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.

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.

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

Sheet music

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

The post Ave Maria appeared first on Pamela Holm 1960-2019.

It’s short, so I can imagine singing it through once, then have an instrumental break, then singing either the last half, or the whole thing again. I can also imagine it sung by a choir.

Waltz me round through the heavens in three quarter time.

Joy Dances Through Me, by Pamela Holm

Video

Here’s Miranda Lever singing it:

Sheet music

Lyrics

The post Joy Dances Through Me appeared first on Pamela Holm 1960-2019.

Spirit of Life, work your magic in my soul
Bringing your wondrous touch, you ignite
The fire that makes me whole
Spirit of Life reflected in the rising of the Sun
Resurrect your spirit here in the knowing we are all one.

One in the Godhead, one in the heart
One in the peace, that’s where we start
One in the blessing of the sun
One sun that shines on everyone.

Spirit of Life, I feel so full of Grace
Knowing how your radiant form transfigures every face
Spirit of Life reflected in the light of every smile
Opening heart and mind alike to your presence here all the while.

Light of loving, light of truth
Light through the Spirit we’re made new
Light that warms us like the sun
One sun that shines on everyone.

One in the Godhead, one in the heart
One in the peace, that’s where we start
One in the blessing of the sun
One sun that shines on everyone.
One sun that shines on everyone.

The post Spirit of Life (2009) appeared first on Pamela Holm 1960-2019.

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.

The post My Beloved One is Mine (2010) appeared first on Pamela Holm 1960-2019.

A Solstice/Christmas song, written in 2008.

Pam’s rewrite of the lyrics in the second verse, as shown in the sheet music below, removed the overtly Christmas references, making it suitable as a song for Solstice.

Christmas version, verse 2:

Beauty lies within us, opening to joy
and the gift this season brings us is a blessed baby boy.
Open wide your heart to let the Christ-light in
so the healing fire of love can begin.

UPDATE March 2020 – I was delighted to find a video I took of Pam singing this song on Christmas Day, 2016, chez nous. We had a few friends over for Christmas dinner, and were singing carols together when she sang the song – with the Christmas words. The look on her face at the end when she saw that I had recorded it on video was priceless.

(Note to musicians: In the video, observe the evolution of note values and syncopation as she sings the song 8 years after writing it. No need to take things exactly as written. Make it your own.)

The post Sing of Joy (2008) appeared first on Pamela Holm 1960-2019.

PDF version (music and words)

The post I AM a Channel for Love (2009) appeared first on Pamela Holm 1960-2019.

My forensic guess is that Pamela made the recording below several years after she had moved from Perth to Ottawa, so the song wasn’t fresh in her mind. This was take #4. In earlier takes, she stumbled over typos in her sketchy notes, so I figure she paused and typed out the full verses as given with the tune below. This time she got the words right, so please ignore the inconsistencies in the chords and the catches in her voice. Determination and perfectionism have limits!

She used the song at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ottawa in 2018, and on other occasions. I have a recording of it at a singing workshop, date and location unknown. Fill me in if you remember.

The post Shine Light Shine (2009) appeared first on Pamela Holm 1960-2019.

It was performed again by Pamela’s colleagues at her own Memorial Service in October, 2019. That video is further down the page.

Both times, the congregation joined in on the chorus at the end.

Video, 2014

Lyrics

There’s another bright star in the heavens.
There’s another bright soul goin’ home.
On her angel’s wings she’s a joinin’
The hosts and the heavenly throng…. Singin’…

Chorus:
Hallelujah in Heaven
Singin’ hallelujah to the Soul of Souls
Sining’ hallelujah in Heaven
She’s a-goin’ home.

All the birds are singin’ there in heaven
And tall grasses reach high to the sun
Oceans offer up their splashes
All the songs of creation are sung … They sing….

Light a candle to help her on her journey
Sing a song of praise to guard her soul
And on angel wings she flies homeward
To the land where we all are remade whole…. Singing’ …

Down the road, I know I’ll be goin’
One day, when my journey is done
She’ll be there to meet me at the temple
Where our hearts will sing praises as one … We’ll sing …

Sheet Music

Download Sheet Music (PDF)

Video, 2019

Here is Another Bright Star being performed by Pamela’s music therapy colleagues and a few others for Pamela’s memorial service in Ottawa on October 12, 2019. The video starts at the timestamp for the song. Again, audience participation was irresistible.

The post Another Bright Star appeared first on Pamela Holm 1960-2019.