This composition is titled in appreciation of a series of various forms of flowing water, which I often meditate at throughout a trail near my home. There's more or less forms of flowing water to experience along the trail depending on the time of year & amounts of precipitation. 

Typically, I first encounter a muddy region; where in certain spots, when standing quietly, gurgling water can be heard flowing beneath the leaf litter & stones. Usually in spring, when saturated by melting snow, small trickling streams flow out of this muddy area and down a subtle hill into the forest below. 

The next stop along the pilgrimage of flowing water (as I eventually grew to affectionately nickname it) is another stream, with a somewhat stronger current, trickling in the form of several small waterfalls; over stones, sticks, and leaves.

A little ways beyond all this is a small brook (or maybe it's a large stream, I'm not entirely certain). The height of the body of water, as wells as the mellow flat sandy bottom creates little sounds to hear. While I find the sight of flowing water beneficial for meditation, the main meditative fuel of these pilgrimage spots is in their auditory experience. Though usually, if quiet enough, subtle trickles & gurgles can be heard. 

Shortly beyond that location is a large & energetic brook, with lots of varying tones & depths. 

And lastly, a little was further, lies a small boggy region; with lots of deep mud (which is fun to step into) & sphagnum moss. To the far corner of small bog-like zone are two small waterfall streams, which have a pleasant gentle bell-like trickle. 

I'm quite grateful to these series of flowing water locations for several very helpful meditations they've been the doorway to.

*I also thought that the title could be interpreted as a river's journey to an ocean. Where water molecules can journey together in the form of a river; with stops at varying bodies of water, until they eventually return to the mother source of all water.

Instruments:
Wildwood dulcitar, Burke tin whistle, Gold Tone tenor guitar, ghungroo bells, sleigh bells, tingsha bells, triangle, bodhran

The Pilgrimage Of Flowing Water

THE BOY - SKY BURNS

Everything by THE BOY

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SKY BURNS

A neoclassical testament to the value of retreat,
where silence gives birth to the most profound expressions,
contrapuncting the noise of our world.

This is the 2nd movement of my Symphony "Alive!".

Composed in the silence, solitude and fears of the Pandemic Lockdown.

Sigh of Retreat

English
This Movement IV of my Symphony No. 5 “Autumn” is a musical expression that tries to represent a day of work dedicated to the tasks of harvesting an abundant harvest in this especially productive season that nature offers us.

The action begins at dawn on the first day destined to collect the fruits expected during the year, when people begin to get up, get ready and go to the workplace to begin a promising day. The music begins by trying to describe the first light of day before the sun rises. Then, at 2:35, the Harp announces the dawn with the appearance of the first rays of sunlight, to which other instruments and the choirs join, which together foretell a radiant and beautiful day; Once the solar disk is above the horizon, flute trills can be heard that attempt to represent the birdsong…

The waltz that follows at dawn symbolises the harvesting work, in which, as the day progresses, the different stages of these tasks occur, where the castanets add a touch of festivity and celebration for this year's good harvest until the work day ends, night falls and a new day begins… at dawn…


Español
Este Mov. IV de mi Sinfonía No. 5 “Otoño” es una expresión musical que trata de representar un día de trabajo dedicado a las labores de recolección de una abundante cosecha en esta estación especialmente productiva que nos ofrece la naturaleza.

La acción comienza al alba en el primer día destinado a recoger los frutos esperados durante el año, cuando las gentes comienzan a levantarse, prepararse y dirigirse al lugar de trabajo para comenzar una jornada prometedora. La música comienza tratando de describir la primera luz del día antes de salir el sol. A continuación, en el momento 2:35, el Arpa anuncia el amanecer con la aparición de los primeros rayos solares a la cual se suman otros instrumentos y los coros, que juntos presagian un día radiante y hermoso; una vez el disco solar se encuentra por encima del horizonte, se escuchan trinos de flautas que tratan de representar en canto de los pájaros…

El vals que sigue al amanecer, simboliza las labores de recogida de la cosecha en la que a medida que va avanzando el día se suceden las distintas etapas propias de estas tareas, donde las castañuelas aportan un toque de fiesta y celebración por la buena cosecha de este año hasta que finaliza la jornada de trabajo, llega la noche y comienza un nuevo día… al Alba….

The Harvest

Sinf. No. 5- Mov. IV - The Harvest

Are you a hopeless romantic?  I think this piece reflects the feelings of the expectation, hopes and dreams in a budding romance. And, the intense vulnerability of each partner. I read "a hopeless romantic is someone who is idealistic about romantic love and hopes for a fairytale ending".  If you have experienced heartache or a failed marriage, you know this isn't always true.  But the power of love pulls us back in ways unexpected.  Have no regrets, seeking love is worth it!

Romance

Words and Music by Roger Whittlesey. Bass by Noel Barrett. All other sounds by Whittlesey.  2024.

The Minutes of Night

Singing video: https://youtu.be/gFoG4xCyUc4

Opera

Regnava nel silenzio

Regnava nel silenzio - Quando rapito in estasi

Inspiration No. 06
Here's another little short tune for your enjoyment.

Inspiration

Inspiration No. 06

Sunday Afternoon

Dark Ages

Reflections on like, growing old, a little sad, but I think we all share emotions of good and bad times.

I Don,t Like Tomorrow Today

Original compositions played upon various acoustic instruments. 

At the moment, the majority of music I record is original folk tunes. Most of these tunes arise whilst out in natural ecosystems or shortly after visiting a natural ecosystem. The titles often reflect an aspect of the ecosystem I had noticed while the tune came about. Lately this is usually a species of bird.

Tin whistles and flutes appear the most often in my recordings; though mandolin, tenor guitar, lyre harp, jaw harp, dulcitar, and a handful of other instruments show up fairly often as well.

And here's some more music I've made along with my friend Dan Jones:
https://soundcloud.com/user-453898279

The Pilgrimage Of Flowing Water

Zach Schneider