Download "Thistle Down"(mp3, 2.8 MB)

 

"Thistle Down" ("Battle of the Fairies") by Donna Adams-Profeta

 

"'Thistle Down' was the first piece I wrote for harp and was my attempt at an ancient Celtic style of music. It was also the second piece I'd ever recorded, and after driving my recording engineer/musician/husband, John Profeta, nuts micro-managing the previous recording (he's a rock 'n roll kind of guy and I wasn't sure he'd have a feel for my stuff), I decided that he knew what he was doing. I simply said to picture an ancient battle on the moors, and left the studio—much to his relief! He managed to record backing tracks over my ever-changing tempos and did a wonderful job of adding atmosphere and helping me to flesh out the story (albeit a short one) of two opposing forces facing off on the battlefield. There's a distant call to battle, and the infantry starts out slowly at first, but more purposefully as they go. Then they pick up the pace in the second verse, soon followed by the cavalry in the third, there's a clarion call, and they clash! The battle goes on as they drift off into the distance. It is a bit light for an earthly encounter and has a rather otherworldly feel as well, so after eight years, I've finally decided to add "Battle of the Fairies." More fitting, no?"

 

 

donnaharps@aol.com

 

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