Description
Music in the Mist is our latest musical creation inspired by our beautiful forest home and the resident lyrebirds who sing the “flute” song. The music is meditative and hypnotic with a shamanic flavour and all instruments are played by Elvina Munir and Doug Armstrong, accompanied by peaceful forest sounds, flowing creeks, bird song and the rare and beautiful New England lyrebird call. Some of the acoustic instruments featured include classical and native flutes, Halo pan drum, n’goni, Celtic harp, dulcimer, medicine drum, didgeridoo, crystal and Tibetan bowls, gong, chimes, bells and more.
Back in the 1920s a lyrebird chick was raised in captivity on a farm near where we currently live. The farmer played flute and the lyrebird learned to mimic the sounds. Later, he released the bird, so other lyrebirds in the area copied it. The present generation of lyrebirds in this region still sing the flute song and it is the only place in Australia where they do this. http://environmentalhumanities.org/arch/vol3/3.3.pdf
We have named our duo Syrinx after Debussy’s famous solo flute piece (track 1). The syrinx is also a songbird’s voice producing organ most developed in the Australian Superb Lyrebird. In classical mythology, Syrinx was a nymph, who when pursued by the amorous Pan, was transformed into hollow water reeds in order to hide from him. He cut the reeds and made the first pan flute on which he played haunting tunes of his lost love.
Our intention for this CD is to capture the essence of our life in the forest, our love and the beauty and stillness of Nature, to help people find the peace and light within
Recording, editing and mastering by Colin Campbell and Elvina Munir. Graphic Design by Elvina Munir. Photography and filming by Sandrine Hall, Jude Willson, Doug Armstrong and Elvina Munir (lyrebird footage).