Nestled in a tranquil valley, Rievaulx Abbey was one of England's most powerful Cistercian monasteries. Ethereal, female voices combined with a hypnotic acoustic guitar and harp help to create a peaceful and nostalgic atmosphere.
1500 years of history. Whitby Abbey has inspired artists, writers, religious leaders... and Dracula! A moody piano introduction, combined with atmospheric effects, leads into a fuller orchestral section reflecting Whitby's importance on the Yorkshire coast. A lone female soprano sings and gazes out to sea, creating a haunting, cinematic feel.
The iconic Stonehenge needs very little introduction! Hammond B3 organ opens this upbeat track creating a religious hymn-like feel. This is soon replaced with a piano-based tune and sweeping strings. Drums and synth join in and lead to the main piano riff with it's optimistic melody that drives the music forward, combined with a Moog synth for nostalgia!
This track is inspired by the faded glory of South Yorkshire's wonderful stately home, Brodsworth Hall. A yearning piano melody opens the piece and leads to a solo, female voice, reminding us of the last inhabitant of the hall, Sylvia Grant-Dalton. Lush strings then enter and we are lead into a romantic, dreamy atmosphere, guaranteed to reduce the blood pressure! After another piano interlude, the dreamy strings return, now combined with the piano playing beautiful cascading scales as a counterpoint.
Mount Grace Priory is tucked away at the foot of the Cleveland Hills and is a magical place to visit. It is the best preserved Carthusian priory in England. It has everything: fantastic gardens designed by Chris Beardshaw, a reconstructed monk's cell, a manor house... and stoats! The music begins with tolling bells, chanting monks and two repetitive, hypnotic, piano riffs. Male voices enter on cue, creating a religious atmosphere. Dreamy flute then takes us to a world now long gone.
Kirkham Priory lies a short drive away from my studio. It's a beautiful, riverside ruin, formerly an Augustinian Priory. Even Winston Churchill visited... secretly! The piece begins with strange sounds and male voices. Soon, the piano enters and is joined by snippets of woodwind melodies weaving around each other. The mood changes as we enter a minor key section before a glorious vista unfolds and we hear a beautiful melody played on the flute, supported by lush strings. Once again we are drawn back to the opening mood and the minor key, unsettling feeling. The voices of monks enter at the very end as they disappear back into the past!
The Honour of Richmond is an English, feudal baronry granted to Count Alan Rufus by William the Conqueror for his services during the conquest. Set in the North West of Yorkshire, Richmond Castle is one of the greatest Norman fortresses in Britain. This music was inspired by the story of the drummer boy who, after discovering a tunnel inside the castle, climbed down into the tunnel and tried to lead his fellow soldiers (above ground) along its route by beating his drum. Eventually, the drumming stopped and he was never heard from again! In memory of the drummer boy, the music begins with an insistent snare drum beating out the route. Strings and choir enter creating a tense, dramatic atmosphere. A brief interlude gives some respite as we hear 2 trumpets locked in a duet. However, it doesn't last long and we are soon dragged back to the military drumming and powerful choir, now joined by the dueting trumpets. The last word comes from the drummer boy as his ghostly snare drum fades into history!
Perched on the side of a beautiful valley in the Yorkshire Wolds, Wharram Percy is one of the largest and best preserved of Britain's deserted medieval villages and a favourite walking spot of mine! For some reason, this landscape seems to generate musical ideas in my mind. I come here when I need a shot of inspiration! Wharram Percy is one of the largest, best preserved and most famous deserted medieval villages in Britain. Buzzing strings create the impression of a cloud of flies in the Summer sun. Gradually, the piano leads us out into a beautiful, major key landscape.
We venture out of Yorkshire for this piece of music and head back to my Cumbrian roots! Castlerigg Stone Circle is one of the earliest British stone circles (3000 BC) and is probably the most dramatically sited with the mighty Helvellyn as a backdrop. It is a very mysterious place and holds some wonderful memories from my childhood! Strange sounds gradually emerge and take us into this neolithic world. Dramatic string patterns combine with piano and chanting male voices. Suddenly, a beautiful soprano voice enters and gives us a birds eye view over the surrounding mountains and lakes. The ominous strings return, together with humming male voices, and create a sense of urgency and mystery. The music ends in a wash of voices and strings and gradually fades into the past like many of the pieces on this album.