Past Life Melodies

MUSIC

Jabiru Dreaming

Chorale & Ecstatic Dance

Past Life Melodies

Out of the Blue...

Gardens of Stone

Past Life Melodies was originally composed for acapella choir in 1991 and is dedicated to Sarah’s father, John Hopkins. The choral version features harmonic overtone singing and is frequently performed the world over. The composer’s version for strings also includes the use of didgeridoo and 2 Harmonic Whirles. When spiraled through the air at different speeds, each harmonic whirly plays pure notes from the harmonic overtone series. Sarah writes; “Compostionally, I trust the power of the simple, direct and heartfelt; and am guided by my intuition. The inspiration for Past Life Melodies came from two soul songs which sang through me in 1988 & 1990. The opening melody came to me during a time of deep grief and immediately it was a melody of profound connection, known and remembered, as though it were a song from a past lifetime. The aboriginal inspired chant sang through me in Darwin, as if there was an old aboriginal woman chanting deep inside me.”

Sarah Hopkins

Sarah Hopkins is a unique Australian composer-performer, highly acclaimed for her visionary music and inspiring performances for cello, harmonic overtone singing, handbells, choir and the celestial harmonic whirlies of her own creation. With a strong background and training in classical music, over the years she has moved into the realm of holistic music and developed a very distinctive compositional voice. Her solo, ensemble, choral and orchestral compositions demonstrate an expansive and pure musical style which resonates with the space and energy of the Australian landscape as well as the inner landscape of the human psyche. Her unique style of cello playing embraces many new and ancient sounds including musical bird calls, deep earthy drones, lush heartfelt melodies and the haunting rhythms of the didgeridoo which Sarah emulates on her cello.

For more information please visit: www.sarahhopkins.com & www.harmonicwhirlies.com

Past Life Melodies - Sarah Hopkins