The Phoenix Tree

A collection of songs and flute duets, featuring the Native American Indian flute and the Japanese shakuhachi flute. The music moves between the naked simplicity of the flute duets, to the warm depths of the song arrangements.

This project matured over five years, from our first exploratory flute improvisations, and through sharing and experimenting with arrangements of each other’s songs, to this finished suite of pieces. Our collaboration grew from our shared love for traditional flute music, and for songs of Earth and Spirit.

The album is a dance between the ancient Japanese shakuhachi flute and the Native American style flute, woven together with songs of the elements. A musical journey that moves between the simplicity and spaciousness of the flute melodies, to the intricacy of the songs that dive deep into the roots of humanity and soar high with the flight of the eagle.

“For me the song of the Native American-style flute is a direct connection to the nature spirits. It was a delight to collaborate with Adrian, weaving flute sounds of the West with the ancient, peace-bringing sounds of the shakuhachi from the East. I sing for the healing & joy of the beings of Beloved Mother Earth, and to give thanks to her for all she gives us and the Great Mystery of Life. To sing is to pray. It is my way of giving thanks and offering back to life. I sing the songs I am given from the wind, the trees and rocks when I walk alone in Nature. I sing them as a healing tool to connect us back to our True Nature.”

Lua Maria

“The Japanese shakuhachi has a profound quality of stillness. Its melodies are comprised of very long, sustained notes and phrases. The Native American Indian flute has a sweetness about its tone, and an animated spirit in its bubbling melodies. Together the two flutes evoke strong feelings of nature, of space, of peace and of the soaring spirit.”

Adrian

The flute duets are interspersed with four original songs, three written by Lua and one by Adrian:

Oak Tree

“This song came to me as I ran though the Devon fields, swam in the river and rested by the ancient Oaks. I am in wonder at these beautiful trees, standing in one place for hundreds of years. Slowly growing, silently witnessing. This song is in honour of these wise beings, with whom I learned much about stillness and inner strength even in the times when I do not know what the next step is or where the river of life is taking me.”

Lua Maria

Rivers Run Red

“This song came from a place of darkness. Travelling the worlds of my inner landscapes, of heartbreak, ancient wounds and vulnerability, and the harvest that is reaped from living through challenges and saying yes to what life brings. Even I did not really understand the meaning of this song, as it arrived in one cascading waterfall in the deep of a winter night. Years later the full meaning revealed itself to me.”

Lua Maria

Aguilita

“I wrote this song in the wild hills of La Palma, Canary Islands. It is a call to the Grandmother Eagle to guide us in her Wise Way to live on Earth with Clear Vision, in Harmony and Unity.”

Lua Maria

Lotus Flower

“At a time of the ‘deep night of the soul’ in my life, when I needed to find a core of inner light in order to survive, this song arose, opening like the petals of a lotus flower rising through dark waters to seek the light. I was very touched to hear the song sung so beautifully by Lua”

Adrian Freedman

Tender, gentle, touching voice combined with superb musicianship. A blend of tunes inspired by a diverse wealth of cultures which open the heart and carry the soul to a place of peace, joy and love.

Bara Stastna,  Doula and masseur

Heart woven melodies of beauty and magic; filling my soul with echoes of nirvanic bliss. Thank you for this…heaven sent gift.

Priti Barua, Teacher