Bindi Society

★ Falling in Light Hits No. 36 on TransGlobal World Music Chart ★

Bindi Society is three talented women musicians from the San Francisco Bay Area. At the core of the music is the beauty of the harp and the unique, guitar-like style of harpist Barbara Imhoff.

An exotic fusion of timbres and disciplines, Bindi Society's music is inspired by an array of global traditions. Haunting vocals draw from Sanskrit chants, a Hebrew prayer, 'hybrid' Gaelic, and English. Along with classically-tinged groove harp, Indian harmonium, world percussion, santur & marimba, this beautiful and unique collection of original songs highlights the musical talents of Barbara Imhoff, Cait McWhir (Haunted by Waters, Samsara's Edge) and Tina 'bean' Blaine (Haunted by Waters, D'Cuckoo). Guest musicians include Alex Stahl on electric bass and Stephen Schultz on Baroque flute and Hümmelchen (renaissance pipes).

Barbara Imhoff passed away not long after the completion of this album and is greatly missed. We dedicate the song 'Mourners Kaddish' to her.

The Musicians

Barbara Imhoff

Harpist

Pedal Harp, Whirly Toy

Cait McWhir

Vocalist · Harmonium

Lead Vocals, Harmonium
Haunted by Waters, Samsara's Edge

Tina 'bean' Blaine

Percussion · Vocals

Djembe, Dumbek, Marimba, Santur, Percussion, Vocals
Haunted by Waters, D'Cuckoo

Alex Stahl

Special Guest

Electric Bass
Recording & Mixing Engineer

Stephen Schultz

Special Guest

Baroque Flute
Hümmelchen (Renaissance Pipes)

Albums

★ Just Released ★

Falling in Light

Style/Genre: Power Harp, Other-Worldly Vocals — Global Percussion
Instrumentation: Electric Harp, Harmonium, Flute, Strings, Percussion, Vocals

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1. Dayala 4:45
2. Mourner's Kaddish 5:22
3. Storm Pond Bird 5:10
4. Narayan 5:55
5. Sundari 4:38
6. Sharanam 5:18
7. Bela 4:16

Item # 1074

Production Credits

Barbara Imhoff: Pedal Harp, Whirly Toy

Cait McWhir: Lead Vocals, Harmonium

Tina 'bean' Blaine: Djembe, Dumbek, Marimba, Santur, Percussion, Vocals

Recorded and Mixing by: Alex Stahl at Ethereal Donkey Studios, Emeryville, CA

Audio Editing by: Bean and Alex • Mastered by: Rainer Gembalczyk at Sienna Digital

Art Work by: Cait McWhir

Special guests: Stephen Schultz — Baroque Flute on Storm Pond Bird, Hümmelchen (German Pipes) on Sundari • Alex Stahl — Electric Bass on Dayala and Storm Pond Bird

Track Credits

Dayala

Barbara Imhoff — Pedal Harp • Cait McWhir — Lead Vocals • Tina Blaine — Percussion & Vocals • Alex Stahl — Electric Bass

Mourner's Kaddish

Barbara Imhoff — Pedal Harp • Tina Blaine — Santur, Vocals, Percussion • Cait McWhir — Vocals

Storm Pond Bird

Barbara Imhoff — Pedal Harp • Cait McWhir — Vocals • Tina Blaine — Percussion, Vocals • Stephen Schultz — Baroque Flute • Alex Stahl — Electric Bass

Narayan

Barbara Imhoff — Pedal Harp • Cait McWhir — Vocals & Harmonium • Tina Blaine — Percussion, Vocals

Sundari

Barbara Imhoff — Pedal Harp • Cait McWhir — Vocals & Harmonium • Tina Blaine — Percussion, Vocals • Stephen Schultz — Hümmelchen (Renaissance Pipes)

Sharanam

Barbara Imhoff — Pedal Harp • Cait McWhir — Vocals & Harmonium • Tina Blaine — Marimba, Percussion & Vocals

Bela

Barbara Imhoff — Pedal Harp & Whirly Toy • Tina Blaine — Whirly Toy

About the Music

Dayala, Sharanam and Narayana are personalized interpretations of Vedic and Sanskrit chants from India.

Sundari is a hybrid composition in Sanskrit, Gaelic and 'language of the heart'.

The Mourner's Kaddish is a reimagining of the Hebrew prayer.

Bela is influenced by traditional Eastern European folk music and named in honor of composer Béla Bartok.

Lyrics

Dayala

Sanskrit: Compassion, The Essence of Mercy

Jaya Jaya Devi Dayala Hari Jnani Saraswati Palayamam Amale Kamala Sana Sahite Albutha Sahite Palayamam Chatthur Mukha Bali Mampahi Mani Saraswati Vagdevi Amale Kamala Sana Sahite Albutha Chariteh Palayamam Jaya Devi Jaya Saraswati

The Mourner's Kaddish

Hebrew

Yis'ga'dal v'yis'kadash sh'may ra'bbo, b'alma dee'vra chir'usay v'yamlich malchu'say, Yisbarach v'yishtabach v'yispoar v'yisromam v'yismasay Y'hay shlama rabba min sh'maya, Oseh shalom bimromov, hu ya'aseh shalom olaynu

The Mourner's Kaddish is a Hebrew prayer traditionally recited in memory of the dead, although it makes no mention of death. Only a few phrases are sung in this version which is intended to focus on themes of peace, harmony, community and hope amid loss.

May there be abundant peace from Heaven and life, upon us. May the One who creates harmony on high, bring peace to us. May the harmony we experience as we gaze toward heaven be reflected in a harmony between all who dwell on the planet.

Storm Pond Bird

English

Inside water Waterwheel turning Stars circling the moon Those who live in the shadow of nightfall Those who ride upon the wind Watch you circle around and around A thousand secrets in your flight With eyes that see the enormity of things Sound shadows falling in light Storm Pond Bird Flying high and far Your strong wings carry you Through the turning night of stars Fly as the earth turns Resting on a song Prayer riding on your wings Flying higher up into the light Disappearing in the air You are the silence Thought and the form Turning night into day Your wings enfold all the branches of the tree You are the lift and the falling away

Narayan

Sanskrit/Hinduism: Prayer to the cosmic emanation of Vishnu, preserver of the universe

Narayana, Narayana Shri Vasudeva Narayana Narayana, Narayana Shri Vasudeva Narayana Murahara Nagadhara Narayani Shridhara Giridhara Narayani Naradurga Sharidha Narayani Narada Samhutha Narayani

Sundari (Mo Chridhe)

Sanskrit: "Beautiful" or "Beautiful Woman" · Gaelic: "My Heart"

Lyrics sung in a hybrid 'language of the heart'

Sharanam

Sanskrit: Refuge, Seeking Divine Protection from the Goddess

Sharanam, Sharanam Jaya Ambe, Jay Ma Sharanam, Sharanam Kripa Karu Devi Ma'Kala Devi Dhara Karini Vinha Vathini Gauri Karini Sharinam Ma Sharanam, Sharanam Jaya Ambe, Kripa Karu Devi Ma'Kala Daya Devi Ma Kali Shakti Rupina Swarga Purusha Jai Radhini Jay Dayini Jay Ambe Jay Ambe Ma