Jill Haley’s Alaskan Soundscapes is part of a continuing series of albums inspired by her Artist-In-Residence positions in various US National Parks. What better way could there possibly be to compose music that embodies a place than by staying there for an extended period of time and becoming immersed in those surroundings? The album is subtitled Music for Wrangell-St. Elias and Kenai Fjords National Parks and was inspired by the natural beauty of the areas as well as “getting to know the strong, resilient people that inhabit this sometimes-harsh environment.” Jill performs the eleven original tracks on piano, English horn, oboe and synthesizer along with David Cullen on guitar and bass, and The Eykamp String Quartet (two violins, viola and cello).
Into The Quiet is the second collaboration between electronic ambient visionary Deborah Martin and renowned English Horn player and Oboist Jill Haley. Their previous album was 2021’s The Silence Of Grace, a pastoral collection that received numerous accolades including Zone Music Reporter’s list of Top 20 albums of the year.
The Forests and Shores of Acadia is Jill’t release about music she wrote while an Artist in Residence at Acadia National Park. While in Acadia, Jill became aware that all five senses were fully engaged and influenced her writing. Eating wild blueberries, walking on a soft forest carpet, and hearing the waves lap against the shoreline are just a few examples.
Jill Haley’s 8th solo release, “Wrapped in Light” is a collection of pieces based of the nature images of the Book of Psalms. Known for her music about National Parks, Jill turned to a new source for inspiration during the pandemic since travel was not allowed.
These are instrumental pieces written and recorded on oboe, English horn, piano, synthesizers, cello, and guitar.
Track Listing: 1. Wrapped in Light 2. Clouds Rise 3. Forest Sings for Joy 4. Unfolding 5. The Mountains Rose 6. Fields Be Jubilant 7. Wings of Dawn 8. Springs Gush Forth 9. Flourishing Grass 10. Pools of Water
“The Canyons and Mesas of Bandelier,” Jill Haley’s 7th recording about the US National Parks will be released on CORANGLAIS Records on 3/5/21.
The music was written during a 2 week Artist in Residency that Jill did in New Mexico’s Bandelier National Monument in October, 2019. Bandelier National Monument is located within Frijoles Canyon which along with mesa tops and surrounding canyons, provided inspiration for the new music.
This recording is a collection of pieces that Jill Haley wrote when she was an Artist in Residence in South Dakota’s Badlands National Park. The wind was her constant companion as she explored the Park creating pieces such as Cliff Shelf Breeze and Whirlwind. These piano and guitar based pieces also feature the oboe, English horn, and cello.
Two amazing National Parks in Utah, Bryce Canyon and Zion, offered Jill gorgeous scenery and magnificient landscapes as an impetus for writing music about these National Parks. Trails such as Navajo Loop and Watchman wind through these Parks giving the walker an opportunity to see how time and weather influence the environment. The woodwind, piano and guitar based tracks are a musical interpretation of the red rocks, mountains and streams found throughout these two Parks.
This recording is the 1st in a series of music about National Parks by composer/instrumentalist, Jill Haley. After a visit to Glacier National Park, Jill returned home and wrote a collection of pieces that were inspired by places in the Park. Her piano, guitar and double reed based tunes take the listener to turquoise waters, towering mountains, and raging waterfalls.
This recording captures the gift of water that Montana’s Glacier National Park gave Jill during her time there as an Artist in Residence. As she trekked around lakes, waterfalls, and rivers, it rained and snowed almost constantly. She captures these water inspired titles with instrumental pieces performed on oboe, English horn, piano, guitar, French horn, and handbells.
This recording is a collection of pieces written about the cliff dwellings, history, and natural setting of Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park. Jill spent 2 weeks living in the Park as an Artist in Residence writing music that was inspired by the incredible history of the World Cultural Heritage Site. After improvising melodies on the oboe in the cliff dwellings, she added harmony and form with guitar, piano, strings, French horn as well as her signature oboe and English horn.
“National Park Soundscapes” is the fourth in a series of albums inspired by national parks of the United States from Jill Haley, an award-winning composer, pianist, oboist and English horn player. Comprised of twelve compositions spanning fifty minutes, she is joined throughout by David Cullen on guitar and bass, Tony Deangelis on percussion and snare drum, Dana Cullen on horn, and Graham Cullen on cello. An accompanying photographical booklet details the various landmarks across the country, from which each composition’s theme and title draws its inspiration.
