Asha ~ Canzone angelica

Canzone angelica by Asha (aka Asher Quinn & Asha Elijah), an instrumental piece from his album “Mystic Heart“. Download/CD available here: My first published recordings were instrumental pieces, and 'Canzone angelica' ('Angelic song') was inspired by Italianate Baroque music, which enchanted me as a teenager... especially Antonio Vivaldi and Tomasso Albinoni. I composed it in my heart as I cannot read music, and heard all the arrangements within, which I then manifested in the studio with friend and mentor Anthony Phillips co-producing. Young friends played the pizzicato, violins, oboe, wood bass and cello, and I played the harpsichord. A former girlfriend, Sharon Sage, was studying at Venice University, and sang the vocals. She translated into Italian the poetic notions of what I wanted to say... the Italian used is not so much spoken Italian, but 'high' Italian, and I apologise if we didn't quite get it spot on. When I composed it, it was a response to Albinoni's Concerto number 5 for oboe and strings, and I keenly felt the presence of angels in and around me. At the time I was an initiated Sufi, and it was through the Sufi way that I gained power in Christ and Mary (Sophia), and opened my heart to the deepest truths about existence. An angel came to me at this time... a Zoroastrian sun angel named Asha... and she bestowed her name upon me. It means 'best truth'. I filmed a video for it 26 years later in Assisi, which is what you see here, with footages taken in many of the sacred places. The music seems to reflect Assisi's high, uplifting, 'spiritual champagne' energy. I scripted the footages which I filmed with a fellow pilgrim, Gloria, and for three intense days we explored Assisi, with two other fellow pilgrims, Dagmar and Olga. Maggie up in Scotland put it altogether and edited it. Here are the words: Canzone angelica Cogliami, nella tua anima Io canto, Io canto per te (Gather me to Thy soul I sing, I sing for Thee) Portami, vicino agli angeli Io volo, guardo giu e se li (Carry me near to the angels  I am flying, I look down and you’re there) Tienimi, nel tuo cuore, tienimi Quell’amore, vegliera su di me (Hold me in your heart, hold me That love will watch over me) Sentimi, ascolta la preghiera Io canto, Io canto per te (Listen to me, listen to the prayer I sing, I sing for Thee)