"It's the cello though that ties everything together
and makes this whole album impossible to ignore...Still, if you need to escape into music that is deep, thoughtful and also lifts your spirits then look no further than Emily Burridge. 100%.

Candle in the Sand

We sat and watched,
The Sea drew the line
Cool waters, memories in time.
The shifting sands, like an hour glass,
How quickly this time has passed.
We tossed a flower in to the sea
We lit a candle in the sand,
The flame that burned, still speaks to me
Brings memories of that land

Photo : Sue Cunningham ©

The lyrics of the second track, "Candle in the Sand", refer to the annual Birthday celebrations of Yemenja (Goddess of the Sea) when the custom of making offerings in the sea in the form of flowers takes place. "We tossed a flower into the sea, we lit a candle in the Sand".

The third track "Dia dos Mortos" ("Day of the Dead") further refers to Brazilian festivals. Integrated within the music is a recording of a procession made on the Day of the Dead. The people in the procession ecstatically shout out the names of their patron saints as they converge on the town square after a day of offering prayers at all the sacred sites in the town.
The track features percussionist Milton Fiori from Fortaleza playing the Birinbal (a percussion instrument of African origin known mainly for it's association with Capoira) and the Udu (a clay pot,also of African origin).Half way through the track the 12 string guitar enters performed by Manasses an eminent musician from Fortaleza. Emily commenced recording this track in a studio in Fortaleza and then completed it in London.
The percussionist Milton Fiori and the 12 string guitarist Manasses are featured playing on "Kame", "Candle in the Sand", "Dia dos Mortos" and "Distant Shore" (instrumental version of "Candle in the Sand").

In one place, which the locals referred to as the "end of the line" she encountered the Tremembe Indians who lived in the sand dunes set back from the sea. The Chief and his daughter decided to sing some of their traditional songs. Emily recorded them and three of the Tremembe songs form the base for her tracks "Rainmaker", "Agua de Menina" and "Prayer for the Fishermen". These tracks are an audible response to her experience with the Tremembe Indians and the isolated place in which they live.

Emily's musical research led her to be introduced to two music schools for children. The musical activities offer an alternative to working in the cane plantations. She was invited to give music workshops and on one occasion was amazed by the singing voice of a boy named Eduan Rodrigues de Almeida. Inviting him to sing his favourite song she recorded him singing "A Margem do Igarape". This song commences "Realised Dream" and the lyrics for this song describe the experience of meeting Eduan and hearing him sing his song in the peace of the local forest.

"Realised Dream" part 2 commences with percussion made and performed by the children of the Casa Grande Foundation of Nova Olinda. Emily accompanies this recording with solo 'cello playing an arrangement of the theme of the song performed by Eduan.

On returning from Brazil Emily worked in Austria with the producer and guitarist Gandalf. Having worked on his album she then recorded two of her songs, "Black Madonna" and "Dolphin Love".

The lyrics of "Black Madonna", are based on a 15th century Latin verse when the Pope decreed that images of the Black Madonna should be removed from public veneration. The places where the images were hidden subsequently became pilgrimage places. The Black Madonna is the patron Saint of Brazil.

"Dolphin Love" is a pop song and a new departure for Emily. With sequenced rythms and featured electric guitar.

"Out of the Blue" is a solo 'cello piece with recordings of waves crashing on a distant shore.

Prayer for the Fishermen

This is a prayer for the fishermen,
For those people out there,
At that place on the end of the line,
Where their world is just sea and sky.
Our boat is led through dark waters
Our tears are of the Sea.

Realised Dream part 1

I remember you, as though it were yesterday,
I have your picture on the wall.
Your young body so weathered
Yet resisting the storm.

I remember you as though it were yesterday,
Your song rang out in the wood.
Enraptured I listened,
So silent, I stood.

I remember you as though it were yesterday,
I will always think of you.
As your song keeps on playing
So will your dreams come true.

Black Madonna

Quod Bavaris Ottinga,
Quod Belgis Itala
Quod Serra Montis Hesperis,
Quod Hungaris Regala Alba
Et erit suis
Oettingen for Bavaria, Ital for the Belgians,
Montserrat for Spain, Alba for the Magyars,
For Italy Loreto
But in France is Liesse, Is our joy and ever shall be.

Dolphin Love

Dolphin Love, Hearts of Gold, Songs of the Sea, Pure Joy
Can you hear them, can you feel them, can you see them, swimming free
Dolphin Love, Hearts of Gold, Songs of the Sea ,Pure Joy
But you know they've gone unheard.
Precious lives have been disturbed
Can you hear them, Can you feel them, Can you see them swimming free.
Dolphin Love, Hearts of Gold, Songs of the Sea, Pure Joy.
Sing, dance, See, Feel Free.