Liner Notes: This project was written for and dedicated to my late and only brother, John, who found solace in the outdoors and communion with a variety of God's creatures. It is not authentic Native American music but was inspired by his daughters who are Native. The girls and their mother's extended Maliseet family have shared much with me over the years as we have learned about each other's traditions. We all grew up in the northernmost Maine county - "The County", as it is called by local folks. I feel an even deeper connection with the harsh yet beautiful countryside because of the Maliseets' longer history with the land. The flute and drum are beloved instruments in Native traditions. They are at the heart of this recording. The music is spacious and transparent, coming from memories of open fields, big skies, the black and white lines of long winters, and the evergreen forests. It was recorded and mastered beautifully by Bob Patton (a former Berklee College colleague), and produced without effects. The piano, by providing harmony, serves a s a wish for the abiding relationship between Mother Earth and her people. I hope these simple pieces will allow listeners to imagine their own fields, rolling hills, sky, foliage, and glistening water. John served in Vietnam, loved being a County boy, adored being a father, and left his daughters, Mom, and me with enough colorful memories to last our lifetimes. --Barbara