Trio Composition: Lever Harp, Accordion, Vocals, Percussion
Grant from Art’s Mid-Hudson
Trio Composition: Lever Harp, Accordion, Vocals, Percussion
Grant from Art’s Mid-Hudson
In 1945, along the banks of the Nile, bound papyrus notebooks were found sealed in earthenware jars. Among this discovery was the mysterious text Thunder: Perfect Mind. Written more than 1500 years ago, the voice of feminine energy, duality, ambivalence, paradox, contradiction and passion called out.
Reading the introduction of Elaine Pagels Gnostic Gospels, a fragment of Thunder: Perfect Mind seized my attention. The poetry and power of Thunder: Perfect Mind kept calling to me. I composed the music for Thunder: Perfect after meditating on these words morning and evening for over a year. Then, Over 7 years, as I played my harp, the words became music that sang out of me. When I knew the music by heart, I committed it to paper. The poetic voice of female power, echoed from the past into my future.
Thunder: Perfect Mind called to me, opening a doorway to women’s spirit from over 2000 years ago. I created the music to celebrate the Great Mother of us all, in all Her contradictions, paradoxes, and the spirit of the One who unites all opposites.
I love the work you do–the music, which expresses the heart of this tradition. —Elaine Pagels, Princeton University, Author of The Gnostic Gospels
We are carried over the edges by the music of her voice, her exquisite use of the Celtic harp, and her accompanying musicians, back to the voice of the Thunder: Perfect Mind and returned through the many centuries to our own time where it is totally relevant. While the music itself is outstanding, it is made ‘particularly moving by the fact that the text provides us with the actual words of a woman (or women) two thousand years ago. Julia has merged with the spirit of that woman, and speaks not only with that voice, but has brought it into our century introducing us to our foresisters, and their own Goddess spirituality. In finding the text from the past, she has recalled, remembered, and with genius created an identification, a work of much beauty, and a true inspiration. —Asphodel P. Long, Goddessing Magazine
…..gorgeous CD. It is a great thing to see women artists flying. —Eve (Ensler)
A hermeneutically exciting interpretation of Thunder. —Karen L. King, Winn Professor Ecclesiastical History, Harvard University
Julia Haines combines creative composition with keen spiritual sensitivity for our day. Her musical compositions flow from a deep place near the heart of the universe through her own heart and out into the world…her composition “Thunder Perfect…as loyal to its ancient world and to the contemporary intersection with the deepest of our traditions. Julia Haines performance is technically superb and personally vibrant. —Hal Taussig, Union Theological Seminary
The Nag Hammadi Conference: 50th anniversary celebration Haverford College
Union Theological Seminary
American HarpSociety, University of Pennsylvania
Bard College
Drexel University
International House, Philadelphia, PA
Smith College
Temple University
Theater for the New City, NY
Trinity Church NYC
The Rubin Museum of Art, NYC
Deep Listening Space, Kingston, NY
Sage Center, Woodstock, NY
Miriam’s Well, Saugerties, NY
SUNY, Ulster, NY
An ongoing project honoring the wisdom of wild animals.
This recording can be purchased at Bandcamp.
Singing is an original human technology that has carried us through the joys and sorrows of life. I offer Singing Circles to make this available to anyone with acceptance for all, coordinating and leading with a wide range of repertoire, piano accompaniment and an open heart. Since 2015 I ran Singing Circles at the Olive Free Library until the Pandemic called for a pause. From 2011-2014, while living in Philadelphia, I offered Singing Circles in conjunction with a cancer support community.
Singing circle was always one of the highlights of my week. Julia is a gifted musician who has a truly astonishing repertoire of songs. Her playing helped us stay on tune as we gained more confidence in our voices and musicality. Even more inspiring was the way she shared her joy in music and her conviction that everyone deserved that joy regardless of their talent. Over years with our shifting group of singers, our voices strengthened, our confidence grew and we ventured into harmonies and developed a group sound. Don’t miss a chance to sing with Julia. —Kathleen O.
Weekly Meditations for Peace and Healing, held at Chestnut Hill United Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 2001 to 2005, offered an environment for quiet reflection post 9/11 and during the war. The music was offered in a spirit of welcoming the listener into the present, connecting within, releasing emotions, and resting in a sound experience so the individual could silently reflect on peace. All music was improvised on harp. Free will donations were donated to peace and justice organizations.
Earthworks is a song cycle exploring sounds, songs, commentary and concern about contemporary environmental consciousness. It was commissioned by NEW AMERICAN RADIO in 1990. A multi-layered fabric of sound, Earthworks includes interviews with activist Maggie Kuhn, artist Mildred Greenberg, composer Pauline Oliveros, farmer Myra Perkins, members of the Cheltenham Students for Environmental Action, and a variety of young people, who came together at the Philadelphia Earth Fest, 22 April 1990. Part 1: Voices of Young People is filled with the vitality of children and young adults enthusiastic in their knowledge and urgent in their search for solutions. Part 2: The careful reflection of the Voices of the Elders serves as a reminder of our interdependency.
juliahainesmusic@gmail.com