The 9th and final day of this adventure was spent mixing tracks in the studio. The variety, beauty and emotion of this new music is rich and soothing. I am just beginning to be able to listen from a perspective that is outside the studio, where piano, vocals, English horn and guitar were all recorded. Here are the 12 tentative track names…Across the Skies, World Of Wonders, Vive La Joye, A Thousand Years, Hymn To Bach, Bread of Angels, For A Lifetime Blessings Flow, Always in Blossom, Be Still My Soul, Shedding Tears With Chopin, Prelude in C and Alleluias Dancing. Six of the greatest classical composers and seven famous hymns are represented in the arrangements, which interweave original composing throughout. Next week the CD mastering will be completed, then music samples can be put up on the website while CDs are being manufactured for the May 20th official release.

Today we recorded the beautiful English horn of Jill Haley. She was also a guest artist on Unveiled and December Peace. Both English horn and angelic vocals will add some unique colors to five of twelve tracks. Will Ackerman also joins them on guitar for a unique version of “All Creatures of Our God and King” that I am calling “Alleluias Dancing” for now. I, along with everyone else involved, am feeling the exhaustion of pouring our hearts into this project to create music that will offer peace, rest, hope and healing to listeners. We also began mixing tracks today, which brings all the sounds of each piece into their final form. More mixing tomorrow, with a final mastered recording to come next week.

Palm Sunday turned out to be Day 7 and was a day of worship (at a small town church that began in 1774) and rest. I hiked up to the top of the ridge, where there is a swing on long cables. When you swing on it it suspends you out over the hillside and you can see for miles into the mountains. This swing was a symbol of keeping alive the child-like faith and joy in my heart as I live each day.