Spirit of the
Mountain
Table of Contents
Description of the Spirit of the Mountain CD
Track List and Song Samples
Reviews
In this, his second CD release, Harrison Edwards has created a collection of songs, which capture the essence of the Hawk Mountain experience. As you stand on North Lookout, and gaze out over the breathtaking valley below, you can feel your connection with the majesty and beauty of nature. The sounds of echoing grand pianos, vibrant acoustic guitars, string sections, flutes, and a wide array of percussion connect the listener with the Spirit of the Mountain, inviting you to soar with the thousands of hawks and migratory raptors as they pass over Hawk Mountain each year during their fall migration.
The sanctuary at Hawk Mountain in Kempton, Pennsylvania is the world's most preeminent site for the study of migrating birds of prey. Through a series musical compositions, Harrison tells the story of Hawk Mountain from its beginning in the early 1900's, to the impact of Rosalie Edge - the founder of the sanctuary, and the arrival of Maurice and Irma Broun - the original caretakers of the mountain. The CD continues its story with a journey from fall migration through the arrival of winter, and into the return of the raptors in the spring. To learn more about Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, click here to visit their web site
Track
List & Song Samples
Click here to go
to Harrison's artist page on an alternate site to listen to selected songs from the Spirit
of the Mountain CD, in mp3 format. To return to this web site, click on the "http://www.arturimrecords.com"
link in the Artist URL section, or use your internet browser's Back button.
| Song Titles | The story behind the song |
| Spirit
of the Mountain |
Asleep for eons, the Spirit of the Mountain awakens to watch over the natural wonder of Hawk Mountain. As you gaze out over the valley, you can feel your connection with nature and the Spirit of the Mountain. |
| Spirit of the Wind | The Spirit of the Wind exhales a soft breeze that blankets the Mountain, as the sound of wind chimes can be heard in the distance. The migrating raptors sense the breeze as it picks up in intensity, and begin streaming southward. As the breeze dies down, the sound of wind chimes can again be heard, fading away with the distant wind. |
| On Broken Wings | Hawk Mountain was not always the peaceful place it has now become. During the early 1900’s, it was marked by the slaughter of thousands of migrating raptors each fall as people would gather on the mountaintop and shoot birds for sport. “On Broken Wings” was written to capture the sadness of the killing of these beautiful creatures. In the background throughout specific passages of the song, gunshots can be heard echoing over the valley. |
| Empty
Skies |
After the shooting had stopped, I can only imagine how unnaturally empty the skies must have appeared. |
| Rosalie’s Vision | This song was inspired by Rosalie Edge, the founder of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, a woman whose will and determination put an end to the hunting of migratory birds over the mountain. |
| The Brouns Arrive | Their eyes wide with amazement, Maurice and Irma Broun arrived into the beautiful valley that would become their home. This song captures the sense of wonder on their journey to a new home, and the excitement they must have felt as they arrived at the place where they would become the caretakers of the Mountain. |
| Sanctuary | This song was inspired by a mental image of Maurice and Irma Broun standing on North Lookout facing east in early December, following the first fall migration free of birds being hunted. The soft voices of angels beckon the sunrise, and the last of the birds migrating south stream overhead as a light snow begins to fall over the valley. |
| North Lookout | From the high vantage point above the Lehigh Valley known as North Lookout, people gather every fall to experience the migration. On a cool autumn day, this is the place to be. This song was inspired by the dawn over North Lookout, as the heavy mist that fills the valley gives way to the rising sun. |
| Southern Migration | The image in my mind when I wrote this song was to imagine standing on North Lookout, arms spread out wide, eyes closed, facing into the wind, and then falling forward under my own weight, drifting out into the sky and floating through the wind with the migrating raptors as they fly south for the winter. |
| The Broadwings | In mid-September the arrival of the Broadwings is a much anticipated event. They circle over North Lookout in large “kettles” numbering in the hundreds. This song has a meandering sense to it, capturing the image of the Broadwings as they fly overhead, while riding the thermals. |
| Winter Skies | By the time early December rolls in, the majority of the raptors will have passed over Hawk Mountain. With the exception of a few “locals” who remain for the winter, the skies will be relatively empty until the spring. |
| Spring Flight | With the return of spring, the raptors begin their journey home. From the rocks at North Lookout, they can be seen flying northward. |
Spirit of the Mountain Reviews
Magazine and e-zine Reviews:
| "We reviewed Harrison's work earlier, in issue # 50 ("Parallel Path") It was inspiring then, & even more-so on this CD. All new compositions that highlight his meditations and thoughts, turned to music, from visits to the "Hawk Mountain Sanctuary" (which I assume is in his local area). If your ears are not carried away with the beauty he plays, you're too far gone to retrieve. His compositional skills have matured wonderfully since the last album we reviewed, with deeply sensitive orchestral backgrounds flourished with all manner of energy and life - there are shades of Irish, as well as Native American spirits in here, too. "Spirit Of The Mountain" progresses far beyond "new age", and moves into brand new areas of skill for Mr. Edwards. There are sections where I am reminded of music(s) by my friend Harlan Mark Vale.... Harrison uses more strings than Mark, though, and has the ability to make you hear the mountains pushing their majestic tops through the clouds. This is a very relaxing sonic experience that merits a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating from our ears. ...." Improvijazzation Nation - Dick Metcalf |
| "...Drawing on some impressionistic nature ideas for inspiration, Edwards knows his music and has the chops to back it up. One of those good music records that doesn't fit the format but creates a space all it's own, adult ears are sure to perk up when this is wafting by. Tasty throughout." Midwest Record Recap - Chris Spector |
| "....Indeed, this 56 minute disc is chock full of wide-open instrumentals that really blow the wind for you. Anyone with half a brain will be able to feel the other elements combine with this more than upbeat new age music. It is quite obviously music for climbing mountains: the journey, and the relaxation at the top. You should pick your own tracks for what gets you up there, and what keeps you there. Harrison knows how to create music with a personality that goes beyond surrealness. Acoustic guitars, flutes, strings, percussion and a plethora of probable keyboard effects keep these 12 tracks not only interesting, but necessary as a whole. I personally look forward to more thematic music from this guy....." The Muses Muse - Ben Ohmart |
| "Harrison Edwards' Spirit of the Mountain is a dynamic, passion-filled "contemporary electronic music (CEM)" album.... Edwards excels at infusing his passion and love of the outdoors (and Hawk Mountain, in particular) into these twelve tracks. The music is visual and evocative, whether it's the high energy of the opening title song (which begins as a soft ambient/new age music piece and quickly becomes dynamic and high energy when soaring strings and other orchestral-sounding keyboards propel the cut at a high rate of speed helped by pounding sequencer-like rhythms) or soft tracks like the forlorn beauty of "Empty Skies" (in which Berlin-esque arpeggios and plucked-string synths open the track and lead into lovely strings and bell-like tones, along with a despairing undertone of lower register keyboards)..... The artist comes across as sincere and dedicated to his mission of spreading the word about not just this one place on the planet, but also a broader wish for more respect to be afforded our brothers and sisters of the air....." Wind and Wire - Bill Binkelman |
"....His latest release, Spirit of the Mountain, is an instrumental
masterpiece that attempts to capture—you guessed it—the spirit of Hawk Mountain,
located near Edwards’ hometown. The album takes you through a musical journey of the
mountain’s history—its seasons, its events, and its inner soul. But how,
exactly, does a mountain have a soul? Listen to this CD and find out. |
Radio Stations:
| "Harrison Edwards' latest release, Spirit of the Mountain, delivers on many levels. It is an album of beautiful music for those seeking an hour to relax and escape - and it also tells a story. It evokes the very essence of Hawk Mountain with its solid, timeless, and majestic spirit. This music places the listener in the shadows of the mountain and creates the excitement of seeing hawks soaring overhead on thermals as they continue on their migratory route. In Spirit of the Mountain, Harrison Edwards shares his love of and connection to Hawk Mountain with us all." Karen Larsen - WERU |
| "...Very nice album..." Louise Higman - WUOT |
