Song for SPEA

In Search of Hope – by Sam Gannon

Seconded to the parish of Tililngdon, the Reverend Dolores has been presented with a challenge.

She’s living in an antiquated house and she’s cold. Furthermore, her new Bishop, Bishop Alice does not approve of ‘showgirls in dog collars.’

Determined to prove the Bishop wrong, she sets about warming her house – who cares if it smells of horse! There is the crochet club, jumble sale, and soup run to organise. And this year, the church bells will ring, no matter what threats are made. Even more so, the newly formed choir will spread a little joy this Christmas, even though they can’t sing – yet! And with a little help from Phil, her bassist, this year could be full of magic.

However, she has a fight on her hands as the townies out in Knob Hill – she must stop calling it that, are trying to stop her from ringing her bells. When Krystal with a K decides to do some volunteer work, Dolores sets out to see just how committed she really is.

Up to her ears in granny squares and squawking choristers, Dolores is revving up for Christmas, yet a deeper darker secret is beginning to emerge!

A secret that could blow the whole parish apart and put Dolores in danger.

(available from Amazon)

Until the 25th of December, all profits from the sale of the Moritz Quartet’s track “Dança da Toutinegra” (Dance of the Warbler) will be donated to the Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA), which forms part of Madeira’s environmental education programme, which every year offers free lectures, workshops and field trips to the regions schools.

The warbler, a species of bird that can be found all over the island, served as the inspiration for the song. This was one of the first compositions by Roberto Moritz, a Madeiran musician who, since 2015, has been part of the Moritz Quartet, a musical project supported by the Xarabanda Association.

In response, Cátia Gouveia, coordinator of SPEA Madeira, thanked the Moritz Quartet “for their generosity which will help to continue their mission to raise awareness throughout Madeira of the importance of preserving the island’s natural resources”.

The “Dance of the Warbler,” alongside the groups other recordings, can be purchased from their website https://quartetomoritz.bandcamp.com/releases .