Classical-ish Archives - Pamela Holm 1960-2019

Ave Maria

heather — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 01:33:42 +0000

One of my favourite pieces of Pam’s, which is saying a lot.

Her original manuscript is reproduced further down.

I’ve made an arrangement from Pam’s chords, which could be played on piano or sung as parts – SAAB or SATB, or SAA with a cello playing the baseline. Maybe a soloist with vocal harmonies on the two “Ave Maria”s in the middle and the last 12 bars. Arrangers, feel free to make your own version! Do what you will with the “Amen” she wrote at the end.

Table Of Contents

Video
Practice audio
Sheet music
Lyrics
Original manuscript

Video

Here is Miranda Lever singing Pam’s “Ave Maria”.

Practice audio

Singalong: I’ve computer-recorded an instrumental version. Follow along with the sheet music below.

Here it is at 100 beats per minute (? = 100), maybe too fast.

Ave Maria, by Pamela Holm

If that’s a little fast, here it is again at ? = 80.

Ave Maria, by Pamela Holm, a little slower

Sheet music

Ave Maria by Pamela J Holm, sheet music (PDF)Download

Lyrics

Ave Maria,
Lady of Ladies, Queen of our hearts.
Your mercy wafts on a gentle ray of light,
Softly penetrating even in the darkest of night.
Ave Maria
Join with our hearts, Lady, carry our prayers
to bring heav’n’s holy Light into hearts of despair.
Ave Maria
Be as a guide as we go through our day,
bringing Light to our path as you show us your way.
Ave, Ave Maria, Ave Maria,
Ave Maria.

Original manuscript

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My Beloved One is Mine (2010)

heather — Sat, 23 Nov 2019 15:04:03 +0000

Song set to a poem by St Teresa of Ávila, the 16th century Spanish mystic, which Pamela found in a book of spiritual poetry of her father’s. She was hoping to write more songs from that book.

Note that “Beloved” in many mystical writings, including the works of Rumi as well as those of Christian mystics, refers to the Divine, whether you characterize that as God, Christ or Christ Consciousness, the soul, the Infinite Spark within, etc. It speaks of the seeking and finding of spiritual awakening and union with the Divine, even if it comes across to our cultural ears as a romantic love song.

My Beloved One is Mine, by Pamela Holm – Sheet Music Download

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Prayer (1990)

heather — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 21:30:38 +0000

From a cassette tape Pamela recorded to copyright her songs, August 1, 1990. She was a Music Therapy student at Capilano College (now University) at that time. Sung a capella.

Lyrics

Oh Lord, my Love and my God,
Lend me your arms to shield me from fear,
Wash from my heart the anger of my life
That I may live for peace and joy forever more

Oh Lord, if I must bear the burden of my past
Make it like a feather on the breeze
If I must sing forever of my song
Let it be a song of your praise

Oh Lord, my Love and my God,
Be with me as a shepherd with his lamb
That I may know your guidance in my heart
And live your love with all I am.

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Come to the Garden

heather — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 02:44:31 +0000

I can hear arrangements of this song being sung by choirs. – HH

Video

Performed by Miranda Lever.

Sheet music

Come-to-the-Garden Download

Lyrics

Published by Orleans Writing Group, 2018

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Come Dance with Me (2019)

heather — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 01:30:14 +0000

In the last few years of her life, Pam was concentrating on building her music therapy practice. Singing in the Cantata Singers of Ottawa had been giving her a high standard musical outlet, but she wanted more: to take her own compositions to the next level through performance. So in early 2019 when she wrote two songs and rehearsed them with a pianist and a clarinetist, then performed them at the Unitarian Fellowship in April, it was hugely satisfying for her. She was resolved to find ways to do more such ensemble work in the future.

Fortunately we have recordings of the two songs, and the script of her talk that day, “Inside the mind of the composer“.

Music by Pamela Holm
Lyrics: Mory Ghomshei & Pamela Holm

Pamela Holm, voice
Adrian Cosstick, clarinet
Joe MacDonald, piano

Performed at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ottawa, April 2019

The lyrics are adapted from a book from an old friend of hers who wrote stories in the Sufi tradition.

See also her talk that day, “Inside the mind of the composer” and another song, Hearts are made for Sweethearts.

Video

The first few measures are missing in this recording.

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Hearts are made for Sweethearts (2019)

heather — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 01:18:08 +0000

An exciting musical project for Pam in spring 2019: to perform her own songs with other accomplished musicians. She rehearsed and performed two new songs for the Unitarian Fellowship, along with a talk, “Inside the mind of the composer” She was looking forward to doing more of the same, but sadly it didn’t happen. I’m so glad this recording was made.

Music: Pamela Holm
Lyrics: Mory Ghomshei and Pamela Holm

Pamela Holm, voice
Adrian Cosstick, clarinet
Joe MacDonald, piano

Performed at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ottawa, April 2019

See also her talk that day, “Inside the mind of the composer” and another song, Come Dance with Me.

Video

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I Found a Place Where Angelica Grows (2014)

heather — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 15:08:40 +0000

Pamela wrote: My mother wrote this poem about 1977. I remember her dancing around the kitchen, so pleased with the verses she had created. After she died, I rediscovered the poem and set it to music, trying to convey the excitement she had expressed about writing it. I played it at her Memorial Service with my sister and some musical friends, which is where this video came from. – PH

Table Of Contents

Video
Lyrics
Sheet music

Video

Lyrics

I Found a Place Where Angelica Grows

I found a place where Angelica grows,
In Sydney Harbour, where marsh birds incline.
I went there one mist-bounded, warm April morning
With three eager children, sea-treasures to find.

They found pretty sea shells, pearl blue in the water;
They splashed through snow rivers and dampened their clothes;
Pieces of driftwood they vowed they would cherish,
And I found a place where Angelica grows.

Angelica, sea-loving gentle white flower,
Was brought here from France, so an old legend goes;
To Louisbourg’s cold rocky land by the sailors,
Who, longing for home, threw its seed on our shores.

Today, ‘gainst the stone of Louisbourg’s ramparts
One sees the white flower lend its grace through the mists;
Its lacy-like bloom has outlasted the generals,
Outlasted the cannons, and maids sailors kissed.

The old legend says that the seeds in the New World
Grow only at Louisbourg, speak France’s woes.
Imagine my joy on that moist April morning
When I found a place where Angelica grows!

The past haunted me as of history borning
As I gathered the children sea-wet from their toes,
Their pockets were crammed to the full with their findings,
But I found a place where Angelica grows.

~ Poem by June (Holm) Maginley c. 1977

Sheet music

This is a working copy; the pencil marks are mine; I was playing accordion. – HH

I Found a Place Where Angelica Grows – Sheet music PDF Download

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