy North Yorkshire all align perfectly with the stars of Orion's belt. 

The 'scrit' on the 'Ishango bone' unearthed in the Congo is thought to be a lunar calender. It dates to  c 20,000 BC. 

https://earthsky.org/human-world/prehistoric-cave-art-suggests-ancient-use-complex-astronomy/

Quote...
A new study says that some of the world’s oldest cave paintings reveal that ancient people had relatively advanced knowledge of astronomy. According to the new analysis, some of the paintings are not simply depictions of wild animals, as was previously thought. Instead, the animal symbols represent star constellations in the night sky, and are used to represent dates and mark events such as comet strikes...

Astronomy in the stone age. Protecting your tribe from calamity was once a serious business. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqXOsbuupMs

Hazy excerpt

Across the sulphur light

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.
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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

Inspired by the Laibach / Mina Špiler version my take on the wonderful Beatles song. ☮

Across the universe

Cover of the old Bacharach and David song. Entailed the deconstruction of a midi file and the addition of organ, classical guitar and lovely brass, amongst other things.

Walk On By

Johnson and Son. - 'No one asks for more money 'cause nobody dares, even though they're pretty low and the rents in arears.'

A cover of Cat Stevens' Mathew and Son. A whimsy on what it might be like to work in a small company owned by Boris Johnson and Donald Trump A zero hour contract would be standard, and undoubtedy you would spend your days hoping for a bone and expecting a kick. Such is life.

Johnson And Son

A loose collection of virtual musicians writers and p*ss artists based 'up North.'. Sometimes affiliated to the local virtual progressive rock band The Crimson Kings and the virtual  and less progressive Shy Vikings. Ronnie2010ist is PA to Ronnie Millions the manager of The Secret Red Orchestra. Raison D'etre - to keep the dysfunctional members of the band in some kind of order. A thankless task.
Infulenced by Robert Fripp, King Crimson,Yes, Alan Hull, Lindisfarne, Genisis, Led Zeppelin, Caravan (Through the Land of the Grey and Pink, where only boyscouts stop to think, etc.) Brian Eno, Rick Wakeman, The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, Vic Reeves and  Bob Mortimer (local heroes), Dylan Thomas and last but not least, The Irate Pirates Steering Committee.