Four Winds by nigel mason

The journey that weaves through the music hopefully will create in the listener thoughts from their past and paths into their future. It will enable the listener to bring back times of happiness they have experienced travelling on their road so far and to importantly take time to recall some times when the road has been difficult, but the journey has continued towards a positive time to come. You will hear echoes of familiar musical phrases as you listen, which are memories of past journeys.

1. Using a fujara (A Slovakian overtone flute), to introduce the hope of life, then with the sound of Lily’s heartbeat accompanied by percussion, the dance of life begins.

2. Using different Native American Flutes, didge and percussion, ‘The Waking Earth’ tries to capture the dawn when the earth wakes to the beginning of a new journey, until the moon rises again.

3. Recorded in one of the ancient burial chambers at Cala Morell, Menorca. The chamber was carved out of the limestone rock thousands of years ago. The acoustics in the chamber are amazing. The recording was made on one of my daughters' phone, three pieces of music two using native American flutes and one a didge. The wizard known as Simeon worked his magic and morphed the piece together.

4. Yesterday has gone and will never return but our memories remain as an echo. The conversation between the tongue drum and whistle with the chimes and Simeon’s electronics dance into tomorrow.

5. The stream travels until it meets the river which gently is then embraced by the sea. As the sun shines the journey starts again. The two native American flutes converge like the flow of water on its journey, accompanied by Simeon’s sensitive keys and synth.

6. Looking back at the past means sometimes reliving some sadness or trauma, the past has gone and the journey to the future is beginning.

7. With a spring in our step, we dance lightly down the path towards our destination. High and low whistles, didge, bodrhan and Simeon on mandolin.

8. A traditional Scottish tune 'The Arran Boat'. Sadly I have played this at two separate 'celebrations of life' for infants Kathryn and Abigail Grace, who only lived a few days but filled both sets of parents with love and thankfulness for the time they had with their daughters.

9. Three tunes played on a high D whistle in memory of my dear friend Mike who sadly died a few years ago. The first tune, ‘The Lonesome Boatman’, was one Mike used to like me playing and the other two are versions of the Doxology, one of which I had the honour of playing at Mike’s funeral. The tunes are separated by the sound of the sea with a longer piece at the end. The sea was recorded at Bracelet Bay, Gower.